Publications, Presentations, and Awards

Journal Publications:

- Morgan R., Douglas E., Allan G., et al., “Optical calibration and first light for the deformable mirror demonstration mission CubeSat (DeMi).” Journal of Astronomical Telescopes and Instrument Systems 7 (2) 2021. doi: 10.1117/1.JATIS.7.2.024002 (link to article)

- Douglas E., Allan G., Morgan R., et al., “Small Mirrors for Small Satellites: Design of the Deformable Mirror Demonstration Mission (DeMi) CubeSat Payload.” Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences, Section on Astronomical Instrumentation. 26 August 2021. doi:10.3389/fspas.2021.676281 (link to article).

- Morgan R., Douglas E., Allan G., et al., “MEMS Deformable Mirrors for Space-Based High Contrast Imaging.” Micromachines 10 (6), 366, 2019. doi: 10.3390/mi10060366 (Link to article)

- Carlton A, Lohmeyer W, Morgan R, Cahoy K. “Fault detection algorithms applied to spacecraft telemetry for monitoring and environmental sensing.” Journal of Aerospace Information Systems Vol 15(5) 2018. doi:10.2514/1.I010587 (Link to article)

- Clements E, Cahoy K, ... Morgan R, et al; “Nanosatellite optical downlink experiment: design, simulation, and prototyping.” Optical Engineering 0001;55(11):111610 2016. doi:10.1117/1.OE.55.11.111610 (Link to article)

Theses:

-Morgan R., "Germanium on Silicon Integrated Photonics for the Mid-Wave Infrared." MIT PhD Thesis, August 2023. (not yet public).

- Morgan R., “Optical Modeling and Validation for the Deformable Mirror Demonstration Mission.” MIT Master’s Thesis, January 2020. (link to thesis)

Conference Publications:

-Morgan R., Cahoy K., Callahan P., et al. "Mode Expansion Tapers via Inverse Design." Conference on Lasers and Electro Optics JW2A.109 2023. (link to proceedings).

- Morgan R., Heidelberger C., Kharas D., et al. "Low-loss Germanium-on-Silicon Waveguides and Ring Resonators for the Mid-Wave Infrared." Conference on Lasers and Electro Optics SW5O.1 2022. (link to proceedings).

- Morgan R., Vlahakis S., Douglas E., et al. "On-Orbit Operations Summary for the Deformable Mirror Demonstration Mission (DeMi) CubeSat." Proceedings of SPIE Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation 12185 2022. (link to proceedings).

- Morgan R., Kharas D., Sorace-Agaskar C., et al. "Waveguide-Integrated Blue Light Detector." IEE Photonics Conference WG2.2 2021. (link to proceedings).

- Morgan R. Vlahakis S., Allan G., et al. "Operations Update for the Deformable Mirror Demonstration Mission (DeMi) CubeSat. Advanced Maui Optical and Space Surveillance Technologies Conference 2021. (link to proceedings).

- Sorace-Agaskar C., Aull B., Braje D., ... Morgan R. et al., "Integrated Photonic Circuits and Platform Development for Trapped-Ion Quantum Computing and Sensing." OSA Advanced Photonics Congress ITh2A.2 2021. (link to proceedings).

- Morgan R. "Optical Modeling, Alignment, and Testing for the Deformable Mirror Demonstration Mission (DeMi) CubeSat Payload." Proceedings of the AIAA/USU Conference on Small Satellites 2020. (link to proceedings) Awarded 1st Place in Frank J Redd Student Paper Competition!

- do Vale Pereira P., Holden B., Morgan R., et al. "Thermomechanical design and testing of the Deformable Mirror Demonstration Mission (DeMi) CubeSat". Proceedings of the AIAA/USU Conference on Small Satellites 2020. (link to proceedings)

- Morgan R., Allan G., Douglas, E., “Optical Modeling and Testing of the Deformable Mirror Demonstration Mission (DeMi) CubeSat Payload,” SPIE Proceedings Optics and Photonics 2019. (Link to proceedings)

- Holden B., Morgan R., Allan G., et al., “Calibration and Testing of the Deformable Mirror Demonstration Mission (DeMi) CubeSat Payload,” Proceedings of the AIAA/USU Conference on Small Satellites 2019. (Link to proceedings)

- Morgan R, Douglas, E., Cahoy, K., et al., “Surveying the Epsilon Eridani System Using MagAO,” Proceedings of SPIE: Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation 2018. (Link to proceedings)

- Morgan R; “Nanosatellite Lasercom System.” Proceedings of the 31st Annual AIAA/USU Conference on Small Satellites 2017. (Link to proceedings). Awarded 2nd Place in Frank J Redd Student Paper Competition.

