I work to solve problems in observational astrophysics and cosmology. I am an observer by trade and enjoy working with instrumentation and data at all wavelengths, though I am especially proficient with data in the optical and infrared. My scientific expertise is in observational cosmology and extragalactic astrophysics, with both galaxy clusters and high-redshifts galaxies. The broad goal of my research is to describe the way in which structure on the largest observable scales developed into its current form, starting from the Big Bang.
I use large samples of galaxy clusters that are selected both from their optical light, and with the Sunyaev Zel'dovich (SZ) Effect, to test predictions for structure formation. Within the galaxy cluster zoo, I spend a lot of my time working with strong lensing clusters where the strong lensing phenomenon yields information about the structure and properties of the cluster lenses while also providing highly magnified images of distant background galaxies. I use a wide range of facilities in my research, including incredible NASA observaties like the Hubble Space Telescope and the Chandra X-ray Observatory. I also make frequent use of large ground-based observatories, including the Magellan and Gemini telescopes.