We are excited to introduce our 2024-2025 NASA-PEER cohort of post-bac mentees and early career mentors. Learn more about the research areas of our cohort below. You can also check out our alumni and where they are now on our NASA-PEER Alumni page.
Current NASA-PEER Post-bacs
Yesenia Arroyo
Yesenia Arroyo is affiliated with the Exoplanets and Stellar Astrophysics Laboratory as a communications specialist in the NASA Goddard Astrophysics communications team, curating engaging web content for NASA Universe and supporting outreach efforts for the Habitable Worlds Observatory. Yesenia is also a research assistant in the Planetary Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Laboratory, investigating and mapping lunar volcanic morphology in Sinus Vicositatis.
Emmie Aufderheide
Emmie Aufderheide is affiliated with the Planetary Systems Laboratory at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Emmie works with Conor Nixon to study the photochemistry of Titan’s atmosphere. Their goal is to create a refined list of the most critical reaction rates and branching ratios using a Titan photochemical model.
Dare Bartelt is affiliated with the Planetary Environments Laboratory at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Dare is working with the Consortium on Habitability and Atmospheres of M-dwarf Planets (CHAMPs) on the Rocky Worlds Director’s Discretionary Time (DDT) Program. This joint JWST/HST DDT program aims to characterize the atmospheres of rocky exoplanets orbiting nearby M-dwarf stars. She is making tailored full-wavelength synthetic spectra for the host stars LTT 1445 A and GJ 3929 with the PHOENIX atmosphere code and constraining the UV spectrum. She will be creating model spectra with the Planetary Spectrum Generator for the planets LTT 1445 A c, GJ 3929 b, and LTT 1445 A b.
Ferris Bosworth is affiliated with the Planetary Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Laboratory. Ferris is working with orbital data from the Juno satellite and is using a JPL program called Monte to calculate gravity measurements for Jupiter.
Rachel Hemmer
Rachel Hemmer is affiliated with the X-ray Astrophysics Laboratory at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Rachel works with Dr. Francois Mernier (IRAP, Toulouse) and Professor Chris Reynolds (UMD-CP) on measuring the Silicon/Iron abundance ratio in galaxy clusters over redshift using XMM-Newton archival data.
Kyla Mullaney
Kyla Mullaney is affiliated with the X-ray Astrophysics Laboratory at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, working with Dr. Kim Weaver and Dr. Kelly Whalen. She researches the kinematic impacts of Active Galactic Nuclei and star formation on galaxy evolution, using spatially-resolved IFU spectroscopy and X-ray observations.
Lylon Sanchez Valido
Lylon Sanchez Valido is affiliated with the X-ray Astrophysics Laboratory at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Lylon is working with Dr. Antara Basu-Zych on a project studying accreting compact objects in a sample of nearby analogs to galaxies in the early Universe. Her work focuses on using Chandra X-ray data to measure these objects’ properties, e.g. X-ray luminosity, to compare to similar sources in other nearby galaxies to characterize any metallicity dependence in the XLF relation.
Chana Werblowsky
Chana Werblowsky is affiliated with the Gravitational Astrophysics Laboratory at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Chana is working with Dr. Jeremy Schnittman to incorporate the power of multiple existing simulation codes into a single integrated package to make detailed predictions of the X-ray spectra, timing properties, and polarization signatures from accreting black holes in a variety of states.
Anmol Desai is affiliated with the Planetary Systems Laboratory at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Anmol works with Dr. Avi Mandell and Dr. Ravi Kopparapu on determining instrument requirements to study the atmospheres of M-star planets in the mid-infrared using the Planetary Spectrum Generator tool. They also work on the Exoplanet Modeling and Analysis Center (EMAC) team with Dr. Joe Renaud and fellow post-bac Celeste Hagee to make exoplanet science more accessible for everyone!
Sangeeta Kumar
Sangeeta Kumar is affiliated with the Observational Cosmology Laboratory at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center under the mentorship of Drs. Sangeeta Malhotra and James Rhoads. Sangeeta is working on simulating Lyman Alpha galaxy spectra using the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope in order to understand the Cosmic Dawn. This work is pertinent to understanding what Roman can see and what astronomers can expect from the soon to be launched telescope.
Naomi Park
Naomi Park is affiliated with the X-ray Astrophysics Laboratory at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and serves as a controls engineer for the Next Generation X-Ray Optics team. Some of her projects include a distributed part-tracking system, and integrating a hexapod with a mirror alignment system. She is interested in robotics/mechatronics with applications to aerospace and manufacturing.
MaggieBeth Turcotte
MaggieBeth Turcotte is affiliated with the Planetary Systems Laboratory at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, where she works with Dr. Shawn Domagal-Goldman and Dr. Giada Arney. MaggieBeth uses computer simulations to evaluate false positive biosignatures in the atmospheres of terrestrial exoplanets and to better understand how energy moves through planetary ecosystems. Alongside this work, she supports the Habitable Worlds Observatory Project Office in various endeavors.
Celeste Hagee is affiliated with the Planetary Systems Laboratory at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Celeste’s research consists of determining the long wavelength cut-off for the Habitable Worlds Observatory coronagraph using Bayesian Analysis for Remote Biosignature Identification on exoEarths (BARBIE) to study how the detectability of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and Carbon Monoxide (CO) changes with signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), wavelength, and abundance. She works with Natasha Latouf and Dr. Avi Mandell. She also helps manage the Exoplanet Modeling and Analysis Center (EMAC) with Dr. Joe Renaud and fellow post-bac, Anmol Desai.
