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Research
I have a physics and astronomy degree from the University of Washington, and
while there I worked with grad student Eric Hilton and professors Suzzane
Hawley and Nicole Silvestri on flare stars and M dwarf - white dwarf binary
systems. Previous work there focused on RR Lyrae and galactic structure.
I worked on a SDSS project at the University of Washington designed to confirm
and characterize RR Lyrae candidates chosen based upon two-epoch variability
and SDSS colors. I mapped galactic structure, by searching for regions where
RR Lyrae were overabundant, and found evidence that these regions were the
results of ancient galaxy mergers.
I have also worked with Eric Hilton and Suzanne Hawley examining flare rates
in low-mass stars. Part of our motivation was to better constrain flare
rates, in order to improve monitoring of these objects for transiting planets.
I developed IDL routines to analyze archival flare data from the literature,
and spent several weeks acquiring and reducing photometry to monitor
additional flare systems with a 30-inch telescope at Manastash Ridge
Observatory.
My last bit of work was with profs. Hawley and Nicole Silvestri in an attempt
to better understand the evolution of white dwarf - M dwarf binary systems.
I have observed remotely with the APO 3.5-meter, taking spectra of eclipsing
binary stars, in an outgrowth of efforts to identify flares in the SDSS
Stripe 82 time domain database. In addition I have used the 0.6-meter,
attached to SDSS, to monitor flare rates on M-dwarf stars.
I have a strong interest in continuing my work on variable systems, and in
exploring exosolar planets, star forming regions, and varied topics in
galactic astronomy.
I began my graduate studies as of August, 2009 at NMSU. I have worked with
professor Rene Walterbos on M33 data. As of Summer of 2010 I have worked
with Kepler Data as part of a research team composed of fellow grad student
Jeff Coughlin and professor Tom Harrison. Since that time I have been
developing a star spot code that will fit model light curves to Kepler light
curves.
Teaching
I have two quarters of introductory astronomy (ASTR 101) at the University of
Washington. At NMSU I have TA'd for Rene Walterbos' ASTR 305, Jason
Jackewicz's 301, Astronomy 110 for Jon Hotlzman and Tom Harrison, as well as
Astronomy 105 for Jim Murphy.
Outreach
I was an active volunteer for several years at the Jacobsen Observatory in
Seattle, giving public talks on astronomy, and have also worked with
elementary schools to teach physics to children. My volunteer work has grown
while here at NMSU as I have actively participated in various outreach programs
designed for school groups, boy scouts, and the general public.
Papers
Flare Rates on M Dwarfs: Observing Program
Probing Halo Substructure With Rr Lryae From Multi-epoch Sdss Data
Eric J. Hilton, S. Hawley, N. Ule, A. Kowalski, T. Gomez, S. Grammer,
J. Holtzman, M. Huang, J. Huehnerhoff, & D. Morgan
2009, BAAS, 213, 43416
Oliver J. Fraser, S. H. Grammer, D. P. Morgan, A. Z. Welch, E. W. Bullock,
J. Huehnerhoff, M. L. Kalif, R. W. Maas, E. Muhs, N. M. Ule, E. J. Hilton,
J. Meyer, C. Laws, B. Sesar, & Z. Ivezic
2007, BAAS, 211, 6009