Ben V. Email & Phone Number

Ithaca, Ny, Us

Ithaca, New York, United States

In this role I have continued some of my work developing the Tomographic Ionized-carbon Mapping Experiment by analyzing our engineering data from the winter of 2021 (see my description as a visiting student at the Steward Observatory). This work will inform our future scan patterns as well as lay the groundwork for a fully fledged analysis pipeline to produce 3D tomographic maps of ionized carbon. I am also a member of the CCAT Observatory working under the guidance of Professor Abigail Crites (my PhD advisor) to develop an on-chip spectrometer. Currently I am building a prototype of this spectrometer at the Cornell Nanoscale Facility, and we plan to deploy it on the observatory in late 2028.

Fall 2023: Physics 2213 Introductory E&MSpring 2024: Physics 1110 Physics laboratory

Continued to assist in laboratory tests of the optical efficiency and sensitivity of the Tomographic Ionized-carbon Mapping Experiment while wrapping up my Master's Thesis.

I worked in the RIT Experimental Cosmology group on two projects. The first is a multi-national research collaboration called the The Tomographic Ionized-carbon Mapping Experiment. It's goal is to measure the 3-D distribution of the singly-ionized carbon, [CII], emitters during the Epoch of Re-ionization at redshift 7-10. The other collaboration uses Herschel SPIRE data to measure the relativistic Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect (SZe) in galaxy clusters. I am the lead student on an offshoot project from this group that uses spectroscopic information from the Herschel SPIRE Fourier Transform Spectrometer to measure thermodynamic properties of MACSJ0717.5 via the SZe.My work on the Tomographic Ionized-carbon Mapping Experiment, while at RIT is surmised in my Master's thesis.s My work on the SZe with SPIRE data was the subject of my undergraduate senior thesis. We have also published two journal articles on this work, with a third, being led by me, on the way.

Computational physics and introductory electricity and magnetism

Kitt Peak, Arizona

In this role I helped deploy the Tomographic Ionized-carbon Mapping Experiment on the Kitt Peak 12 M Radio Observatory antenna. I was in charge of the calibration of our prototype detectors while on-site. This meant that I had to re-bias the detectors every few days as their optical power drifted over the course of our observations. I also helped install the spectrometer in the observing cabin and spent at least 40 hours remote observing once I had left the site.

United States

While at Caltech I worked on the mechanical and optical design of the TIME spectrometer. Specifically I re-designed the cold optics box that housed the spectrometer and our readout cables.

Studied the relativistic Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect as part of a small research collaboration.

Santa Clara, California

I worked as an intern on circuit design and fabrication.

I designed a cheap easy to use proximity detector for use in commercial robotics.

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Experimental Physics

APS Graduate Student Ambassador

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Physics

Activities and Societies: society of physics students

Master Of Science - Ms, Astrophysical Sciences And Technology

Activities and Societies: Vice chair: RIT American Physical Society Chapter, President: RIT Astronomy Club