I am a theoretical cosmologist specializing in the origins and growth of structure in the Universe. I am currently a postdoctoral research fellow with the Carnegie Theoretical Astrophysics Center. Previously, I was a postdoctoral fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics. I received my B.S. in Physics and Mathematics from the University of Virginia, my M.A. in Physics from Stony Brook University, and my Ph.D. in Physics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (advisor Adrienne Erickcek).
What are the origins of the cosmic structure that manifests today in the form of galaxies? What is the mysterious dark matter that comprises most of this structure? My research seeks answers to these questions. I use a combination of numerical simulations and mathematical models to develop new ways to probe these mysteries using astronomical data. I am particularly interested in the dynamics of self-gravitating systems, and much of my research focuses on understanding the formation and evolution of gravitationally bound dark matter systems.