I was born and raised in Flagstaff, Arizona. My father, Bill, is a professor of mathematics emeritus at Northern Arizona University. My mother, Maria, is a biologist and Grandmother extraordinaire. My beautiful and brilliant sister, Danae, is a Postdoc at Rockefeller in Manhattan. She received her Ph.D. in molecular biology at UC Berkeley. As an undergraduate, she completed a double degree program in biology (Tufts University), and violin performance (New England Conservatory of Music).
I graduated from Flagstaff High School in 1994 and moved directly to Boston where I began to study physics at Boston University. I also joined the Air Force ROTC program. My research career started in my senior year when I did a senior thesis with Bing Zhou in experimental high energy particle physics. I graduated from BU in 1998 and was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. that May. I accepted an educational delay from the Air Force in order to pursue a PhD at Harvard University. In 1999 I switched from high energy experimental physics to theoretical astrophysics, and began working with my advisor, Martin White. In 2002, I was recalled to active duty without having completed my studies.
While in the military, I was stationed at Kirtland AFB in Albuquerque, NM. I was assigned to the Directed Energy Directorate, where I worked in the High Power Microwave Effects Branch (DEHE). I also had a temporary assignment in the Countermeasures Hands On Program (CHOP) for the first 6 months of my time at Kirtland. Chop Pictures.
In Jan 2005, I separated from active duty, and resumed my studies with Martin White. I completed my Ph.D. in 2007, and moved to the Institute for Advanced Study for my postdoctoral studies. In 2010 I was awarded the Director's Fellowship at Los Alamos National Laboratory. I am now living in New Mexico again, dancing, playing the violin, and looking forward to the changing seasons.