Currently, I'm catching up on the recently detected GRBs with Swift XRT data. I have been so busy over the past few months that I haven't gotten a chance to look at them all. I'm also in the process of organizing and standardizing my data. I've been analyzing GRBs for three years, and over those years, my methodology has changed and improved. I also lost data in last year's hard drive crash which I need to re-acquire. By the end of the summer, I want a complete, consistent catalog of Swift GRBs analyzed by me, hopefully complimented with GBM data when available.

I am also trying to learn how to program. I've been trying to learn how to program for at least four years, but it does not come easily to me at all. Teaching myself based on self-study and trial-and-error coding has been a failure. And so, I got a textbook that was recommended to me, and Chryssa and I are going through it chapter by chapter. I will also be sitting in on a few basic engineering programming classes this summer.

I also plan to begin writing my dissertation. I should be able to create rough drafts of the history and introduction to GRBs, an overview of the general theories, and the descriptions of my current projects thus far. Writing will not only help me focus on determining my next big project, but it will also help me prepare for my qualifying exam, when I present my research proposal to my doctoral committee and they test my knowledge in my research area.

I will also (hopefully) experience my first up-close rocket launch when the Delta II carries GLAST to low Earth orbit. Assuming the May 31 launch of Space Shuttle Discovery isn't delayed, GLAST will launch on June 3.