Keely D. Finkelstein (Snider)
512-571-6121
keelyf@astro.as.utexas.edu
Academic Positions
UNIVERSITY of TEXAS, Austin, TX
• Research Associate / Lecturer
Sept. 2012 – Present
UNIVERSITY of TEXAS, Austin, TX
• Postdoctoral Fellow
Sept. 2011 – Aug. 2012
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY, College Station, TX
• Postdoctoral Research Associate
Jan. 2009 – Aug. 2011
Education
ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY, Tempe, AZ
Oct. 2008
• Ph.D. Physics, with an emphasis in Astronomy
• Thesis title – “An Analysis of Low-Mass Triggered Star Formation in HII Region
Environments”
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, Seattle, WA
• Bachelor of Science, Astronomy and Physics
June 2002
Research Experience
POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW, University of Texas
Sept. 2011 – Aug. 2012
• Faculty Advisor: Prof. Karl Gebhardt
• Research work includes galaxy evolution, and extra-galactic star formation studies using
Spitzer and Herschel observations
POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATE, Texas A&M University Jan. 2009 – Aug. 2011
• Faculty Advisors: Profs. Casey Papovich and Kim-Vy Tran
• Research work includes Spitzer & Herschel studies of external galaxies, and studies of
local star forming regions.
GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSOCIATE, Arizona State University
• Advisor: Prof. Jeff Hester
• Research on star formation in HII regions.
May 2003 – Oct. 2008
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT, University of Washington
• Advisor: Prof. Guillermo Gonzalez
June 2000 – Sept. 2001
• Researched compositions of parent stars of extra-solar planets.
Teaching Experience
INSTRUCTOR, University of Texas at Austin, AST 309
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Fall 2012 & Fall 2014
•
Instructed and designed new second semester introductory astronomy course for nonscience majors, “Birth of Stars & Planets”
CENTER for ASTRONOMY EDUCATION - participation in Tier I Astronomy
Education/Teaching Workshop
January 2012
• Participated and completed a two-day training workshop on teaching Astronomy 101
classes – presented by the CAE team from the University of Arizona.
INSTRUCTOR TEACHER WORKSHOPS, McDonald Observatory
July 2011 - Present
• Facilitate & Co-instruct K-12 teacher professional development workshops
INTRO ASTRONOMY LAB COURSE DESIGNER & COORDINATOR,
Texas A&M University
Feb. 2010 – Aug. 2011
• Designed Lab Manual & Course Content for intro Astronomy Lab course (ASTR 111) at
Texas A&M University and Coordinator of Laboratory Sections.
GUEST LECTURER, Texas A&M University
• Designed and taught a graduate lecture on star formation and the ISM.
Spring 2010
INSTRUCTOR, Texas A&M University, Introductory Graduate Course
June 2009
• Designed and taught a two week introductory Astronomy Computing Course for
incoming graduate students.
INSTRUCTOR, Arizona State University, Physics for Talented Youth
Summers 2007 & 2006
• Designed & Co-instructed summer courses teaching physics & astronomy 6th & 7th
graders.
ADJUNCT FACULTY, South Mountain Community College
• Substitute instructor for introductory astronomy lectures.
Fall 2006 – Spring 2007
TEACHING ASSOCIATE, Arizona State University
• Instructed undergraduate physics lab for science majors.
Aug. 2006 – May 2007
TEACHING ASSISTANT, Arizona State University
• Instructed undergraduate astronomy labs.
Aug. 2005 – Dec. 2005
TEACHING ASSISTANT, Arizona State University
• Instructed undergraduate physics labs and recitation sections.
Aug. 2002 – May 2004
TEACHING ASSISTANT, University of Washington
Sept. 2001 – Mar. 2002
• Instructed undergraduate astronomy labs and recitation sections.
Fellowships
ASU/NASA SPACE GRANT FELLOWSHIP
• Awarded in Summer 2004, Spring 2005, Summer 2006 and Spring 2008.
WASHINGTON NASA SPACE GRANT UNDERGRADUATE INTERNSHIP
• Awarded in Summer 2000 & Summer 2001.
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Awarded Grants
NSF Grant to Shardha Jogee (PI) – July 2014
• Jogee, S. (PI), Finkelstein, K. (Education Lead & Co-I)
• $40,000 for development and implantation of two residential teacher professional
development workshops at McDonald Observatory (Summers 2016 - 2017).
NSF Grant to Seth Redfield (PI) – October 2013
• Redfield S. (PI), Finkelstein, K. (Education Lead & Institutional Co-PI), End, M.
(Institutional Co-PI)
• $60,000 for development and implantation of three residential teacher professional
development workshops at McDonald Observatory (Summers 2014 - 2016).
HST Supplemental Educational/Public Outreach Grant, Cycle 20 – February 2013
• Wheeler C. (PI), Finkelstein, S. (Co-PI), Finkelstein, K. (Education Lead & Co-I),
Wetzel, M., & Preston, S.
• http://cycle-epo.stsci.edu/Cycle20_Abstracts.shtml#3
• $40,000 for development and implantation of two residential teacher professional
development workshops at McDonald Observatory (July 2013 & July 2014).
