BS at University of Wisconsin, Madison

I grew up in Saint Paul, Minnesota and attended the University of Wisconsin – Madison where I received my B.S. triple majoring in Astronomy, Philosophy, and Physics. Originally planning to pursue a life as an astronomer, I worked in the astronomy department with Dr. Eric Wilcots on a research project to directly measure the amount of energy that is currently being injected into the intragroup medium by star formation processes and the amount of energy that has been injected by individual AGN over the last 100-200 Myr.  As an undergraduate researcher, I obtained on-site and remote observational experience with the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico through assisting with the Arecibo Legacy Fast ALFA Survey (ALFALFA), as well as on-site observational experience with the WIYN 0.9m telescope at Kitt Peak, AZ. As is the case for undergrads, most of my time was spent figuring out data reduction using AIPS and IRAF.  While at UW-Madison, I was also involved with the campus’ music journalism scene as a writer, photographer, and radio hour host for the Wisconsin Union Directorate (WUD)’s Emmie Magazine.

National Science Foundation

After undergrad, I moved to Arlington, Virginia. From July 2009 – July 2011 I worked for National Science Foundation as a science assistant in the Social and Economic Sciences (SES) division for the Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE) directorate. I worked in the MMSTS cluster for the Ethics Education in Science and Engineering (EESE) program, Methodology, Measurement, and Statistics (MMS) program, and Science, Technology, and Society (STS) program. As a Science Assistant, I assisted with all aspects of grant proposal processing, preparing numerous reports for the Foundation, and outcome reports for the public and United States Congress.

MA and PhD at University of Western Ontario

After my term at NSF was finished, I started graduate school. I completed the 1-year MA program in the philosophy department at the University of Western Ontario in 2012. My MA thesis was on underdetermination in cosmology (and the case of dark energy), supervised by Dr. Chris Smeenk. I stayed at Western for my PhD. My dissertation focused on examining properties models should possess in order to justify scientific inferences made from them. I examine earlier philosophical accounts of how to assess and evaluate models, criticize them failing to distinguish different dimensions along which models should be evaluated, and propose a new framework for evaluating models. I then apply this framework to several case studies from astrophysics. More information on my research can be found here.

While at Western, I was a member of the Rotman Institute of Philosophy. Through the Rotman Institute, I worked with other graduate students to establish a K-12 philosophy outreach program. Our program involves working with K-12 students through activities designed and run by graduate students, developing strategies that promote HPS teaching in the classroom. I also worked in Western’s Teaching Support Centre as a TA Training Program Instructor.

Postdoc at University of Pennsylvania

From 2016-2018 I was a postdoctoral researcher in the Philosophy Department at the University of Pennsylvania working with Dr. Michael Weisberg and astrophysicist Dr. Barry Madore (The Carnegie Observatories) on an NSF-funded project Observing the Invisible: A Collaborative Investigation between Astrophysicists and Philosophers (Award No.1557138), searching for some of the Universe’s missing dark matter. I am also a part of the Penn Laboratory for Understanding Science (PLUS), which focuses on adults’ understanding of science and creates interventions meant to increase understanding. As part of the PLUS Galápagos Alliance, I serve as the Education Coordinator, and LAVA-Astronomía project developer.

Postdoc at University of Cincinnati

From 2018-2020 I was a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Philosophy Department at the University of Cincinnati (UC) working with Angela Potochnik to help develop and coordinate activities for their new Center for Public Engagement with Science, as well as continuing my philosophy of astrophysics research.

Assistant Professor at University of Cincinnati

In 2020, I was hired as an Assistant Professor in the Philosophy Department at UC, and as Associate Director for Center for Public Engagement with Science. I am also Affiliated Faculty in the Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies department.