I am currently a Principal Investigator with the SETI Institute's Carl Sagan Center, and an adjunct faculty instructor at De Anza College. Previously I have worked at NASA Ames Research Center — first as a NASA Postdoctoral Program fellow and subsequently as a research support scientist for the Kepler and K2 Missions.  I obtained my astronomy PhD in 2012 from the California Institute of Technology. For a complete academic background, please see my curriculum vitae.

My research employs ground-based telescopes and space observatories to explore the diversity of variability behavior in young stars. I use this variability to learn about the dynamics of gas and dust associated with newborn stars and their planet-forming disks. Recently, I have also become involved in the field of optical SETI— the search for signs of intelligent life around other stars, at visual wavelengths. In my spare time, I enjoy creating scientific cartoons to illustrate topics in astronomical research. I have also been known to apply my time domain interests to various endurance sports.

For more information, check out my 2019 and 2020 NASA interviews.