AstroPAL

MEET THE ASTROPALs

As AstroPALs, we're dedicated to providing incoming graduate students with the information and support they need to succeed (and enjoy life!) in the GSU Astronomy department. Below is a little information about this year's group of peer mentors. We hope each profile will give you a glimpse into our lives and make you more comfortable coming to us with questions, complaints, or thoughts about the department, academics, research, the city, or anything else on your mind. We're all involved in AstroPAL because we enjoy it and we want you to benefit from our experiences (and myriad mistakes!), so please seek us out.

Maura Shea (5th year) -- AstroPAL Co-President

Office: 1 Park Place, #709
Email: mshea3@gsu.edu
Advisor: Mike Crenshaw
Research interests: AGN feedback in compact galaxy groups.
Research techniques: Ground-based long slit spectroscopy with APO, and some JWST spectroscopy in the future!
Programming language of choice: Python, especially Jupyter notebooks (and IDL against my will).
I should be your first stop for: Taking coffee breaks, vent sessions, making your plots pretty, or anything crafty!
Hobbies beyond work: Reading, sewing, hiking, and traveling.
Random advice for new grad students: Be sure to set aside time every week (and a little time everyday!) just for you. There’s no point in grad school if you’re burnt out in the end.
Favorite places to work outside the office: Cafe Lucia.
Know your neighbors! Maura lives in: Lindbergh.

Aman Kar (6th year) -- AstroPAL Co-President

Office: 1 Park Place, #716
Email: akar5@gsu.edu
Advisor: Todd Henry
Research interests: Low-mass stars, Flares, Rotation, Cycles, Magnetism, Exoplanet Hosts.
Research techniques: Ground based / space based photometry and spectroscopy.
Programming language of choice: Python always.py
I should be your first stop for: Needing a ride / Getting a drink / Debating about anything.
Hobbies beyond work: Walking around ATL, Long drives around GA, Tasting local breweries.
Random advice for new grad students: You can swap your weekends for weekdays. This means if you want to take Wednesdays off, you can work on Saturday instead. Basically you can work whenever you want. If you get stuck on anything (living in ATL problems, classes, homework, research) ask a grad student. Chances are they had the exact same problem before you.
Favorite places to work outside the office: Piedmont Park / GSU Library.
Know your neighbors! Aman lives in: Lindbergh.

Fallon Konow (6th year)

Fallon hiking along the coast on a sunny day.

Office: Virtual from Southern California or Rome
Email: konow1@gsu.edu
Advisor: Stuart Jefferies (officially Piet Martens for the time being)
Research interests: Solar flares, space weather, instrumentation.
Research techniques: Ground-based instrument building/aligning/observing, Doppler and magnetic field imaging.
Programming language of choice: Python and IDL (although it is no fun, I also know LabView)
I should be your first stop for: Outreach opportunities, chatting about the Sun, if you’re visiting Rome, a chat about anything sports-related.
Hobbies beyond work: Sports (especially volleyball and water polo), reading (of the fantasy/sci-fi and romance persuasion), hiking/camping, watching terrible TV, baking.
Random advice for new grad students: Don’t be afraid to say you don’t understand something and ask for help; even from your advisor. The most useful phrase I finally got the courage to use was “I am confused. Why…?” Take some time to do some relax and do things that have absolutely nothing to do school/work.
Favorite places to work outside the office: In the lab.
Know your neighbors! Fallon lives in: Either Hesperia (CA), Rome, or rarely Atlanta (specifically Glenwood Park), but only a message away!

Varun M. Chaturmutha (6th year)

Varun standing on a rooftop in the city.

Office: Remote
Email: vchaturmutha@gsu.edu
Advisor: Stuart Jefferies (external: Bernhard Fleck)
Research interests: helioseismology, acoustic-gravity waves, dynamics of the solar atmosphere
Research techniques:Fourier analysis, handling big data, and optimization
Programming language of choice: By Choice: Python; By Force: Fortran, IDL
I should be your first stop for: debugging your Python (or MATLAB) code and Linux issues, math/physics discussions or doubts, and sharing good news!
Hobbies beyond work: chess, board games, hiking
Carefully considered, not-very-random advice for new grad students: Don't underestimate the power of a well-rested and well-fed body. It is okay to be not good at something. Don't be afraid to take a day off in the week.
Favorite places to work outside the office: Haven't found any yet
Know your neighbors! Varun lives in: Boston, MA

Julia Falcone (6th year)

Office: 25 Park Place
Email: jfalcone2@gsu.edu
Advisor: Mike Crenshaw
Research interests: AGN feedback and outflows in a galaxy called NGC 3227.
Research techniques: Ground-based long slit spectroscopy with APO, Bayesian fitting techniques, space-based spectroscopy with HST.
Programming language of choice: Python (and some IDL, unfortunately).
I should be your first stop for: Debugging Python code, queer events around town, learning about GSU’s union, any number of hot takes.
Hobbies beyond work: Sewing, knitting/crocheting, improv, movies.
Random advice for new grad students: Develop a friend group/support system outside the department! This can be through other clubs or activities (GSU-affiliated or not) that put you into semi-regular contact with various kinds of people. Expanding your social network beyond the people you work with will open the door to so many fun opportunities you wouldn’t have otherwise.
Favorite places to work outside the office: Anywhere with a window.
Know your neighbors! Julia lives in: Aventura Decatur apartments, around half a mile from the Avondale MARTA station.

