My research is on the ultraviolet properties of supernovae in nearby galaxies.
I am a Research Scientist at the Mitchell Institute for Fundamental Physics and Astronomy at Texas A&M University. I specialize in Ultraviolet observations of Supernovae, particularly with the Ultra-Violet/Optical Telescope on the Swift spacecraft. I am also interested in their host galaxy and progenitor system properties, in particular the impact they might have on using Type Ia supernovae as standard candles to measure the size and evolution of the universe. I lead a NASA-funded project to create the Swift Optical Ultraviolet Supernovae Archive -- a UV database of the 600+ Supernovae observed by Swift. I am also the Principal Investigator on multiple Swift and Hubble Space Telescope observing programs, with grants totaling more than $1.1 Million. I collaborate with the Global Supernova Project and other teams around the globe to understand the mysteries of the Universe. I enjoy teaching and mentoring students, and I lead the Aggienova research team through Texas A&M's Aggie Research Program to give more undergraduates a chance to make a real contribution to this exciting research.