Teaching


ASTR 5340: Introduction to Radio Astronomy

Astronomy 5340 is a one-semester UVa course in radio astronomy intended for astronomy graduate students, astrochemistry graduate students, and advanced undergraduates with a strong background in physics. It centers around the text, “Essential Radio Astronomy” by James J. Condon and Scott M. Ransom (content is available online). The Fall 2024 class was co-taught by myself, Samantha Scibelli, and Jim Braatz.

GBT group

Lecture Slides

Sep23 - Fourier Transforms & Dust

Oct16 - Interferometers

Oct21 - Spectral Lines & Astrochemistry

Oct23 - Spectral Lines & Radiative Transfer

Nov11 - Isotopologues & Molecular Life Cycle

Nov13 - HI 21cm Line

Nov18 - HII Regions & Radio Recombination Lines

Nov20 - Radio Recombination Lines & Free-Free

Nov25 - Free-Free

Dec2 - Synchrotron

Dec4 - Synchrotron


AAA.org Course: Introduction to Astrochemistry

Designed and taught in the spring of 2024, this undergraduate-level course focused on introducing the basics of molecular spectroscopy and the observational aspects of astrochemistry.

Lecture Slides

E&M Introduction

Molecular Spectroscopy & Millimeter Radio Telescopes

Molecular Clouds and the Formation of Stars and Planets

Interstellar Dust and Evolved Stars

Comets and Exoplanets


Independent Study 599: Science ‘in’ Fiction

This course was designed for credit towards the University of Arizona’s Graduate Certificate in Science Communication. As a scientist interested in the ways in which science can be communicated to a wide range of audiences, Samantha Scibelli wanted to design a course, with the help of Professor Alison Deming, that specifically explored how creative fiction can convey scientific concepts. The syllabus can be found here.