Nathalia D. Email & Phone Number

Denver, Co, Us

I installed and implemented a charged coupled device and spectrograph at the Cal Poly observatory. I worked closely with the Cal Poly physics technician to repair and maintain telescope optics and hardware, dome hardware, and computer software necessary for data acquisition and processing. I also wrote telescope manuals for future astronomy classes and student researchers to utilize during their time at the observatory.Most nights I hosted the Astronomy 101 and 301 classes at the Cal Poly Observatory for observing nights using various kinds of telescopes. I taught students about stars, galaxies, and planetary systems to supplement their learning in their astronomy classes.

I guided students in learning fundamental concepts about sensors, actuators, and controls by demonstrating how to implement feedback control loops in Arduino. I also taught students how to model and simulate sensor and actuator characterization, digital signal processing, measurement uncertainty, filters, noise, and closed-loop control systems using MATLAB and Simulink.

As one of few students with extensive knowledge of the Cal Poly Observatory, I taught the Observational Astronomy students how to operate Cal Poly's Meade 14" LX600 ACF telescope using the SkyX startracking software. I supervised observing nights during which students tracked and imaged astronomical objects such as eclipsing binaries and exoplanets. I also taught students spectroscopy fundamentals and demonstrated how to use the Shelyak Lisa visible domain spectrograph which I have been implementing at the observatory for the past year.

I parameterized and fit 2D functions to galaxies and Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) and produced detailed galaxy decompositions using GALFIT and SAOImageds9 for an NSF-funded research project. My work supported greater studies detailing the scaling relations between supermassive black holes and their host galaxies. I also worked on the Cal Poly telescope where I implemented a new spectrograph in preparation for improving the ASTR 444 course curriculum.

I developed adaptive learning modules for the engineering statics, dynamics, and introductory physics courses at Cal Poly. I also wrote a first-author paper about the emergency shift to online learning and presented it at the 2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference.

My tasks included organizing Zoom lectures, answering student questions during class, and proctoring exams for the IME 144 Introduction to Design and Manufacturing class. I also provided support on Canvas to the lecturer during asynchronous class periods.

San Luis Obispo, California