Zach Way (5th year)

Office: 1 Park Place, #709
Email: zway1@gsu.edu
Advisor: Sebastien Lepine
Research interests: Low-Mass Stars and Large Astronomical Surveys.
Research techniques: Spectroscopy, Machine Learning.
Programming language of choice: Python.
I should be your first stop for: Help debugging the worst python errors you've ever seen.
Hobbies beyond work: I like to bike and play sad country songs on guitar.
Random advice for new grad students: Don't forget to branch out beyond GSU! There are a lot of free things to do around Atlanta that make it really easy to meet new folks.
Favorite places to work outside the office: Dancing Goats Coffee.
Know your neighbors! Zach lives in: Midtown.

Nabanita Das (4th year)

Office: 25 Park Place, #615
Email: ndas5@gsu.edu
Advisor: Misty Bentz
Research interests: Supermassive black holes, Active Galactic Nuclei.
Research techniques: Infrared spectroscopy with a dash of radio astronomy and a side of modeling galaxies.
Programming language of choice: Python, and uhh python! But IRAF and IDL always like to visit me once in a while.
I should be your first stop for: Venting about literally anything, mental health conversations, anything about cooking, restaurant recos!
Hobbies beyond work: Cooking, photography, chess, watching TV/web series.
Random advice for new grad students: You are so much more than your grades and publications. Nobody else can define your limit, other than yourself! It's better to apply for that job and grab that opportunity even if you fail because if you don't try you won't succeed at all! Most importantly, go read others' advice - they are so good!
Favorite places to work outside the office: Home sweet home!
Know your neighbors! Naba lives in: Lindbergh.

Griffin Goodwin (4th year)

Office: 25 Park Place
Email: ggoodwin5@gsu.edu
Advisor: Piet Martens and Slava Sadykov
Research interests: Solar transient event forecasting.
Research techniques: Machine learning and analysis of big data
Programming language of choice: Python (this is the only right answer) and SQL.
I should be your first stop for: Running advice, mental health advice, a banger playlist.
Hobbies beyond work: Marathon running, soccer, music, reading, sleeping with my cat Joey :)
Random advice for new grad students: Many others have already said this, but I want to emphasize it again: life is not all about work. Make sure you take the appropriate amount of time to relax and wind down.
Favorite places to work outside the office: East Pole Coffee in Armour Yards
Know your neighbors! Griffin lives in: Lindbergh - easy to get around, plenty of shops, and the MARTA station is super convenient.

Jessica Hamilton (4th year)

Office: 25 Park Place, #615
Email: jhamilton58@gsu.edu
Advisor: Slava Sadykov
Research interests: Currently: The solar atmosphere with respect to wave, energy, and enthalpy propagation. Actual: Stellar and Solar! Theory background with a modeling focus.
Research techniques: 3D high-resolution atmospheric simulations, spectral analysis, Fourier Analysis.
Programming language of choice: Python and yeah python. I try to avoid others.
I should be your first stop for: Advice on finding/changing advisors, life advice/venting/nonjudgemental active listening, Coffee/Tea, and I run the Soda Fund ( Go-To for snack items).
Hobbies beyond work: My daughter, reading, movies/TV shows, newly into crocheting, will be picking up a new instrument.
Random advice for new grad students: It is okay to ask questions! No questions are too small! If you are wondering about something (course-wise, research-wise, grad life, etc) chances are others may be as well and there will mostly be someone with an answer. It will take time to adjust to everything which is normal. As you are figuring out your schedule, do not forget about yourself. Work-Life balance is very important but also a challenge to achieve sometimes.
Favorite places to work outside the office: Honestly, I do not have one yet. I work at the office or at home. I am still exploring around myself.
Know your neighbors! Jessica lives in: Sandy Springs (top of MARTA’s red line) but not in a walk friendly area so a vehicle is necessary.

Melodie Sloneker (4th Year)

Office: 25 Park Place, cubicle right by the conference room.
Email: msloneker1@gsu.edu
Advisor: Sebastien Lepine
Research interests: Stellar Multiplicity Statistics, Substellar/Stellar Companions, the Galactic halo, Galactic halo structure.
Research techniques: Space telescope images (HST, JWST), and large survey data (Gaia).
Programming language of choice: Python.
I should be your first stop for: If you’re feeling imposter syndrome and need to talk to someone, if you have questions about applying to fellowships or want someone to proofread your writing, or if you want to show someone your pet photos :)
Hobbies beyond work: Ballet (if you’re interested in dance at GSU, ask me about the Ballet Company at GSU), reading, and writing.
Random advice for new grad students: Don’t be afraid to take risks and try things! Apply for that fellowship, talk to that person at a conference, take on a leadership position around the department, or try to get time on a telescope. You never know what opportunities could work out and I guarantee you’re doing more exciting research than you even realize!
Favorite places to work outside the office: Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee, or if you’re not near campus, Dancing Goats Coffee is great as well.
Know your neighbors! Melodie lives in: Midtown, right next to Piedmont Park!

