Nikki Nielsen
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| Teaching Assistant |
| Entered: | 2009 |
| Office: | 209 Astronomy |
| Phone: | (575)646-7724 |
| Fax: | (575)646-1602 |
| |
| E-mail: | nnielsen |
| (append "@nmsu.edu") |
| |
|
|
| B.S. | Michigan State University, | 2009 |
|
Research
I worked with Tim Beers at Michigan State University (MSU), using
Python to analyze kinematic data on F-type stars in the solar neighborhood. I
then compared this data to Tim's SDSS data to determine membership in the thick
disk and the inner or outer halo and search for additional substructures in my
sample. Because of my studies at MSU, I have a strong interest in galaxy structure and
tidal streams, and studying stellar metallicities though I am looking forward to
learning more and expanding my interests.
While at MSU I was an active member of the Society of Physics Students (SPS) for
several years, and served as the secretary in 2008 and president in 2009. I
enjoyed creating an informal research colloquium series for SPS, inviting professors
in related departments to speak to us about their research efforts and experiences.
I began my graduate studies in July 2009, working with Chris Churchill
in the extragalactic group. I have been combining spectra for quasars at
various redshifts by comparing the wavelengths of lines in each spectra to
determine if a shift of one spectrum is needed. The end result is (hopefully)
a spectrum with greater signal/noise that covers a larger wavelength range.
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