Curriculum Vitae

email: adrian [dot] crawford [at] virginia [dot] edu

Education

University of Virginia, Anticipated Defense Date: 2027
          Ph.D. Advisor: Dr. Maryam Modjaz
          M.S. in Astronomy May 2023
     Cumulative GPA: 3.9

University of Texas at Austin, Graduation: May 2021
          B.S. in  Astronomy
          B.S. in Physics
     Cumulative GPA: 3.9

[ Last Updated Summer 2024]

Research Experience

PhD Thesis at the University of Virginia - Peaky Finders: Identifying Doubly Peaked IIb Supernovae in Live-Stream Large-Scale Astronomical Surveys, Jan 2023-Present
     Advisors: Dr. Maryam Modjaz & Dr. Tyler A. Pritchard 
     Goal: Develop data-driven machine learning classifier to identify and predict Type IIb supernova in live stream photometric data + develop first population study of doubly peaked Type IIb supernovae
  • Developed and fit efficient lightning bolt model using MCMC to light curves of 10 proof-of-concept SNe
  • Performed feature engineering on fitted light curves to identify most important features of doubly peaked IIb SNe
  • Made use of multiple telescope surveys (i.e. ZTF, GSP, ATLAS) through archival data queries 
  • Generating large, data-driven training set through Gaussian Process Regression on initial 10 SNe object sample
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PhD Project at the University of Virginia - Investigating the Role of Mixing in Entropy Production During Galaxy Cluster Mergers, Aug 2021-Jan 2023
     Advisor: Dr. Craig Sarazin
     Goal: To theoretical model entropy mixing during galaxy cluster mergers and quantify the importance and effect of mixing in entropy production
  • Developed new mass-dependent equation for entropy by finding best-fit parameters using Python's linear regression
  • Expanded and improved upon simplistic model for a galaxy cluster in C++ by adding mass dependence throughout
  • Programmed Python script to run updated model on 20+ masses producing files with 10 features and over 400 rows 
  • Created functions to calculate entropy in 230+ merger pairs, visualized mass relations and found 87% success rate  

University of Michigan REU - Looking for observable tracers of the dark matter halo, Jun-Aug 2020  (REU); Aug 2020-Sep 2021 
     Advisors:  Dr. Camille Avestruz, Dr. Ricardo Herbonnet
     Goal: To find an observable tracer in the Brightest Cluster Galaxies (BCGs) of the underlying dark matter halo shape of galaxy clusters to better inform weak lensing mass estimate of galaxy clusters
  • Authored published paper and won an award for presentation and poster at professional astronomy conference
  • Cleaned data set by removing messy/unusable images using series of 5 flags tested on subset of full data set
  • Collaborated with group to assess accuracy of 3 shape measurements by computing offsets and creating additional flags 
  • Computed Spearman Correlation Coefficient of ~100 pairings of shape measurements using bootstrapping techniques
  • Created numerous data visualizations showcasing shape measurements and correlation strengths using matplotlib

Independent Undergraduate Researcher - Improved technique for analyzing white dwarf pulsation modes, May 2019-Aug 2020 
     Advisor:  Dr. Mike Montgomery
     Goal: To improve and expedite light curve analysis to better find pulsation mode identifications and convection layer structure of pulsating white dwarfs
  • I created a pipeline that connected and organized the several Python and Fortran programs that the tool is comprised of. This pipeline reads in a synthetic light curve, performs hundreds of fits in order to find the best-fit light curve, and then records  the pulsation identifications and various parameters of the best-fit light curve. 
  • I tested the tool on 8 synthetic light curves, each at 6 different noise levels ranging from 0% - 25% noise added
  • I created a program that compared the fitted parameters with the input parameters in order to calculate the accuracy of the tool's measurements. I found that on noise levels 15% and lower, the tool was very accurate.
  • We tested our tool on Kepler data of EC 14012-1446 (comparable to 10% noise level) in order to determine if our tool was still accurate when using real data. The tool was successful as its best-fit pulsation identifications agreed with literature values. 

Awards and Grants

  • Graduate Research Fellowship, Virginia Space Grant Consortium, 2024-Present
  • Page Grant UVA Queer Alumni Network, Dec 2023
  • ZTF Summer Workshop Travel Grant, July 2023
  • Virgin Galactic Unite Bytheway Scholarship, 2017-2021
  • Chambliss Astronomy Achievement Student Award, AAS237, Jan 2021
  • Ira Lon Morgan Presidential Endowed Scholarship, 2020-2021
  • UT Austin Astronomy Dept. travel award, 2020
  • Astronomy Dept. Board of Visitors Undergraduate Scholarship, 2020
  • Texas Space Grant Consortium CUWiP Grant, 2018

