My current research focuses on the development and use of a new adaptive optics instrument to study galaxy formation and evolution. In particular, I collaborate with James Larkin using OSIRIS (OH-Suppressing InfraRed Imaging Spectrograh) with Keck Observatory's laser guide star adaptive optics (LGS-AO) system to identify and analyze the dynamics of galaxies in the early universe. OSIRIS is a lenslet-based integral field spectrograph that takes spectra over a two-dimensional area, rather than using the traditional slit-based spectrographs. My involvement with the OSIRIS instrument team was implementation and commissioning, and participating in the development of the data reduction pipeline (DRP).

For my thesis, I used OSIRIS with the Keck LGS-AO system to target galaxies between the redshift range of 1.3 to 1.7 (8.8 to 9.8 Gyr ago), where H-alpha emission is redshifted to near-infrared wavelengths (H-band). OSIRIS coupled with an LGS-AO system provides a unique ability to probe the spatial extent of high redshift extragalactic nebular emission lines in a single observation at sub-arcsecond (sub-kiloparsec) scales. Our first paper on this survey is now published (Wright et al. 2007), where we believe a candidate disk has been found at z=1.478.

Within the Infrared Laboratory, I also was a team member in the implementation and commissioining of the infrared camera SHARC (Simple High Angular Resolution Camera). The instrument's completion was timed to coincide with Keck I AO new wavefront controller and the new Keck I LGS-AO system, which both require an imaging camera for engineerinng tests.

I am a CATS (Center of Adaptive Optics Treasury Survey) team member, which is a coordinated multi-institute program to observe thousands of galaxies with the Keck AO system in the deepest fields covered by the Great Observatories (HST, CHANDRA, and SIRTF). CATS provides diffraction limited infrared images using the NIRC2 wide field camera (40"x40"). The primary science goals are galaxy formation, measuring star formation rates and stellar populations, and studying active galactic nuclei (AGN).

Former Research

For my Masters I worked with Dr. Andrea Ghez researching the Galactic Center at infrared wavelengths. We used the Keck adaptive optics system to study line-of-sight extinction and physical processes surrounding the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way.

I am also interested in SETI (Search for Extraterrestial Intelligence). During my undergraduate years I was involved with constructing, commissioning, and observing with Lick Observatory's Optical SETI detector. After graduation, I lived on the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands and worked for the Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes as a support astronomer. My research projects included optical spectroscopy of Planetary Nebulae, and crowded field photometry of Local Group galaxies.