My research interests are in developing sensors, systems, and algorithms for ocean research. Testing systems and collecting data in the field (ocean) is a highlight of my career as it requires focus, planning, debugging, and creative problem solving while pushing boundaries with a team.

My most recent projects have focused on advancing high resolution seafloor imaging techniques.  The images created by the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) mounted acoustic and imaging sensor suite developed by the Roman Lab at the University of Rhode Island (my graduate lab) can achieve better than cm-level resolution. A key element of this research included detecting diffuse hydrothermal venting with a component of that sensor suite, the structured light laser sensor, which was originally developed for high resolution bathymetric mapping.  Fluid density anomalies associated with active venting, distort the laser line as it is imaged on the seafloor.  Detection of this distortion allows for the creation of high-resolution, remote and systematic maps of diffuse hydrothermal vent fields. Additionally, I have studied the ability of a high resolution multibeam sonar to detect density interfaces within brine pools.

Check out my publications for more details!

Education

Ph. D. Ocean Engineering, University of Rhode Island, 2016 (Title: Detection of fluid density anomalies using remote imaging techniques.)

M.S. Ocean Engineering, University of Rhode Island, 2013 (Title: Detection of diffuse seafloor venting using structured light imaging)

B.S. Electrical Engineering, Northwestern University