!
Contact
Information
!Education
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!Research
Experience
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Britt Fisher Lundgren
Department of Astronomy
University of Wisconsin - Madison
5507c Sterling Hall
475 North Charter Street
Madison, WI 53706
+1 608 890-3765
[email protected]
http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~lundgren
PhD, Astronomy, University of Illinois, 2009
• Thesis Topic: “The Origins and Environments of Quasar Absorption Lines in the
Sloan Digital Sky Survey” - Supervisor: Prof. Robert Brunner
• Graduate coursework included: astrophysics, computational methods, science
education and the philosophy of science
AB, Physics with Astrophysics Specialization, Honors, University of Chicago, 2003
• Honors Thesis: “Trends in Quasar Absorption Line Systems: A comparison of
compiled literature data and recent findings from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey” Supervisor: Prof. Donald G. York
• Undergraduate coursework included: physics, astrophysics, education and public
policy
National Science Foundation Astronomy and Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellow
Dept. of Astronomy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2012-Present
• compiling and analyzing the largest catalog of quasar absorption lines to date from
200,000 quasars in the SDSS-III Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey
• using quasar spectra to probe large-scale outflows from foreground galaxies with
infrared imaging and grism observations from the Hubble Space Telescope (HST)
• collaborating with researchers in the Center for Magnetic Self-Organization to better
understand the source and strength of extragalactic magnetic fields, using VLA
rotation measurements of radio-loud quasars with foreground absorption lines
Postdoctoral Research Associate - Dept. of Astronomy, Yale University, 2009-2012
• investigated the evolution of massive galaxies from z~8 using WFC3/IR imaging
from the HST in the Hubble Ultra-Deep Field
• led the efforts to extract and analyze metal absorption lines in SDSS-III quasar
spectra, using the Yale BulldogM Computing Cluster
• contributed to the HST WFC3/IR imaging and grism data reduction and scientific
analysis of 10,000 high-redshift galaxies in the 3D-HST Survey
• contributed to the development and refinement of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey III
(SDSS-III) Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey catalogs and results
• presented research at many international conferences and meetings
Graduate Research Assistant - Dept. of Astronomy, University of Illinois, 2004-2009
• studied the spectroscopic variability and cosmological applications of quasar
absorption lines from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS)
• extensively mined large spectroscopic and photometric datasets within the SDSS
• programmed with Python, IDL, C, C++, TCL, SM
• employed parallel programming on the Abe Supercomputing Cluster (NCSA) and the
Condor System (Purdue Teragrid) to perform cosmological analyses
• participated in the spectroscopic observations of quasars and galaxies as part of the
AAO-UKIDSS-SDSS Survey at the Australian Astronomical Observatory
Supervisor: Prof. Robert Brunner
Curriculum Vitae - page 1! / 6!
Britt F. Lundgren
Research Experience
(continued)
Research Assistant - Dept. of Physics, Argonne National Laboratory, 2003-2004
• aided high precision mass measurements of ions required for estimating abundance
yields from supernovae nucleosynthesis
• engineered and built beam diagnostics for the Advanced Penning Trap extension of
the ATLAS accelerator
Supervisor: Prof. Guy Savard
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Research Assistant - Dept. of Astronomy and Astrophysics, University of Chicago,
1999-2003 (part-time)
• refined a spectroscopic pipeline for extracting of the first large sample of quasar
absorption lines from the SDSS Early Data Release (EDR)
• measured the evolution of metal abundances using the SDSS EDR
Supervisor: Prof. Donald G. York
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Formal Teaching
Experience
Guest Lecturer
• UW - Madison, ASTRO 735 - “Observational Cosmology” (Fall 2012)
• Yale University, ASTRO 220 - “Galaxies and Cosmology” (Fall 2011)
• University of Illinois, ASTRO 121 - “The Solar System” (Spring 2008)
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Graduate Teaching Assistant - University of Illinois, 2004-2008
ASTRO 122 - “Stars and Galaxies” (Fall 2007); PHYS 211 - “Introduction to Classical
Mechanics” (Spring 2007); ASTRO 121 - “The Solar System” (Fall 2006, Spring 2008);
ASTRO 210 - “Introduction to Astrophysics” (Fall 2004, Spring 2005)
• led weekly laboratory and discussion sessions for 75 students; graded reports, exams
• operated the 12” telescope at the campus observatory for student observing nights
!Teaching Assistant - University of Chicago, Summer Session 2003
• aided introductory astronomy laboratory exercises and observing sessions
!Physics Teacher - Kenwood Academy High School, Chicago IL
General Physics, Spring 2003
• planned and instructed one class hour daily for ~25 CPS students as part of the
University of Chicago Neighborhood Schools Program
• generated and graded homework, exams, and laboratory exercises
!Informal Teaching
and Public Outreach
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Developer - SDSS-III Skyserver web-based educational activities (2013 - present)
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working with the SDSS E/PO lead (Jordan Raddick, Johns Hopkins University) and a
science educator (Kate Meredith, Wisconsin) to update online materials and develop
new inquiry-based activities for the public using the SDSS-III Survey database
Education / Public Outreach Talks
• Universe in the Park, Rock Island State Park, WI (2014)
• UW Space Place, Madison, WI (Summer 2013)
• NSF ADVANCE - Wisconsin Women and Science Postdoctoral Seminar Program
University of Wisconsin - La Crosse, (Spring 2013)
• Windsor Elementary School, Loves Park, IL (2012, 2013)
• Leitner Family Observatory & Planetarium, New Haven, CT (Fall 2011)
Curriculum Vitae - page 2! / 6!