Conference Presentations:

- Morgan R., Heidelberger C., Sorace-Agaskar, C. et al. "Low-loss Germanium-on-Silicon Waveguides and Ring Resonators for the Mid-Wave Infrared." Conference on Lasers and Electro Optics SW5O.1. Oral Presentation, May 2022.

- Morgan R., Kharas D., Sorace-Agaskar C., et al. "Waveguide-Integrated Blue Light Detector." IEE Photonics Conference WG2.2. Oral Presentation, November 2021.

- Morgan R. "Optical Modeling, Alignment, and Testing for the Deformable Mirror Demonstration Mission (DeMi) CubeSat Payload." Proceedings of the AIAA/USU Conference on Small Satellites 2020. Oral Presentation, August 2020. Awarded 1st Place in Frank J Redd Student Paper Competition.

- Morgan R., Allan G., Douglas, E., “Flight Integration and Testing for the Deformable MirrorDemonstration Mission (DeMi) CubeSat,” 2020 American Astronomical Society Meeting. Oral presentation, January 2020.

- Morgan R., Allan G., Douglas, E., “Assembly, Integration, and Testing of the Deformable Mirror Demonstration Mission (DeMi) CubeSat Payload,” In the Spirit of Lyot Conference 2019. Poster presentation, October 2019.

- Morgan R., Allan G., Douglas, E., “Optical Modeling and Testing of the Deformable Mirror Demonstration Mission (DeMi) CubeSat Payload,” SPIE Optics and Photonics 2019. Oral Presentation, August 2019. (Link to presentation recording)

- Morgan R., Allan G., Douglas, E., “Integration and Testing of the Deformable Mirror (DeMi) CubeSat Payload.” 2019 CalPoly CubeSat Developer’s Workshop. Oral Presentation, April 2019. (Link to presentation recording)

- Morgan R., Allan G., Douglas, E., “Integration and Testing of the Deformable Mirror CubeSat Payload.” 2019 American Astronomical Society Meeting. Oral Presentation, January 2019.

- Morgan R, Douglas, E., Cahoy, K., et al., “Surveying the Epsilon Eridani System Using MagAO,” Proceedings of SPIE: Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation 2018. Poster Presentation, June 2018.

- Morgan R; “Nanosatellite Lasercom System.” Proceedings of the 31st Annual AIAA/USU Conference on Small Satellites. Oral Presentation, August 2017. Awarded 2nd Place in Frank J Redd Student Paper Competition.

Invited Talks and Seminars:

- Politecnico di Milano Photonics Devices Group Seminar: "Germanium on Silicon integrated photonics for the mid-wave infrared wavelength range." December 2022.

- MIT.nano Explorations Seminar Series: "Germanium on Silicon integrated photonics for the mid-wave infrared wavelength range." April 2022. (link to recording)

- NASA JPL Photonics Seminar Series: "MWIR Integrated Photonics with a Germanium-on-Silicon Platform." October 2021.

- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Presentation: "Mid-wave Infrared Integrated Photonics with a Germanium-on-Silicon Platform." October 2021.

- Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille (LAM) Optics Research and Development (GRD) Seminar: "Operations Update for the Deformable Mirror (DeMi) CubeSat." July 2021.

- NASA JPL Seminar: "Calibration, Environmental Testing, and Operations Update for the Deformable Mirror (DeMi) CubeSat." August 2020.

- Harvard Exoplanet Pizza Lunch Seminar: "Calibration, Environmental Testing, and Operations Update for the Deformable Mirror (DeMi) CubeSat." November 2019.

Awards and Honors:

- Carl E. Nielsen, Jr. Award for Excellence in Graduate Student Research at MIT Lincoln Laboratory, 2021.

- 1st Place in the Frank J Redd Student Paper Competition at the AIAA/USU 2020 Conference on Small Satellites for paper and oral presentation "Optical Modeling, Alignment, and Testing for the Deformable Mirror Demonstration Mission (DeMi) CubeSat Payload."

- Selected for Zonta International Foundation Amelia Earhart Fellowship Award for women pursuing PhDs in Aerospace and Space Sciences, Spring 2020

- MIT AeroAstro Apollo Award for leadership and excellent contributions to the DeMi space mission, spring 2020

- Selected for NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program, Spring 2018.

- Selected for NASA Space Technology Research Fellowship, Spring 2018.

- MIT AeroAstro James Means Award for Excellence in Space Systems Engineering for work in senior capstone engineering project, 2018.

- Nordloff Award for Distinguished Service to MIT Wind Ensemble, 2018.

- Elected to MIT Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Society, Spring 2018

- MIT SuperUROP Outstanding Research Project Award for project entitled “Nanosatellite Lasercom System”

- 2nd Place in the Frank J Redd Student Paper Competition at the AIAA/USU 2017 Conference on Small Satellites for paper and oral presentation "Nanosatellite Lasercom System."