Biography
Dr. Stephen's received her bachelors degree from BYU and her masters and PhD from New Mexico State University and then went on to work at the Space Telescope Science Institute and Johns Hopkins University before coming to BYU.
Research Interests
I specialize in the study of brown dwarf atmospheres. Brown dwarfs are cold objects that form like a star, but do not have enough mass to fuse hydrogen into helium as stars do. They are very similar to planets and have various molecules and cloud features in their upper atmosphere. My research focuses on understanding the fundamental physics governing the atmospheres of these objects so that the models we create for these objects can be taken to the even cooler temperatures of the extrasolar planets. We are using the APO 3.5-meter to collect near-infrared spectra from 1-2.5 microns and will make use of data from the James Webb Space Telescope to study the atmospheres of brown dwarf from 5 to 15 microns. This data will be used to refine atmosphere models, and the atmosphere models will help us understand the fundamental physical properties of these objects.Currently I have expanded my research to look for binary brown dwarf systems and calculate their orbits using techniques developed from my research on binary objects in the Kuiper Belt. We are also doing variability studies with the new 3.5 meter telescope to model cloud structures through the change in spectral lines over time.
I am on the Core Science Team of Scorpio, an instrument that will see first light on the Gemini South Telescope in the summer of 2025. With this telescope we will obtain variability measurements of brown dwarf atmospheres to study their cloud structure. We will also obtain transit photometry and transmission spectroscopy of extrasolar planets to study their atmospheric properties. I am also a member of the LSST Ultracool Dwarfs Working Group, and will use my connections with this group and Scorpio to select ideal LSST targets for follow-up with Scorpio.
I am using the 12-inch telescope on the roof of the ESC to get follow-up transit photometry of possible extrasolar planets with undergraduate students. I am also using the 20-inch ARCSAT telescope at Apache Point Observatory. This has resulted in several new discoveries and publications of Kelt planets. The Kelt mission has come to an end and we are now following up the occasional TESS planet candidate. A few TESS papers are beginning to come out with BYU data.
Teaching Interests
I enjoy teaching BYU students at all educational levels, from the introductory course in astronomy for non-majors to the graduate level stellar atmospheres and observational courses. I am also happy to teach physics courses when I am needed, including the modern physics course and the thermal physics course. My main research area is gas physics with a focus on stellar and planetary atmospheres, so I feel most comfortable teaching related course, but honestly with time I could prep to teach almost any course in our undergraduate curriculum. I also love teaching for the honors department, would love to teach one of the new first year foundations courses, and at some point in the future I would love to lead study abroad groups. I am also happy to be a guest teacher or lecturer in astronomy for any existing courses.Education
- PhD, Astronomy , Physics, New Mexico State University (2002)
- Masters, Astronomy , Physics, New Mexico State University (1999)
- Bachelors, Physics , Math, Brigham Young University (1996)
Honors and Awards
- Alcuin Fellowship, BYU Honors Program (2019 - 2022)
- Excellence in Teaching Award (3-10) Years, BYU College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences (2016 - 2018)
Memberships
- Division for Planetary Sciences (1997 - Present)
- American Astronomical Society (1994 - Present)
Professional Citizenship
- Member, Member of the LSST Ultracool Dwarfs Working Group (2024 - Present)
- Member, TESS and KELT Follow-Up Networks (2018 - Present)
- Member, Scorpio Core Science Team (2016 - Present)
- Board Member, Secretary for the Division for Planetary Sciences (2023 - 2026)
- Committee/Council Member, Member of the Local Orgnizing Committee for 56th Meeting DPS in Boise, Idaho (2023 - 2024)
- Publications-outreach, Washington DC Temple Visitor Center (2024 - 2024)
- Conference-Related Role, APS Conference of Undergraduate Women in Physics (2024 - 2024)
- Grant Proposal Reviewer, External, JWST External Reviewer (2023 - 2024)
- Publications-outreach, Outreach Events for Local Church Organizations (2023 - 2023)
- Grant Proposal Reviewer, External, NSF Exoplanet Careers Panel (2023 - 2023)
- Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer, External Reviewer for MNRAS and other journals (2023 - 2023)
- Guest Speaker, St George Astronomy Group (2023 - 2023)
- Guest Speaker, BYU Global Women's Studies (2023 - 2023)
- Other, Desert News Sterling Scholar Judge - Science (2023 - 2023)
- Conference-Related Role, APS Conference of Undergraduate Women in Physics (2023 - 2023)
- Committee/Council Member, APO Instrumentation Planning Task Force (2021 - 2021)
- Committee/Council Member, APO Summer Science Meeting (2021 - 2021)
- Grant Proposal Reviewer, External, NASA (2021 - 2021)
- Other, JWST Master Class (2019 - 2020)
- Grant Proposal Reviewer, External, NASA TESS (2020 - 2020)
- Grant Proposal Reviewer, External, NASA (2019 - 2019)
- Guest Speaker, Latinos in Action (2018 - 2019)
- Committee/Council Member, Origins Space Telescope Exoplanet Working Group (2017 - 2019)
- Committee/Council Chair, Division for Planetariy Sciences co-chair LOC Provo, UT (2016 - 2017)
- Grant Proposal Reviewer, External, NASA (2017 - 2017)
- Guest Speaker, Utah Valley University (2016 - 2017)
- Other, Central Utah Regional Science Fair (2015 - 2017)
- Guest Speaker, Utah Valley University (2016 - 2016)
- Publications-outreach, Boy Scouts of America (2012 - 2015)
- Committee/Council Member, NASA Keck Telescope Allocation Committee (2014 - 2015)
- Grant Proposal Reviewer, External, NASA (2015 - 2015)
- Media Interview, BYU Radio (2015 - 2015)
- Media Interview, BYU Radio (2015 - 2015)
- Media Interview, BYU Radio (2015 - 2015)
- Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer, National Science Foundation (2015 - 2015)
- Other, Sterling Scholar (2013 - 2015)
- Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer, National Science Foundation (2014 - 2015)
- Grant Proposal Reviewer, External, NASA Postdoctoral Fellowship (NPP) Reviewer (2013 - 2014)
- Publications-outreach, Hosted a Girls in Science day at BYU - STEM-OUT (2013 - 2013)
- Grant Proposal Reviewer, External, NASA ADAP Panel (2013 - 2013)
- Other, Central Utah Science & Engineering Fair (2010 - 2013)
- Guest Speaker, Expanding Your Horizons (2013 - 2013)
- Grant Proposal Reviewer, External, National Science Foundation (NSF) (2012 - 2013)
- Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer, Science (2012 - 2012)
- Committee/Council Member, APS Four Corners Meeting (2012 - 2012)
- Grant Proposal Reviewer, External, NSF Review Panel (2012 - 2012)
- Grant Proposal Reviewer, External, SMART Scholarship (2012 - 2012)
- Grant Proposal Reviewer, External, NASA Origins Panel (2011 - 2011)
- Grant Proposal Reviewer, External, NASA Origins Panel (2010 - 2010)
- Other, Kid's Science Palooza - Provo Parks and Rec (2010 - 2010)
- Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer, Chilean Government for Scientific and Technological Development (2009 - 2009)
- Editor, Associate Editor, Tocarre Newsletter (alumni) (2007 - 2008)