Student Research in Astronomy
Students who have an interest in astronomy are encouraged to take advanced course work in the math and the physical sciences and talk to Dr. John Martin about engaging in a research project. Explore mentored student research at the UIS Observatory.
Here are students who have worked with Dr. Martin and the topics which they worked on.
Mihir Thosar (Summer 2023)
- Develop an interface for the Global Meteor Network Cameras to display live output on a web page.
Salomé Wortman (Summer/Fall 2023)
- Develop educational displays for the UIS Campus Observatory.
Praise Idowu (Summer/Fall 2023)
- Installing new Global Meteor Network Cameras at the UIS Lake Springfield Field Station and the UIS Therkildsen Field Station at Emiquon.
Kristine Sonnek (Summers 2021 & 2022)
- Upgrading the process for PSF building in the Luminous Stars Survey Photometry Pipeline
- Install Global Meteor Network Cameras at UIS Campus Observatory and UIS Barber Research Observatory
Asung Shin (Summer 2021)
- Software to process and extract spectra from images for the 10-C spectrograph.
Joey Green (Spring/Summer 2021 & Summer 2022)
- Curation of photometry and looking for variable stars the Luminous Stars Survey
Ian Marvel (Summer 2019)
- Reduction of images and photometry for the Luminous Stars Survey
Logan Kimball (Summers 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019)
- Cataloging Red Supergiants as part of the M31/M33 Luminous Stars Survey
Ben Summers (Spring 2015-Spring 2016)
- Geometric parallaxes of nearby asteroids (CHE 400 Project)
Rob McFarland (Spring 2015-Fall 2015)
- Grating Spectroscopy of Long-period Mira Type Variables (CHE 400 Project)
Alex Lerch (Summer 2015)
- Mathematical removal of systematic errors in light curves simultaneously observed by several different telescope systems. (CHE 400 Project)
Shelby Jarrett (Spring 2014-Spring 2015)
- Photometry of T Tauri Stars (ASP 410, Spring 2014)
- Analysis of spectroscopic trends in Epsilon Aurigae (CHE 400 Project, Fall 2014-Spring 2015)
Patrick Rolens (2013-2015)
- Detecting new variable stars with the 20-inch telescope and U42 CCD Camera
Jacob Boehm (Spring 2013)
- Light curves for eclipsing binaries (ASP 410)
Justin Mock (Spring 2012/Summer & Fall 2013/Spring 2014)
- WINNER CHE Outstanding Research Thesis Award 2014
- Supernova Impostors (CHE 400 project, winner Chemistry Undergraduate Research Award 2014)
Douglas Hamilton (Summer 2012)
- Kinematics of Eta Carinae’s Equatorial Ejecta (AST internship)
Cybil Foster (Spring/Summer 2012)
- Epsilon Aurigae’s Out-of-Eclipse Spectral Variations (CHE 400 project)
Joshua Massey (Summer 2011/Spring 2012)
- Wavelength Calibration of Echellette Spectrogra and Spectroscopic Changes during Eps Aur’s 2009-2012 eclipse (CHE 400 project)
Cheng Feng (Summer 2011)
- Wavelength Calibration of Echellette Spectrograph and Doppler Velocitie of Eps Aur (CHE 400 project)