Britt F. Lundgren
Informal Teaching
and Public Outreach
(continued)
School Mentor - New Haven Science Fair, New Haven, CT, 2010-2012
• partnered with middle school science teachers in the local public schools to design
innovative science projects for city-wide competition
• personally mentored small groups of students in hands-on astronomy projects
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Observing
Experience
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Lead Developer - Girls Engaged in Math and Science, Urbana, IL, 2006-2009
• developed a discovery-based curriculum and led all activities for a NASA Education
& Public Outreach monthly after-school program and week-long day camp with an
emphasis on modern astronomy visualization and citizen science, serving local
middle school girls
• 3 years; 50 instruction hours per year; ~35 attendees per year
• oversaw an annual program budget of $15,000 (NASA E/PO; PI: R. Brunner)
• managed a small team of undergraduate teaching assistants
• designed and collected program surveys to quantify and evaluate student experiences
• grew student enrollment by 50% over the three year program duration and retained
many students over multiple years
Hubble Space Telescope: 18 orbits, Cycle 21, GO-13482 “The Evolving Gas Content of
Galaxy Halos: A Complete Census of Mg II Absorption Line Host Galaxies at 0.7<z<2”
(PI: B. Lundgren)
Keck-I Telescope: 1 night, using LRIS; Semester 2011A “Identifying the Galactic Hosts
of Metal-Rich Quasar Absorption Lines at z>0.7” (PI: B. Lundgren)
WIYN Telescope: 3 nights, using Hydra; Semester 2011A “Identifying the Galactic
Hosts of Metal-Rich Quasar Absorption Lines at 0.3<z<1.3” (PI: B. Lundgren)
Anglo-Australian Telescope: 10 nights, using the 2dF AAOmega spectrograph;
Semester 2006B, observing high-redshift quasars and luminous red galaxies for the
AAOmega-UKIDSS-SDSS Survey (PI: S. Croom)
!Grants Received
and Overseen
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Synergistic
Activities
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Hubble Space Telescope Cycle 21 GO-13482.01 (PI)
o $101,382 (2013)
NSF Astronomy & Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellows Symposium (Co-I)
o $23,437 (Jan. 2013)
NSF Astronomy & Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellowship (PI)
o $261,000 (Oct. 2012 - Sept. 2015)
Co-Chair of the Committee on the Participation of Women in the SDSS (2014)
Panel review member for the NASA Graduate Earth and Space Science Research
Fellowship (2013)
Co-organizer of the NSF Astronomy & Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellows
Symposium (January 5-6, 2013)
Organizer of UW-Madison Astronomy Journal Club (2013)
Curriculum Vitae - page 3! / 6!
Britt F. Lundgren
Synergistic
Activities (continued)
• Prospective Student Interviewer; UChicago Alumni Schools Committee
• Alumnus of the Center for Astronomy Education / Collaboration of Astronomy
Teaching Scholars’ Tier II Special Topics Workshop: “Using Technology in the
Classroom” (2012)
• Referee for work submitted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal, Monthly
Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Publications of the Astronomical Society
of the Pacific (2007- Present)
• Member of the American Astronomical Society
!Students Advised
!Awards
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Brittney Curtis (REU; Undergraduate, The Ohio State University 2013)
Philip Engelke (Undergraduate, Yale University 2011-2012)
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Awarded an NSF Astronomy & Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellowship (2012-2015)
Recognized as “Outstanding” among List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by
Students, Spring & Fall 2007, University of Illinois
Recognized among the List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by Students: Fall 2006,
Spring 2007, Fall 2007, Spring 2008, University of Illinois
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!Invited Talks
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Astronomy Colloquium, University of Washington, Seattle, WA; May 22, 2014
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI; April 16, 2014
Astrophysics Seminar, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN; April 15, 2014
Physics Seminar, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI;
December 7, 2012
Astronomy Colloquium, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI;
November 29, 2012
Lunchtime Talk; Department of Astronomy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA;
November 9, 2012
ACP Seminar; Kavli Institute of Physics and Mathematics of the Universe,
Kashiwa, Japan, October 29, 2012
Galaxy Lunch Talk, Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, MD; March 14, 2012
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YCAA Seminar, Yale Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics, New Haven, CT;
May 3, 2011
Astrophysics Seminar, Department of Astrophysics, The American Museum of Natural
History, New York City, NY; March 2, 2010
Astronomy Colloquium, Department of Astronomy, The University of Maryland, College
Park, MD; February 24, 2010
Astrophysics Colloquium, Department of Astronomy, The University of Illinois, Urbana,
IL; December 1, 2009
Curriculum Vitae - page 4! / 6!
