Research Group
My research group works at the intersection of cosmology theory and observation, using the large-scale structure of the Universe as a window into dark energy, gravity, and fundamental physics. We are based in the University of Cincinnati Physics Department and are involved in the Dark Energy Survey and the Rubin Observatory LSST Dark Energy Science Collaboration.
We interact closely with other astrophysicists in the UC Physics Department, including the groups of Colin Bischoff, Matt Bayliss, and Helen Meskhidze. We hold a weekly joint group meeting with Jahmour Givans’s group.
Joining the group
PhD students — Admission is through the UC Physics PhD program.
UC undergraduates — I’m happy to chat about research with interested students, and occasionally am able to take on undergraduate researchers into the group. Outside capstone projects, I encourage students to apply to work on summer research via the UPRISE program. Undergraduates interested in astrophysics are encouraged to attend the department’s weekly astrophysics journal club. Ask me (or other UC astro people) about it if you’re interested!
Current members
Cosmic voids, density split statistics. Simulation-based studies of the impact of survey systematics on void lensing measurements.
Improving large-scale modeling for galaxy clustering and weak lensing. Validating and improving non-limber projection calculations when the Universe has non-zero average spatial curvature.
Making beyond-LambdaCDM analyses of galaxy clustering and weak lensing more robust. Fisher forecasts comparing methods for protecting against small-scale systematic errors for models without validated non-linear modeling.
Past mentees
- Evan Howell – U. Cincinnati undergraduate capstone (Fall 2025) Now: Radiation control technician at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
- Laura Moser – U. Cincinnati undergraduate capstone (Spring 2026)
- Joshua Tiju – U. Cincinnati undergraduate capstone (Spring 2026)
- Gautier Duchesne – PSI START summer undergraduate research project, Perimeter Institute (2024) Now: PhD student in condensed matter physics at the University of British Columbia.
- Jordan Krywonos – PhD student, Perimeter Institute; co-supervised with Matthew Johnson (2022–2024) Now: Postdoctoral researcher at DAMTP, University of Cambridge.
- Oleksandra Hrytseniak – Master's research, co-advised with Niayesh Afshordi (2022) Now: PhD student at Perimeter Institute.
- Yi Wang – PSI START summer undergraduate research project and Dalhousie University bachelor's thesis (2022–2023) Now: PhD student in condensed matter at Duke University.
- Javiera Hernández Morales – Perimeter Scholars International Winter School project, co-supervised with Matthew Johnson (2022) Now: PhD student in astrophysics at the University of Greifswald, Germany.
- Parth Garg – Stanford Physics Undergraduate Summer Research Program (2020) Now: Founder of banking tech startup, Aspora.