Background
In May of 2009, I graduated from Calvin College with a bachelor's of science degree in physics and a minor in computer science. During this time, I also participated in the Calvin College (unofficial) chapter of SPS, the Society of Physics Students.
From there, I went on to study graduate physics (particularly numerical methods) at the University of Arizona in Tucson. I found that the hot, dry, desert climate was very different than what I was used to in Michigan!
In December of 2011, I graduated from the University of Arizona with a master's of science degree in physics.
From there, I transferred to the Department of Planetary Sciences (still at the University of Arizona) to study solar physics with Tami Rogers. After about three years, I began investigating the electrodynamics of Saturn's ionosphere and thermosphere with Roger Yelle and Tommi Koskinen. I successfully defended my dissertation ("Modelling Electrodynamics in Saturn's Upper Atmosphere") in October 2020.
In 2019, my wife and I moved to Eau Claire, Wisconsin to start working at the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire. Since then, I have enjoyed teaching with the Math, Computer Science and Physics + Astronomy departments.
Professional Interests
- Developing software (algorithms, tools, frameworks) for scientists
- Teaching computational skills to scientists
- Data visualization (using tools such as VAPOR)
- Learning new programming languages!
Research Interests
My research interests are varied, and I'm still discovering new things that interest me. Here's a quick list of a few of the things I enjoy, in no particular order:
- Computational physics and numerical modeling
- Teaching computational physics and numerical modeling
- Hydrodynamics and magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) (especially energy storage/production)
- Stellar physics: birth, evolution, dynamics
- Atmospheric dynamics of gas giant planets
