Qualifications

Doctor of Philosophy, Physics and Astronomy 2013 (expected)
Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
  • Research Title: "Stellar evolution of double-degenerate central stars of planetary nebulae and type Ia supernova progenitors."
Master of Science (Distinction), Plasma Physics December 2009
Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast, UK
  • Research Project: "Propagation of electron-acoustic excitations in the presence of suprathermal background electrons - linear and nonlinear effects."
Master of Science (Merit), Computational Engineering September 2007
University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
  • Master's Thesis: "Development of a microcontroller based measurement system for the neuromuscular blockade during anesthesia."

Current Appointment

PhD Candidate April 2010 - Present
Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Macquarie University
  • Conducted research to model the photoionization of the planetary nebulae surface brightness radius relation.
  • Funded support from the Macquarie University Research Excellence Scholarship (MQRES) Scheme.

Previous Affiliations

Master's Research October 2008 - December 2009
Centre for Plasma Physics, Department of Physics & Astronomy, Queen's University of Belfast
  • Conducted research to model electron-acoustic excitations in the presence of suprathermal background electrons.
  • Simulated nonlinear dispersion of laser pulses propagating through Kerr media.
  • Perform optical emission spectroscopy of non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasmas.
  • Attended courses, e.g. Theoretical Plasma Physics, Experimental Plasma Physics, Laser Produced Plasmas, and Low Temperature Plasmas.
  • Funded support from the Department for Employment and Learning (DEL) Northern Ireland.
Early-Stage Researcher February - October 2008
Faculty of Physics, University of Craiova, Romania
  • Conducted research to investigate BRST couplings between a background field (BF) model and dual formulation of linearized gravity in five dimensions.
  • Attended training and courses, e.g. General Relativity, Constrained Dynamics, Quantized Gauge Field, BRST Symmetry and its Applications.
  • Participate in seminars, workshops, and conferences.
  • Funded support from the European Union Contract MRTN-CT-2004-005104.
Master's Work (Masterarbeit) January - September 2007
Faculty of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, University of Rostock
  • Developed microcontroller based measurement system to record neuromuscular signals in clinical and anaesthesia practice.

Fellowships and Awards

International Astronomical Union (IAU) Travel Grant for the IAU Symposium 283 (Planetary Nebulae) 2011
IAU Travel Grant for the IAU Symposium 282 (From Interacting Binaries to Exoplanets) 2011
IAU Travel Grant for the IAU Symposium 281 (Binary Paths to the Explosions of type Ia Supernovae) 2011
Macquarie University Safety Net Grant (PI: O. De Marco; Project: Binary Central Stars of PNe) 2011
Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics Scholarship for ICPDP6 2011
International Macquarie University Research Excellence Scholarship (iMQRES) 2010 - 2013
Department for Employment and Learning (DEL) Northern Ireland Studentship 2008 - 2009
Marie Curie Fellowship for Early Stage Training (MRTN-CT-2004-005104) 2008