My research focuses on understanding the interactions of black holes across all mass scales with their surroundings, including stars, gas, and even other black holes. In particular, I focus on interactions that are observable, such as tidal disruption events, stellar collisions, and electromagnetic counterparts of gravitational waves. My research interests also include stellar dynamics, blue straggler formation, runaway star formation, hot Jupiters, and binary mass transfer. I use tools such as magnetohydrodynamical simulations with radiative transfer and N-body simulations.
keywords
black hole astrophysics, transients, galactic nuclei, stellar dynamics
ASTR 2030 - Black Holes
Primary Instructor
-
Spring 2026
Black holes are one of the most bizarre phenomena of nature. Students are introduced to the predicted properties of black holes, astronomical evidence for their existence and formation, and modern ideas about space, time, and gravity.
ASTR 5120 - Radiative and Dynamical Processes
Primary Instructor
-
Fall 2025
An introduction to radiative and dynamical processes aimed at graduate students in astrophysics, space physics and planetary science. Covers transport phenomena, the macroscopic treatment of radiation fields, magnetohydrodynamics and dynamical processes associated with planetary orbits and N-body systems.
ASTR 6000 - Seminar in Astrophysics
Secondary Instructor
-
Spring 2026
Students will attend the APS colloquium, interact with colloquium speakers, summarize colloquium research topics, and evaluate colloquium presentations. May be repeated up to 4 total credit hours.
