Rose Perea, Phd Email & Phone Number

United States

Washington, United States

Identified a novel use, fast neutron spectroscopy, in a new scintillator: lithium-doped NaI (NaIL). Modeled and performed initial lab tests to verify this use. Results have been submitted to the IEEE NSS/MIC 2021 conference.Assembled novel prototype detectors for a Department of Energy funded program that resulted in a publication, "Development of an Extruded Plastic Array for Narrow Scintillation Pulse Widths," Woolf, R. et al. 2021.Characterized various plastic scintillators for use in the NEutron Radiation Instrument (NERDI) that will be in orbit on the ISS in 2023 through the Space Test Program (STP).Measured and compared the behavior of a CsI scintillator paired with a PMT and SiPM in the temperature range of -20 to 40 degrees Celsius. Data from this study was used in the design consideration of Glowbug, which will also fly with NERDI on the ISS in 2023 via the STP program.Performed field measurements with HPGe detectors in DC, MD, LA, and MS for a DHS-supported program. Analyzed data from these measurements to meet program delivery milestones.

Nashville, Tn

Hovering between the line of astronomy and bio-imaging, I begain working primarily with gamma-ray detectors and wanted to apply this knowledge and experience to developing/working with detectors for astronomy instrumentation. My co-advisors where Dr. Stassun (astronomy department) and Dr. Peterson (Nuclear Imaging/Radiology). The experience I obtained in characterizing HPGe detectors used in bio-imaging was useful for my career in instrumentation, while at the same time helped me become more diverse with the applicability of my skills to the broader field of medical imaging.I have previously worked with strontium iodide doped with europium, studying non-proportionality as a function of temperature and energy. Currently, I am learning to work with a high purity germanium double-sided strip detector, used in our group for SPECT Imaging. This work with Dr. Peterson will allow me to learn about projections, position estimation calculations, image reconstruction, and behavior of strip detectors. Lastly, I will be able to quantify how this all effects the performance of the detector and quality of the image.

Greenbelt, Md

Designed an experiment to compare the performance of two scintillator detectors, SrI2(Eu2+) and LaBr3(Ce3+) with a 6 MeV gamma-ray source. Obtained first (to our knowledge) measurement of nonproportionality of SrI2(Eu2+) at 6 MeV.

Nashville, Tn

•Experience in fabrication and characterization of CZT crystals. • Experience in Pockels measurements with CZT crystals.•Experience in gamma-ray detection and measurements using both CZT and SrI2(Eu2+) detectors.•Performed a measurement of the nonproportionality of SrI2(Eu2+) as a function of temperature and found that the nonproportionality increases as the temperature increases.•The temperature study also found that the source photopeak decreases in ADC channel while temperature is increased, indicating that less scintillation photons are being detected.

Greenbelt, Md

• Performed resolution studies on NaI(Tl), LaBr3(Ce3+), and SrI2(Eu2+) to seek the best parameter combination for the scintillators and the Lynx acquisition software using a Cs-137, 10μC gamma-ray source.• Conducted a gamma-ray detection measurement using SrI2(Eu2+) and LaBr3(Ce3+) with a 6 MeV source to determine the performance of the new detector, SrI2(Eu2+), compared to the known commercialized detector, LaBr3(Ce3+), at an energy regime not previously tested. This was performed outdoors at the experimental test site for the Probing In-situ Neutron and Gamma-ray (PING) instrument located near Goddard.• Gained experience in outreach, visiting two inner city schools in Baltimore Maryland for their summer programs to help with the curriculum and show the students that they too can work at NASA.• Gained experience on the geology field trip which included meteor crater and the Grand Canyon in Arizona for a week.

Albuquerque, Nm

• Worked as one of three graduate mentors in a team of undergraduates with diverse disciplines to build a lightning spectrometer. The spectrometer was to be used to detect lightning in the ionosphere and help to understand how the electromagnetic radiation propagates. Goal was to acquire a stand-alone system working on the ground before downsizing the system to fit in a satellite.• Installed Network Time Protocol software to get accurate time stamps on a Macintosh in order to run a data manager from the United States Precision Lightning Network. This allowed us to stream real-time lighting strike data.• Formally trained on the Cube Flow design system. This system allows designers to create modules for Space Plug-and-Play Avionics.

Las Cruces, New Mexico Area

• Used first principles calculations using the VASP code (Vienna Ab-initio Simulation Package) to investigate the behavior of Earth minerals at high pressures.• Performed electronic structure, ground state energy calculations of the mineral, iron-bearing wadsleyite.

Las Cruces, New Mexico Area

• Investigated time series data of variable stars from Kepler mission. • Performed Fourier analysis with Period04 software. • Limited work with BRUCE code in modeling stars. Goal was to obtain synthetic spectra created by BRUCE thatwould be comparable to the Kepler data.

Doctor Of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Physics

Activities and Societies: IEEE, Pen Pals with a Purpose

Master'S Degree, Physics

Activities and Societies: Society of Physics Students (Vice President)

Master Of Science (M.S.), Physics

Activities and Societies: Society of Physics Students (SPS)