Personal research statement and/or description of academic career.
Postdoctoral Researcher – Institute of Nuclear Physics, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
I am a postdoctoral researcher in experimental nuclear astrophysics. My work focuses on constraining nuclear reaction rates relevant to Type I X-ray bursts by combining neutron time-of-flight techniques with charged-particle coincidence measurements. I develop and commission detector systems, operate accelerator beamlines, and build data-analysis pipelines (ROOT/C++/Python) to extract reaction observables such as differential cross sections, angular distributions, and nuclear level densities.
Scientific CV
Since Jan 2026: Postdoctoral Researcher, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (CRC 1660 “Nuclear Structure and Astrophysics”).
2019–2025: Ph.D. in Physics (Low Energy Experimental Nuclear Astrophysics), Ohio University, USA.
Developed and commissioned the ASLAN silicon strip detector array for neutron–charged particle coincidence studies.
Benchmarked neutron evaporation methods for level-density extraction using the ²⁷Al(d,n)²⁸Si reaction (neutron TOF).
Certified operator of a 4.5 MV tandem Pelletron accelerator; beam tuning, ion sources (Alphatross, Cs-sputter), high-vacuum systems.
Data acquisition and electronics: MVME / Mesytec multi-parameter DAQ, TOF + coincidence measurements, PSD with liquid scintillators.
Analysis and modeling: ROOT/C++, Python, TALYS, RELKIN; cross-section extraction, angular distributions, coincidence gating.
Contributions to multi-institution experiments and detector studies (LANL, PNNL, Notre Dame, NSCL/MSU).
Research Interests
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Experimental nuclear astrophysics: reaction-rate constraints for Type I X-ray bursts
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Neutron time-of-flight spectroscopy and charged-particle coincidence measurements
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Nuclear level density extraction and benchmarking of statistical-model inputs
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Detector development: silicon strip arrays and liquid scintillation neutron detectors (PSD)
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Data acquisition systems, timing/coincidence logic, and high-vacuum experimental design
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Reaction modeling and data-driven analysis (TALYS, RELKIN, ROOT/C++/Python)