Britt F. Lundgren
Other Talks
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National Science Foundation Astronomy and Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellows
Symposium, Washington D.C.; January 5, 2014
SDSS-III BOSS Collaboration Meeting, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
Berkeley, CA, December 11, 2013
Meeting on Galaxies in Absorption, Laboratorie d’Astrophysique de Marseille, Marseille,
France; December 2, 2013
“The Clustering and Evolution of Mg II and C IV Absorption Systems in the BOSS
Quasar Spectra,” 2013, American Astronomical Society Meeting 221, #402.05
NSF Astronomy and Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellows Symposium, Long Beach, CA;
January 6, 2013
Meeting on Galaxies in Absorption, IUCAA, Pune, India; December 17, 2012
3D-HST Collaboration Meeting, Yale University, New Haven, CT; May 8, 2012
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Galaxy Evolution Workshop, Leiden Observatory, Leiden, Netherlands; April 18, 2012
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BOSS Collaboration Meeting, Cloudcroft, NM; March 25, 2011
BOSS Quasar Workshop; Princeton University, Princeton, NJ; Nov. 3, 2011
SDSS-III Collaboration Meeting, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN; August 13, 2011
The New England Regional Quasar / AGN Meeting, Yale University; May 18, 2011
BOSS Lyman Alpha Workshop, Brookhaven National Laboratory; Brookhaven, NY;
December 13, 2010
Astronomy Seminar, Institute for Cosmology and Gravitation, Portsmouth, UK;
July 16, 2010
BOSS Lyman-alpha / Quasar Meeting, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA;
June 22, 2010
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BOSS Collaboration Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT; March 8, 2010
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Galaxy Evolution Workshop, Lorentz Center, Leiden, Netherlands; November 13, 2009
!Selected Posters
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Lundgren, B., et al. “Tracing the Stellar Mass and Star Formation Rate Evolution of
Massive Galaxies from z~6 to z~1 in the Hubble Ultra-Deep Field” (2014) Winter
Astrophysics Meeting, Aspen Center for Physics, February 2-7, 2014
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Lundgren, B., et al. “Large-Scale Star Formation-Driven Outflows at 1 < z < 2 in the
3D-HST Survey” (2013) American Astronomical Society Meeting 221, #147.39
Curriculum Vitae - page 5! / 6!
Britt F. Lundgren
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Lundgren, B., et al. “New Results from a Census of Metal Absorption Lines in the BOSS
DR9 Quasar Spectra” (2012) American Astronomical Society Meeting 219, #342.03
LaMassa, S., et al. “The Space Density of X-ray Selected AGN in Stripe 82” (2012)
American Astronomical Society Meeting #219, #209.08
Urry, C. M., et al. “Stripe 82 X: Archival XMM Newton- and Chandra-selected AGN in
SDSS Stripe 82” (2012) American Astronomical Society Meeting #219, #154.09
Wilhite, B., Brunner, R., Lundgren, B., Grier, C., “Studies of Quasar Variability with the
Sloan Digital Sky Survey” (2007) AAS/AAPT Joint Meeting, AAS Meeting 209, #72.24
!York, D.G., et al. “A Brief Summary of a Low Redshift AGN Atlas from the FUSE
Archive” (2006) ASPC, Vol. 348, p. 515.
!Clark et al. “Mass measurements of 22Mg and 26Si via (p,t) reactions and Penning
traps” (2006) International Symposium on Nuclear Astrophysics - Nuclei in the Cosmos
IX, CERN., p.81.1
!Vanden Berk, D.E., et al., “Average Extinction Curves and Abundances at 1<z<2 from
MgII Absorption Systems” (2005) American Astronomical Society Meeting 207, #120.01
!Khare, P. et al. “Evidence for the presence of dust in intervening QSO absorbers from the
Sloan Digital Sky Survey” (2005) IAU Colloq.199: Probing Galaxies through Quasar
Absorption Lines, 427
!York, D.G., et al. “The Sloan Digital Sky Survey QSO absorption line catalogue” (2005)
IAU Colloq.199: Probing Galaxies through Quasar Absorption Lines, 58
Curriculum Vitae - page 6! / 6!