Miranda McCarthy
Miranda McCarthy is affiliated with the X-ray Astrophysics Laboratory at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Miranda is working with Dr. Ryan Pfeifle studying dual AGN mergers!
Ally Payne
Allison Payne is affiliated with the Planetary Systems Laboratory at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Allison is working with Geronimo Villanueva and the Planetary Spectrum Generator team developing a collection of calibrated reflectance spectra for each of the solar system planets and Titan. Her work is intended to provide a tool for comparative planetology, especially in the context of the future Habitable Worlds Observatory.
Wendy Wallace
Wendy Wallace is affiliated with the Astroparticle Physics Laboratory at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, and is working in the research group of Dr. Constantinos Kalapotharakos. Wendy is focused on developing a neural network that accurately reproduces millisecond pulsar thermal X-ray lightcurves from NICER data. This machine learning model will drastically reduce the computational expenses of neutron star parameter inference, making it feasible to carry out more complex and accurate analysis.
Current NASA-PEER Mentors
Caitlin Ahrens
Dr. Caitlin Ahrens is affiliated with the Planetary Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Laboratory at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. As a postdoctoral associate at the University of Maryland College Park and NASA Goddard, her research focuses on lunar polar ice, geomorphology of planetary volcanism, and cryo-geology.
Silke Asche
Dr. Silke Asche is affiliated with the Astrochemistry Laboratory at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. As a NASA Postdoctoral Program Fellow, her research focuses on how to recognize unknown Life. She is developing agnostic biosignature methods using mass spectrometry that can help detect anomalies in unknown environments in space and in the laboratory.
Joanna Berteaud
Dr. Joanna Berteaud is affiliated with the X-ray Astrophysics Laboratory at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and the University of Maryland College Park. She works with Dr. Cole Miller and the NICER team on the equation of state of neutron stars. Her research also focuses on pulsars, especially in the inner Galaxy.
Erin Boettcher
Dr. Erin Boettcher is affiliated with the X-ray Astrophysics Laboratory at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. As an Assistant Research Scientist at the University of Maryland, College Park and NASA/GSFC, her research focuses on how supernovae and stellar winds eject gas from galaxies in galactic fountains and winds. Erin uses optical, ultraviolet, and X-ray spectroscopy to characterize the gas inflows and outflows that shape galaxy growth and evolution over cosmic time.
David Burtt
Dr. David Burtt is affiliated with the Planetary Environments Laboratory at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. As a NASA Postdoctoral Program Fellow, his research focuses on contextualizing past and present climates at the surface of Mars. This laboratory-based research informs analyses performed with the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument aboard the Curiosity rover and builds our understanding of how climates evolve on planetary bodies beyond Earth.
Andréa Hughes
Dr. Andréa Hughes is affiliated with the Ionosphere, Thermosphere, Mesosphere Laboratory within the Heliophysics Division at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in cooperation with George Mason University. Her research entails using data from NASA’s MAVEN spacecraft to study the phenomenology, variability, and driving processes of Martian proton aurora. The results of this work provide a novel and unprecedented understanding of proton aurora at Mars, which we find to be an important component of present-day observations of Martian hydrogen/atmospheric escape and water loss!
Michael Maniscalco
Dr. Michael Maniscalco is affiliated with the Ocean Ecology Laboratory at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Michael is a Scientific Programmer with the SeaWiFS Bio-optical Archive and Storage System (SeaBASS) team contributing to the management and distribution of oceanographic datasets, data management, and bio-optical remote sensing of the oceans including the validation of satellite-based remote sensing radiometers and algorithms. His role supports the Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission which aims to use hyperspectral imaging to advance the assessment of ocean health by measuring the distribution of phytoplankton, tiny plants and algae that sustain the marine food web.
Mike Moss
Dr. Mike Moss is affiliated with the Astroparticle Physics Laboratory at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. As a NASA Postdoctoral Program Fellow, his works with Brad Cenko on the data analysis and modeling of gamma-ray bursts. Currently focusing on how observational biases influence our measurements and understanding of these fascinating events.
Joe Renaud
Dr. Joe Renaud is affiliated with the Planetary Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Laboratory at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. As a postdoctoral associate at University of Maryland, College Park and NASA Goddard, his research focuses on the link between the deep interiors of planets and moons and their orbits and spins. Specifically, he looks at how tides lead to internal heating and long-term orbital changes. This can greatly alter a planet’s potential habitability. Joe is also the co-lead of NASA Goddard’s Exoplanet Modeling and Analysis Center and an admin in the NASA Goddard Association of Post-doctoral Scholars and Early Career Scientists.
Luis Rodriguez
Dr. Luis Rodriguez is affiliated with the Observational Cosmology Laboratory and the Optics Branch and the Optics Branch at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. His research focuses on developing thin film coatings for ultraviolet applications and the characterization of the optical properties of materials
Ross Silver
Dr. Ross Silver is affiliated with the X-ray Astrophysics Laboratory at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. His research focuses on Active Galactic Nuclei, and in particular how the galaxy and supermassive black hole residing in its center co-evolve over cosmic time.
Patrick Tribbett
Dr. Patrick Tribbett is affiliated with Cosmic Ice Laboratory within the Astrochemistry Laboratory at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. His research focuses on understanding the radiation and thermal chemistry of interstellar and planetary ices, and how these reactions alter the composition of surfaces over time.
Brian Welch
Dr. Brian Welch is affiliated with the Observational Cosmology Laboratory at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Dr. Brian Welch is affiliated with the Observational Cosmology Laboratory at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. He uses gravitational lensing to study galaxies in the distant universe, with a particular focus on how compact star clusters form and evolve in galaxies across cosmic time.
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