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Research Interests
In a broad sense, my research attempts to constrain evolutionary models for large spiral galaxies such as the Milky Way and its closest spiral neighbour, Andromeda (M31). I base this research around the Local Group of galaxies, consisting of the Milky Way and M31, along with ~35 dwarf galaxies, most gravitationally bound to either of the large members.
Observational data of dwarf satellites can reveal much information regarding gravitational interactions between the satellite and host galaxy through analysis of tidal debris thrown off in such galactic mergers. This material exhibits properties differing from that of the host, and in theory, its analysis can uncover much about the origins of the material in different parts of such a system. In turn this will eventually reveal a unified galactic evolutionary model.
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