Research CV

Thesis: Derisking the LIFE Mission: End-to-End GNC Verification and Yield Analysis for the MINI-X Precursor

Supervisors: Sarah Rugheimer and Michael Bazzocchi.

• Conceived and now lead MINI-X, a LIFE-like five-spacecraft mid-infrared nulling-interferometer precursor at Sun–Earth L2, spanning formation geometry, orbit selection, spacecraft dynamics, GNC, and science-performance interfaces.
• Built and validated a high-fidelity Basilisk simulation with JPL DE440 ephemerides, variable-step truth propagation, gravity-gradient and environmental disturbances, relative metrology, UKF estimation, attitude control, reaction wheels, pulsed micropropulsion, and formation-control trades.
• Quantified how orbit family, chief geometry, formation rotation, viewing angle, and controller choice affect closed-loop position error, attitude error, and delta-v; linked those residuals to optical path difference, tip/tilt, null depth, SNR, and detection yield.
• Developing optics-aware minimum-intervention and allocator-aware control methods alongside robotic hardware-in-the-loop testbeds for close-proximity operations.

With Sarah Rugheimer and Elaina Hyde.

• Developed a Python workflow for exoplanet transit photometry using York University’s 1-metre Allan I. Carswell Observatory; collected and processed transit, galaxy, variable-star, and nebular observations.
• Created JWST and Hubble image-processing tutorials, scientific visualizations, and instructional videos using Python, Astropy, PixInsight, Siril, and GIMP for undergraduate astronomy education.

York University, in collaboration with MDA.

• Developed RGB-D and machine-learning vision algorithms for spacecraft tracking, pose estimation, collision avoidance, and robotic capture in simulated space environments.
• Integrated vision pipelines with NVIDIA Jetson Nano and Raspberry Pi platforms and designed force-sensing concepts for robotic spacecraft gripping.

• Delivered lectures for PHYS 3070 — Planets and Planetary Systems, including exoplanet transits, observational methods, and Python-based transit analysis.
• Graded coursework for PHYS 1800 — Engineering Mechanics and PHYS 1801 — Electricity, Magnetism, and Optics for Engineers.
• Independently ran laboratory sections for PHYS 2221, PHYS 2222, PHYS 1421, and PHYS 1422, covering electronics, optics, introductory motion and forces, experimental design, uncertainty analysis, data reduction, and technical reporting.

RSOnar 3 mission.

• Worked in a six-person team to design a CMOS imaging payload for measuring stratospheric brightness on the Canadian Space Agency/MDA Stratos balloon mission.
• Coordinated payload requirements and design decisions with Michael Bazzocchi, CSA, and MDA while working toward flight-relevant engineering standards.

• Co-led mechanical design for a 3U CubeSat concept to monitor snow and ice coverage in Northern Canada.
• Performed component selection, SolidWorks CAD, Siemens NX thermal analysis, and preliminary CubeSat-standards compliance work.

“Sun–Earth L2 Point Nulling Interferometry Formation Flying Performance Analysis.” AAS/AIAA Astrodynamics Specialist Conference, Whistler, British Columbia, Paper 967.

“The Large Interferometer For Exoplanets (LIFE): The Case for a Large Mid-Infrared Space Mission.” arXiv:2607.21683.

Derisking the LIFE Mission: End-to-End GNC Verification and Yield Analysis for the MINI-X Precursor.

Paper 967, including the recorded technical conference presentation.

Formation flying; relative navigation; CR3BP and ER3BP dynamics; UKF estimation; PID, LQR, and LQI control; MRP attitude control; reaction-wheel and microthruster allocation; convex optimization; proximity operations.

Basilisk; Python; NumPy; SciPy; Astropy; SPICE; JPL DE440 ephemerides; MATLAB; STK; Git; Linux scientific workflows.

Robotic gantry testbeds; hardware-in-the-loop validation; motion capture; RGB-D sensing; spacecraft vision; robotic arm control; star trackers; IMUs; laser metrology; embedded computing.

SolidWorks; Siemens NX; Fusion 360; Blender; finite-element and thermal analysis; spacecraft mechanical design; payload integration.

JWST and Hubble data; exoplanet transit photometry; astronomical image processing; PixInsight; Siril; GIMP; scientific visualization; LIFEsimMC science-yield analysis.