Research:

I work primarily with Dr. Jean Turner and Dr. Sara Beck doing radio/millimeter and IR spectroscopy of the nuclei of nearby starburst galaxies. The radio millimeter spectroscopy is done using the BIMA and OVRO Millimeter Interferometers [now combined to form CARMA], the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory and the VLA. The IR spectroscopy is done using the Spitzer Space Telescope and the W. H. Keck II Observatories. By studying the rotational transitions of various molecules including Carbon Monoxide (and its isotopes), Hydrogen Cyanide, Methanol, Ammonia, and Isocyanic Acid, we hope to understand the physical conditions such as temperature, density, morphology and kinematics, as well as the chemical properties of molecular gas in the center of these types of galaxies. The goal is to relate these properties to the locations and strengths of the starburst in order to understand what impact the conditions of the natal molecular gas have on the occurance of these large bursts of star formation.
[For a simplified description of interstellar molecular spectroscopy see the nice DSN radio astronomy website on molecular spectroscopy.]

Useful Astronomy Stuff:

A.D.S. N.E.D. D.S.S. Skyview

Astro-ph Astrophysical Journal Astronomical Journal A.R.A.&A.

Splatalogue . JPL molspec Cologne molspec Lovas List

Astrochemistry.net Sky & Telescope Astronomy Mag. Messier Catalogue