I am an assistant research scientist at the University of Maryland, College Park and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. I study tides on Solar System moons and Exoplanets. I received my Ph.D. in Physics from George Mason University in 2019. I was named a NASA postdoctoral fellow that year and began working at NASA Goddard. In 2022, I became a research scientist at University of Maryland, contracted to continue to work at Goddard.
Why Study Tides? The same forces that cause Earth’s oceans to rise twice each day are capable of churning the insides of other worlds to the point of melting. This energy has to come from somewhere, and in the case of tides it originates from the orbits and rotations of planets and moons. I think the coolest thing about this process is that the efficiency of this energy conversion is dependent on the micro-physical, and even quantum, processes within grains of rock and ice. Because of this, tides uniquely link orbital mechanics, planetary interiors, and microphysics.
My Other Work: I am the co-lead of NASA’s Exoplanet Modeling and Analysis Center, in this role I oversee the organizations strategic plan and support the development and sharing of open source exoplanet research software and databases. Additionally, I run NASA Goddard’s Exoplanet Seminar series.
My Interests: Outside of work I love going to Renaissance festivals, long distance running, Virginian wine, and TTRPGs. I live in Alexandria, VA with my wife, Jessica Teaford. Together we own a DC Event Planning and Fundraising consultant company, Yes, And! Events.