Sebastián Carrazco (4th Year)

Office: 1 Park Place, #713(!)
Email: jcarrazcogaxiola1@gsu.edu
Advisor: Todd Henry
Research interests: K dwarfs: Stellar Properties, Activity, Ages; Exoplanets; Solar System; Aliens.
Research techniques: Observation techniques, Echelle Spectroscopy, Gaia.
Programming language of choice: Python (bash and IDL?).
I should be your first stop for: Coding and data organization, debugging GitHub, improving your plots, designing, and creating banger playlists (no Griffin ;p).
Hobbies beyond work: Watching TV, cooking/baking, create/organize playlists, and Mixing music!
Random advice for new grad students: You are where you need to be, you are more than capable. Gradschool is hard but it does not need to consume you, work in a way to find a work-life balance, it is not impossible.
Favorite places to work outside the office: In my room with my speakers and subwoofer.
Know your neighbors! Sebas lives in: Lenox/Buckhead, 5mins from Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza’s AMC theater.

Madison LeBlanc (4th Year)

Office: 25 Park Place, cubicle right by the conference room.
Email: mleblanc@gsu.edu
Advisor: Todd Henry
Research interests: M dwarfs, multiplicity rates.
Research techniques: Data analysis, speckle imaging, astrometry, photometry.
Programming language of choice: Python.
I should be your first stop for: Someone to yap with.
Hobbies beyond work: Reading, crafting, watching tv/movies.
Random advice for new grad students: Ask a bunch of questions even if it seems dumb or you think the answer will be no. Everyone in the department is nice and wants to help you succeed.
Favorite places to work outside the office: On my couch.
Know your neighbors! Madison lives in: Lenox Park.

Tim Johns (4th Year)

Office: 1 Park Place, #713.
Email: tjohns6@gsu.edu
Advisor: Todd Henry
Research interests: K dwarfs, multiple star systems, exoplanets, cataloguing.
Research techniques: Data analysis, astrometry, photometry, spectroscopy, radial velocity.
Programming language of choice: Python.
I should be your first stop for: Rock/metal music, or if you need to spill some hot gossip.
Hobbies beyond work: Music, Pokemon, tv/movies, cooking.
Random advice for new grad students: Above all else, prioritize your mental health. If you’re having a bad mental health day, it’s better to use a day to recover than to push yourself too hard.
Favorite places to work outside the office: Home desk!
Know your neighbors! Tim lives in: Midtown, next to North Avenue MARTA.

Colin Kane (3rd year)

Office: 1 Park Place, #716
Email: ckane6@gsu.edu
Advisor: Russel White
Research interests: Intermediate mass stars, stellar structure, rotation, stellar evolution.
Research techniques: High resolution optical spectroscopy (with CHIRON and archival spectra) and Visible and Near IR Interferometry (CHARA MIRC-X/MYSTIC and hopefully SPICA).
Programming language of choice: Python (but will use Julia if necessary).
I should be your first stop for: Talking about sports, questions about stars, if you need to make sure your plots are colorblind friendly, or just want to chat.
Hobbies beyond work: Playing soccer (or really any sport), fishing, board/card games, trying local breweries, and watching bad movies.
Random advice for new grad students:Ask questions, whether you think it is something you should know or not. Everyone here will answer any question you may have and its ok not to know something. Never be afraid to ask for help as we are all trying to help each other succeed.
Favorite places to work outside the office: My desk at home.
Know your neighbors! Colin lives in: Decatur by the Avondale station.

Kayvon Sharifi (3rd year)

Office: 1 Park Place, #712
Email: ksharifi1@gsu.edu
Advisor: Sebastien Lepine
Research interests: Extended structures around open clusters; low-mass stars in nearby open clusters and moving groups.
Research techniques: Large survey data, i.e. Gaia and SDSS.
Programming language of choice: Python.
I should be your first stop for: Hacky sacking during the work day (always got it on me).
Hobbies beyond work: Music, reading, reading in pools, hikes around ATL, Ohio State football, ping-pong
Random advice for new grad students: If you're feeling burnt out, don't be afraid to take days off here and there as you need--you are in charge of your own schedule! The grads are all here to help you, don't be afraid to ask anything that's on your mind!
Favorite places to work outside the office: Joe's Coffeehouse in EAV.
Know your neighbors! Kayvon lives in: West Midtown near Atlantic Station.