Publications and Presentations

Papers

  1. Adrian Crawford, et al., "Peaky Finders: Identifying Doubly Peaked IIb Supernovae in Live-Stream Large-Scale Astronomical Surveys", 2024, [In Prep]
  2. Ricardo Herbonnet, Adrian Crawford, et al., "Brightest Cluster Galaxies Trace Weak Lensing Mass Bias and Halo Triaxiality in Simulated Clusters", MNRAS, April 2022 [Read Here]

Talks

  • “Peaky Finders: The Search for Doubly Peaked IIb SNe in Large Scale Surveys”, METAL Collaboration Conference, UVA, May 2024
  • “Peaky Finders: The Search for Doubly Peaked IIb SNe in Large Scale Surveys”, Bob Rood Symposium, UVA, April 2024
  • “Stellar Forensics, Supernovae, and Machine Learning” Charlottesville High School Astronomy Club, February 2024
  • "Neurodiversity in the Classroom", METAL Collaboration Conference, July 2023. 
  • "Looking for Observable Tracers of Dark Matter Halo Shape", University of Michigan REU Final Presentations. Virtual Format, August 2020. [View Presentation Here]
  • "Looking for Observable Tracers of Dark Matter Halo Shape", UT Austin Summer Research Spotlight. Virtual Format, August 2020.
  • "Improved technique for analyzing white dwarf pulsation modes", Weekly Meeting for Undergraduate Gender Minorities in Physics. UT Austin, Austin, TX, March 2020.

Posters

  • “Peaky Finders: The Search for Doubly Peaked IIb SNe in Large Scale Surveys”, Hot-Wiring the Transient Universe, University of Toronto, May 2024
  • "Looking for Observable Tracers of Dark Matter Halo Shape'', American Astronomical Society (AAS) 237 Conference. Virtual Format, January 2021. [View Interactive Virtual Poster Here]
  • "Improved technique for analyzing white dwarf pulsation modes'', Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics. Texas A&M, College Station, TX, January 2020.
  • "Improved technique for analyzing white dwarf pulsation modes'', Undergraduate Research Forum. Virtual Format, March 2020.
  • [Cancelled due to COVID-19] "Improved technique for analyzing white dwarf pulsation modes'' Poster Competition. Physics Open House. March 2020. 

Teaching Experience

  • Teaching Assistant for Interstellar Medium for Astronomy Majors, Fall 2022
  • Teaching Assistant for Observational Techniques for Astronomy Majors, Spring 2022
  • Learning Assistant for Engineering Physics 1, Spring 2021
  • Learning Assistant for Introductory Algebra-Based Physics for Non-STEM majors, Fall 2020
  • Learning Assistant for E&M for Non-Physics Majors, Spring 2020
  • Learning Assistant for Introductory E&M for Physics Majors, Fall 2019

Employment History

  • Graduate Research Assistant/Graduate Teaching Assistant, Dept. of Astronomy, UVA, August 2021-Present
  • Learning Assistant, Dept. of Physics, UT Austin. August 2019-May 2021
  • Independent Researcher, Dept. of Astronomy, UT Austin. May 2019-Present
  • REU Student Researcher, National Science Foundation & University of Michigan. June 2020-August 2020
  • Assistant Librarian, Austin Community College, Round Rock, TX. November 2017-August 2019
  • Sales Associate/Camp Counselor, Summit Climbing and Fitness, Grapevine, TX. June 2018-August 2018 

Outreach

  • Girls Exploring the Universe, Camp Counselor, June 2024 
  • Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind + Geneva Lake Astrophysics and STEAM, STEM Day, April 2024
  • Elected Graduate Representative on the Astronomy Dept. DEI Committee, Jan 2022-Present
  • Co-Organizer of UVA Astronomy Queer Lunch Series, Jan 2022-Present
  • Volunteer for Dark Skies, Bright Kids (DSBK), Aug 2021-Aug 2023
As the treasurer for and general member in Undergraduate Gender Minorities in Physics (GMiP), I helped plan, coordinate, and volunteer at a variety of yearly events geared toward UT students, girls and women in STEM, and the general public. A few selected events are listed below. 
  • College of Natural Science Welcome Week
  • GirlStart Open House
  • Girl Day at UT
  • Prospective Students Day
  • Physics Department Open House
      As a member of the Astronomy Students Association, I helped volunteer at events to engage the public with general astronomy and science literacy. A few selected events are listed below. 
  • Star Parties
  • Explore UT

Professional Service and Honor Societies

LSST Data Preview 0 Delegate, 2024-Present
General Member, Global Supernova Project, 2022-Present.
General Member, METAL Collaboration, 2022-Present.
Invited Member, Phi Kappa Phi, 2021-2022.
Treasurer, Undergraduate Gender Minorities in Physics, UT Austin, 2019-2020.
General Member, Undergraduate Gender Minorities in Physics, UT Austin, 2017-2021.
General Member, Astronomy Students Association, UT Austin, 2017-2021.
General Member, Society of Physics Students , UT Austin, 2017-2021.
Accepted Member, Women in Natural Sciences, UT Austin, 2017-2021.
Invited Member, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, 2018-2021.