I understand the importance of documenting my progress, thoughts, and questions, even if for no other reason than to look back and see how far I’ve come. When I began research over the summer, I found it difficult to keep an updated work log. However, I don’t find it difficult to keep a personal blog. I hope to post at least weekly except during vacation weeks and other weeks when I may not be working.

For readers who want to know a little more about my background in the subject of gamma-ray bursts:

I held internship position as part of NASA Academy this past summer. Another student and I worked in the National Space Science and Technology Center’s Gamma-Ray Burst team under the guidance of two amazing advisors, Chryssa Kouveliotou and Sandy Patel, who taught and inspired us. I brought my research home, per se, by continuing my studying in the field during my senior undergrad year, and I plan to continue my research during grad school. Thanks to Dr. Wood, I currently use the Linux computer “Hubble” in the Astro Lab, 3rd floor, Olin Physical Sciences building, Florida Tech campus, Melbourne, Florida.

Specifically, my research has focused on Swift’s X-Ray Telescope data of a few GRB afterglows and the magnetar 4U0142+61. Over the summer I learned the basics of FTOOLS, XSPEC, and DS9, and now I am attempting to learn XANDU.