This page is dedicated to some of the work I do in addition to my research. Here I highlight my work focused on supporting undergraduates in Astrophysics.
Supporting Undergraduates
AAS Grad Admissions Task Force
2023 - Current
American Astronomical Society
ASPIRE Worskhop
2023 - Current
Rutgers University
As the number of students applying to graduate school in astronomy continues to grow each year, both applicants and departments are likely facing a variety of issues. This task force aims to gain a more complete, global picture of the current landscape of grad admissions by collecting data on the challenges and experiences faced by applicants and departments. With this, we will draft a report of our findings and draw recommendations on possible steps the community can take to alleviate these issues.
I am the founder and coordinator of the “Asynchronous Student Peer Instruction and Review Experience” (ASPIRE). I designed ASPIRE to support the Rutgers Astronomy undergraduates in their applications to graduate programs and REUs. In addition to informational presentations and panels of graduate students, ASPIRE has a review component where astronomy undergraduates submit their application materials for review by Rutgers graduate students, post-docs, and faculty members. ASPIRE is inspired by a workshop that I participated in at the UW where I received instrumental feedback to improve my applications to PhD programs. I hope to provide this same productive experience to the astronomy undergraduates at Rutgers and support them in their graduate school applications.
CAPYBARA
2024 - Current
Rutgers University
Given the increasing difficulty of being admitted to a PhD program in Astrophysics, myself and a fellow Graduate Student, Nicole Firestone, have set out to streamline access to resources and information for all undergraduates. We named this project "Contributing to Astronomy+PhYsics and Beyond with Academic Resources for Advancement." We aim to accomplish this by creating a "one-stop-shop" website where we provide organized access to the various resources already available online that cover topics like finding a grad school, applying to grad school, alternative career options, and much more. Additionally, we plan to include a theoretical timeline to help undergraduates understand what to consider when if they plan to pursue graduate school.
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Honors College Mentor
2023 - Current
Rutgers University
I mentor undergraduates on a range of subjects, including crafting and refining graduate school applications, engaging in research, and honing science communication skills. By doing so, I help establish a valuable and robust resource to enhance the academic pursuits of Honors College undergraduates across various disciplines