During my Fall 2022 Semester at the University of Virginia, I participated in a research project for credit. Under the guidance of Abygail Waggoner, I investigated the effect of X-ray flare events on C4S abundance in the inner disk.

To model disk chemistry in response to X-ray flaring events, we adopt the model from Fogel et al. [2011], which was updated in Cleeves et al. [2014]. Utilizing the physical parameters of the IM Lup protoplanetary disk, due to the x-ray driven chemistry observed in Cleeves et al. [2017]. The simulations are run as independent points within the disk defined by their radius from the star (R) and the vertical height from the mid-plane (Z/R) [Waggoner and Cleeves, 2022]. For each point defined within the disk, the code calculates the initial abundance of each species, then reaches a pseudo steady state before introducing the simulated X-ray flare photons that reach that point within the disk. The abundance of chemical species is then plotted against time for each point, displaying how x-ray flares affect the disk chemistry at specific locations. Further rate analysis can be done to determine how the rates of reaction change over time, giving more insight on specific chemical changes occurring in the disk.

During the Summer of 2021, I participated remotely in a Summer Research Fellowship with VICO. 

Advised by Dr. Dana Anderson and Professor Ilse Cleeves, I explored the chemistry of Protoplanetary Disks. I utilized Submillimeter Array observational data and a matched filtering method to identify molecules in four Tauri star-disk systems. 

This program was entirely remote, and my first research experience.  This summer experience introduced me to star and planet formation, and I found astrochemistry! The field is a perfect combination of my interests, and I find it fascinating!