Pepper and I at Fisher Towers in Southern Utah

My background

I was born in San Jose, California. My family is from Romania, and my parents immigrated to the US just a few months before I was born. I have lived in California, Scotland, Texas, New York, and Utah. I received my BS in Physics in 2019 from the University of California, Santa Cruz and my PhD in Astronomy in 2024 from the University of Texas at Austin.

A bit about me

I love trying out new hobbies, but some I regularly return to are hiking, roller skating, painting, drawing, photography, and knitting. I am also trying to learn a musical instrument, but it never sticks…(currently attempting guitar but swap this out with ukulele, violin, and harmonica depending on the time of year). Before starting graduate school, I ran an online vintage shop where I sold vintage clothing items. I still love vintage clothing and wear it often.

Also, I have a one-eyed dog named Pepper. Most weekends, you will find us at our local coffee shop asking the barista for treats.