Astrophysics PhD Candidate, Monash University
2022 - 2025
My research is mainly focused on neutron stars, specifically p ulsar timing. I am currently working on mapping the gravitational wave background for the MeerKAT Pulsar Timing Array 4.5 year data release. Through this project I have contributed to methods development in gravitational wave signal mapping in Pulsar Timing Arrays and plan to continue this work. I have completed a project on improving pulsar timing by characterising pulse shape variation, which was continued from my honours research. Alongside my research, I am ​involved in many outreach activities and mentoring.

Honours in Astrophysics, Monash University 
2021 
2021 First-Class Honours
2021 Recipient of the J.L Williams Scholarship
2021 Faculty of Science Dean’s List Award
2022 Rhodes Scholarship Shortlist 

The honours degree consists of two components, coursework and a research project. For my coursework I have undertaken units in computational astrophysics, stellar astrophysics, advanced observational astronomy, general relativity, advanced data analysis and machine learning. My research was validating a new dynamic pulsar timing method on simulated pulsar data. I graduated with first-class honours.

Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Commerce, Monash University 
2017 — 2020 
Majors: Astrophysics and Business Analytics, Minor: Mathematics 
Weighted Average Mark: High Distinction 

As part of my degree, I worked on cutting-edge research projects with professional astrophysicists, analysing telescope data with innovative techniques including neural networks, and other machine learning techniques. My research is outlined in more detail below. During my studies I also completed courses in machine learning, time series analysis, forecasting, Bayesian statistics, data visualisation, databases and computing. As part of a group project for Business Analytics my group created a machine learning model that was the best at predicting the outcome of a point in tennis. Our model correctly predicted 92.86% of point outcomes, which was higher than the other 28 models submitted. 

Year 12 Graduate, Shelford Girls' Grammar  
2016 
ATAR: 96.65 

12 Publications | 2 First Author Publications | 1300+ citations 

h-index: 6 (95th percentile for astronomy PhD students in Australia)

Invited speaker and conference organiser at conferences across Australia and Europe

The MeerKAT Pulsar Timing Array: Maps of the gravitational-wave sky with the 4.5 year data release.
Co-led the development of data pipelines and algorithms for gravitational-wave mapping using 4.5 years of MeerKAT data.
Utilized Python and HPC to process large datasets, achieving the most detailed gravitational-wave background skymaps to date, including a 2-sigma hotspot at 7 nHz.

Improving pulsar-timing solutions through dynamic pulse fitting.
Developed a timing method using basis functions to enhance pulse profile accuracy in PSR J1103-5403, increasing timing precision by 78% and gravitational-wave sensitivity by 32%.
Identified mode-changing behaviour, offering new insights into pulsar dynamics.

A Physically Motivated Neural Network for Inferring Stellar Parameters 
Designed a variational auto-encoder in TensorFlow to improve stellar parameter measurements, applying physics-informed architecture for enhanced accuracy and generalisability.

Machine Learning Model for Predicting Tennis Point Outcomes
Developed a machine learning model in R achieving 92.86% prediction accuracy, surpassing 28 competing models in a Business Analytics group project.

International Pulsar Timing Array Science Meeting | 2024 
Contributed talk 

International Pulsar Timing Array Student Week | 2024 
Invited Talk 

European Pulsar Timing Array Science Meeting | 2024 
Invited Talk 

International Pulsar Timing Array Science Meeting | 2023 
Contributed talk and Local organising committee 

International Pulsar Timing Array Student Week | 2023 
Organising committee 

Gravitational Wave Physics and Astronomy Workshop | 2022 
Poster 

Astronomical Society of Australia Scientific Meeting | 2022, 2023 
Contributed talk and Talk prize honourable mention (2023) 

Australian National Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics Meeting | 2022, 2023 
Contributed Talk and Summer School Session Assistant (2023) 

OzGrav retreat | 2021 - 2023 
Contributed Talk and Outreach Award Highly Commended (2023)