Vita

Education

Ph.D., Astronomy, 2003; M.S., Physics, 2003; M.S., Astronomy, 1996

• • • University of Washington

    • Dissertation: A Hyperbolic Tetrad Approach to Numerical Relativity

    • Advisor: James M. Bardeen

    • NASA GSRP Sponsor: Frank B. Estabrook

A.B., Biochemical Sciences, cum laude, 1982

• • • Harvard-Radcliffe College

Appointments

• • • Adjunct Professor, Physics and Astronomy, Washington State University (Dec. 2025 - Nov. 2028)

    • Adjoint Professor, Physics and Astronomy, Washington State University (Dec. 2022 - Nov. 2025)

    • Guest Collaborator, Physics, California Institute of Technology (2008–present)

    • Guest Teacher, The Academy of Classical Christian Studies, Edmond, OK (Nov. 2022 - June 2025)

    • Tutor, 6th and 7th grade Math, Catapult Learning (Aug. 2023 - Sept. 2023)

    • Teacher, Math and Science, St. Philomena School, Edmond, OK (August 2022 - November 2022)*

    • Affiliate Assistant Professor, Physics, University of Washington, Bothell (Dec. 2019 - June 2022)

    • Consultant, Physics, California Institute of Technology (June, 2010 -- Nov. 2018)

    • Postdoctoral Scholar, Physics, California Institute of Technology (2007–2008)

    • Postdoctoral Fellow, Center for Relativity, Univ. of Texas at Austin (2006–2007)

    • National Research Council Research Associate, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (2004–2006)

    • Member of the Technical Staff, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (1989–1994)

    • Staff Research Associate, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA (1987–1989)

    • Research Assistant, Department of Biochemistry, Harvard University (1982–1985)

*St. Philomena school closed for full-time students on Nov. 2, 2022 due to low enrollment

Awards, Fellowships, and Grants

• • • Sloan Equitable Pathways seed grant (Co-PI, Dec. 2021 - June 2023)

    • National Research Council (NRC) Research Associateship Award (2004–2006)

    • Graduate Student Researchers Program (GSRP) Fellowship (2000–2003)

    • NASA Space Grant Award and NSF travel grants (1998)

    • NASA Group Achievement Award (1998)–Cassini

    • Achievement Rewards for College Scientists Fellowship (1994–1997)

Teaching

• • • REU program research mentor, UW Bothell (Summers of 2020 and 2021)

    • Instructor: Electrostatics and Thermodynamics Lab, UW Bothell (Winter, 2021)

    • Instructor: Special and General Relativity independent study, UW Bothell (Fall, 2020)

    • Instructor: Electromagnetism and Oscillatory Motion and Mechanics Labs, UW Bothell (Winter, Fall 2020)

    • Research mentor: Tim Kostersitz, UW Bothell, (Jan. 2020 - Aug. 2021)

    • Research mentor: Andrew Evans (undergrad at Sonoma State), (June 2020 - Aug. 2021)

    • Physics tutor (college, high school) through www.wyzant.com (2013-June 2015, Nov. 2018-May 2019); Rated 4.9/5 stars (8 ratings)

    • Instructor: Electricity & Magnetism for advanced high school student Colin Rice (Jan-May, 2010)

    • Instructor: Special & General Relativity for high school students Colin Rice, Griffin Nicolls (Feb-Aug, 2009)

    • Supervisor: Rez Khan, UT Austin (2006–2007); reader for his Master’s thesis (2008)

    • Mentor: Tracy Northup, physics PhD. student, Caltech (2005–2006, 2007–2008) (via Caltech’s Women Mentoring Women)

    • Teaching Assistant, Physics and Astronomy, Univ. of Washington (1994–2000)

Referee/ Reviewer

• • • Referee for Classical and Quantum Gravity (2007–present)

    • Reviewer for Mathematical Reviews (2007–present)

    • Referee, Panelist for the National Science Foundation (2013)

    • Reviewer for Foundations of Physics (2013 -- present)

    • Reviewer for Proceedings of the Royal Society A (2025 -- present)

Collaborations

• • • Simulating eXtreme Spacetimes (SXS)

    • NINJA

    • NINJA-2

    • NRAR

Memberships 

• • • American Physical Society (APS)

    • International Society on General Relativity and Gravitation (ISGRG)

    • Society of Catholic Scientists (SCS)

    • National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity