Curriculum Vitae
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AWS Climate Data Science Fellow
Harvard University, Dept. of Earth and Planetary Sciences
Building the world's most comprehensive dataset of reported crop yield data at subnational scales.
Research Interests
Creating global datasets of crop yield information. Coupling remote sensing with ground-based observations of agriculture. Investigating how climate dynamics shape yield responses. Interactive data visualization and analysis across disciplines, particularly through contributions to the package glue.
Education
Ph.D. in Astrophysics
Harvard University
Advisors: Lars Hernquist & Alyssa Goodman
Thesis: Shock-Turbulence Interactions in Star Formation
B.S. in Mathematics & Honors Physics
University of Notre Dame
Minors: Astrophysics Concentration, Glynn Family Honors Program
Thesis: Physics of Near-Infrared Type Ia Supernova Light Curves
Research Highlights
- Helped discover that all local star formation occurs on the surface of the Local Bubble. Additionally, helped model how our Solar System passed through the surface of the Local Bubble 5 million years ago, which has been confirmed with geological records.
- Led the creation of a high-resolution, interactive 3D map of the Orion star-forming complex.
- Produced and analyzed multi-terabyte simulations on the formation processes for star-forming gas.
- Collaborated with private industry in the production of the first augmented reality figure ever published in astronomy.
- Assisted in numerous discoveries regarding the Radcliffe Wave, now known to be the local arm of our Milky Way galaxy.
- Worked with an international team to place (at the time) the tightest constraints on the strength and nature of dark energy ever.
- Calculated (at the time) the tightest constraints on the production of the first elements (hydrogen, helium, and lithium) after the Big Bang.
- Designed the first system control interface for iLocater, a state-of-the-art instrument finding exoplanets on the Large Binocular Telescope.
Publication Summary
3 published first-author papers with 1 more submitted and 2 in preparation. 12 published contributing-author publications (2 in Nature) with 2 preprints and 1 more submitted. Over 4,300 citations and h-index of 11.
Selected First-Author Publications
Topology of Shock-Turbulence Interactions
M. M. Foley, L. Hernquist, P. Mocz, A. Goodman, T. J. O'Neill, B. Burkhart. Submitted to ApJ.
Development of Turbulence in Postshock Regions
M. M. Foley, P. Mocz, B. Burkhart, A. Goodman, L. Hernquist. ApJ 992 2.
A 3D View of Orion: I. Barnard's Loop
M. M. Foley, C. Zucker, A. Goodman, J. C. Forbes, J. Alves, S. Bialy, C. Swiggum, M. Grudic, J. Bally, J. Soler, T. Ensslin, R. Leike. ApJ 947 2.
Revised Uncertainties in Big Bang Nucleosynthesis
M. M. Foley, N. Sasankan, M. Kusakabe, G. J. Mathews. IJMPE Vol 26 No. 8.
Honors & Awards
Certificate of Distinction in Teaching, Harvard University
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship
Gates Cambridge Scholarship (declined)
Dean's Research Award, University of Notre Dame College of Science
American Astronomical Society Chambliss Medal Recipient
Barry M. Goldwater Scholar
Teaching
Climate, Crops, and Food Security
Undergraduate, Harvard · Student Reviews: 5/5
Interstellar Medium and Star Formation
Graduate, Harvard · Student Reviews: 4.75/5
The Unity of Science
Undergraduate, Harvard · Student Reviews: 4.75/5
Awarded Certificate of Distinction in Undergraduate Teaching
Bok Center Teaching Practicums
Two month-long workshops, formal teaching evaluation, and guest lectures
Astrophysical Fluids and Plasmas
Graduate, Harvard · Student Reviews: 4.13/5
Prediction: The Past and Present of the Future
Undergraduate, Harvard