CONTACT INFORMATION

Department of Astronomy
Boston University
725 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA 02215

Phone: (541)999-4728

keckm@bu.edu

EDUCATION

Boston University, Boston, MA USA

Ph.D.,  Astronomy (In progress)

Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR USA

Honors B.S.,  Physics (Graduation date: June 2012)

Honors Thesis: X-ray Emissions in Measurements of the Neutron Capture Cross Sections for the Production of ¹⁹⁷Hg and ¹⁹⁷Pt and Scoping the Science Parameter Space of Future X-ray Astrophysics Calorimeter Missions

·      Advisor: Dr. Ken Krane

·      Physics major GPA: 3.71

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

Boston University, Boston, MA USA   

   Graduate Reseacher

Jan 2013 - present

·      Analyzing Blazars using Very Long Baseline Interferometry with the VLBA.

·      Advisor: Alan Marscher

Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA USA

    Student Intern

June 2012 - August 2012

·      Analyzed GRAIL satellite maneuver execution errors using JPL navigation software, MONTE, to help improve the GRAIL spacecraft dynamic models.

·      Advisors: Tung-Han You, Pete Antreasian

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD USA

    Student Intern

June 2011 – August 2011

·      Wrote a computational routine to automate Monte Carlo simulations using X-ray spectral fitting package Xspec to help with the development of future X-ray astrophysics calorimeter missions

·      Advisor: Dr. Andy Ptak

Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR USA

    Undergraduate Researcher

June 2010 – June 2012

·      Developing a computational routine to simulate X-ray background in neutron cross-section experiments (Fall 2011-Summer 2012)

·      Performed gamma ray spectral analysis to help determine nuclear energy levels and the half-life of Chlorine-38 using gamma ray spectral analysis program SAMPO (June 2010)

·      Advisor: Dr. Ken Krane

    Undergraduate Researcher

June 2010 – June 2011

·      Developed a Python routine, using SPI master/slave protocol, to adjust the frequency output from a frequency synthesizer for an amateur radio telescope

·      Advisor: Dr. William Hetherington

HONORS AND AWARDS

Oregon State Physics Department Scholarship Award

2010

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Boston University, Boston, MA USA

    Teaching Fellow

·      Cosmology, Professor Alan Marscher

Spring 2013

·      Alien Worlds, Professor Andrew West

Fall 2012

Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR USA

    Laboratory Teaching Assistant, Tutor

·      General Physics, Instructor Chris Coffin

Fall 2010

LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE

President, Society of Physics Students, OSU Chapter

September 2011 -  June 2012

TECHNICAL SKILLS

Languages: Python, IDL

X-ray Spectral Fitting Software: Xspec

OS: Linux, Mac OS X, Windows

CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS

• Talk: Improved Maneuver Reconstructions for the GRAIL Orbiters. In Proceedings of the 2013 Oregon NASA Space Grant Consortium Student Symposium (Corvallis OR, Feb. 2013)
• Paper: Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory Mission (GRAIL) Orbit Determination You, T., Antreasian, P., Broschart, S., et al. 2012, in Proceedings of the 23rd International Symposium on Space Flight Dynamics (Pasadena CA, Oct. 2012)
• Talk: Scoping the Science Parameter Space of Future X-Ray Calorimeter Missions. In Proceedings of the 2011 Oregon NASA Space Grant Consortium Student Symposium (Corvallis OR, Nov. 2011)

PUBLICATIONS

“Gamma-Ray Energies in the Decay of 38Cl,” K.S. Krane, M.L. Keck, E.B. Norman, and A.P. Shivprasad, Applied Radiation and Isotopes, (2011), doi:10.1016/j.apradiso.2011.12.033

OUTREACH

Academy of the Pacific Rim Outreach Event

Volunteer (OSU Discovery Days Program)

Student Mentor (OSU SMILE Program)

November 20, 2012

May 2011 –  May 2012

March 3, 2011