I joined the Northwestern faculty in 1987 after earning my PhD in astronomy from UCLA and carrying out postdoctoral studies as a McCormick Fellow at the University of Chicago's Enrico Fermi Institute. My work at Northwestern involves research, teaching, and administration in the Department of Physics and Astronomy and the Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics (CIERA). My research focuses on the application of sensitive spectroscopic
techniques
to astrophysical problems in the areas of cosmology, galactic
evolution,
and the interstellar medium. Using the Hubble Space Telescope and the facilities of Kitt Peak National Observatory, I specialize in the measurement of weak
interstellar
and extragalactic absorption lines in the optical and ultraviolet
spectra
of stars and quasars. Such measurements provide important
information about the composition, chemistry, structure, and physical
conditions
of intervening gas clouds in the Milky Way and other galaxies. My
teaching efforts at Northwestern focus on
freshman
seminars and introductory astronomy courses for non-science majors -
during
the 2011-12 academic year, I will be teaching a freshman seminar on
Searching
for ET: Science and Strategies (Astro 110) in the fall
and the introductory Astrobiology (Astro 111) course in the
spring. My teaching efforts beyond Northwestern include a video
course entitled "Experiencing Hubble: Understanding the Greatest Images of the Universe" that I recently developed and recorded for the Teaching Company.