HST Supplemental Educational/Public Outreach Grant, Cycle 19 – February 2012
• Faber, S. (PI), Kochevski, D., McGrath, E., Finkelstein, K., Finkelstein, S., &
Hemenway, M.K.
• $50,000 for design of new “Hubble Universe” iPad/iPod Application, and for Teacher
Professional Development workshops on the Hubble Universe
NASA Supplemental Educational/Public Outreach Grant – February 2012
• Cochran, W. (PI), Hemenway, M.K. (Co-PI), Finkelstein, K. (Co-I)
• $30,000 for Teacher Professional Development workshops on Solar System science
HERSCHEL OT2 GRANT, Cycle 2, 59.8 hours (PI Malhotra) – January 2012
• Co-I on “Herschel Extreme Lensing Line Observations” of Lensed Galaxies
SPITZER ARCHIVAL GRANT #30767, Cycle 3
• Hester, J.J (P.I.), Snider, K.D. (Co-I), Whitney, B.A. (Co-I)
• An Analysis of GLIMPSE YSOs in HII Regions.
• Involved in writing proposal and in charge of carrying out data reduction and analysis.
SPITZER GO GRANT #20726, Cycle 2
• Hester, J.J (P.I.), Snider, K.D. (Co-I and Technical Contact), Bally, J. (Co-I), Desch,
S.J. (Co-I), Healy, K.R. (Co-I)
• Spitzer Follow-up Observations of HII Regions previously observed with HST.
• Involved in writing proposal, planning observations, completing data reduction &
analysis
Observing Proposals & Experience
KECK 10m TELESCOPE
• Observed for one night with NIRSPEC on KECK II
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January 2011
GEMINI OBSERVING PROPOSAL (Finkelstein, K. PI)
• Awarded 12 hours with GMOS-N
Fall 2010
SPITZER OBSERVING PROPOSAL, #20726 (Snider Co-I)
• Spitzer Follow-up of HST Observations of Star Formation in H II Regions
• Awarded 28 hours with IRAC and MIPS.
Cycle 2
SPITZER OBSERVING PROPOSAL, #20506 (Snider Co-I)
Cycle 2
• A Detailed Comparison of the Modes of Star Formation in G305.35+0.7 and NGC
2174/5.
• Awarded 23 hours with IRAC and IRS.
MAGELLAN 6.5m TELESCOPE
• Observed for two nights with IMACS in spectroscopy mode.
Nov. 2009
STEWARD OBSERVATORY BOK 90 TELESCOPE
• Observed for three nights with 90 Prime Camera
Feb. 2007
STEWARD OBSERVATORY/SAO 6.5m TELESCOPE
• Observed for one night with Hectospec spectrograph
Nov. 2007
Invited Talks
ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
• Astronomy Seminar
HARVARD-SMITHSONIAN CENTER for ASTROPHYSICS
• Institute for Theory & Computation Forum Talk
January 24, 2011
September 22, 2010
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
• Particle, Astrophysics & Cosmology Seminar
February 17, 2010
Outreach & Service
AAS EDUCATION PRIZE COMMITTEE, serve as committee member January 2014 - Present
ISEA BOARD MEMBER
January 2014 - Present
• Serve as a board member for the Informal Science Education Association of Texas
ASSISTANT UNDERGRADUATE ADVISOR, Univ. of Texas Austin
• Assistant undergrad advisor in the Dept. of Astronomy
Fall 2012 - Present
JWST SXSW EXHIBITS, Austin, TX
March 2013 & March 2014
• Assist with NASA presentations & local organization of JWST Exhibit at SXSW Festival
REFEREE for Astrophysical Journal
2011 - Present
PANEL REVIEW, participated as a reviewer on a NASA/ADP panel
TEXAS A&M PHYSICS DAY, Texas A&M University
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August 2010
March 2010 & March 2009
•
Organized & ran astronomy demos at department wide Physics Festival.
TEXAS A&M ASTRONOMY OPEN HOUSES, Texas A&M University Feb. 2009 – Present
• Volunteered at numerous open house events, helping with telescope observations and
giving public talks.
SCIENCE OLYMPIAD, Texas A&M University
April 2009, April 2010, & May 2011
• Designed astronomy exams for middle and high school Science Olympiad competitions.
SCIENCE BOWL, Texas A&M University
Feb. 2009
• Moderated numerous rounds of the Texas A&M high school science bowl, including
serving on the panel of experts for the final rounds
ORGANIZER ASTRONOMY OPEN HOUSE, Arizona State University Jan. 2006 – May 2007
• Organized and directed monthly public Astronomy Open Houses at Arizona State
University. All events are run by the astronomy graduate students, and I was in charge of
advertising for the events, and planning the events and activities. Activities included:
telescope viewing, meteorite displays, physics demos, and public talks.
ASTRONOMY OPEN HOUSE, Arizona State University
• Volunteered at monthly public open house events.
Fall 2002 – Fall 2008
PROJECT ASTRO, University of Washington
Fall 2001 – Spring 2002
• Worked with a local middle school teacher to bring astronomy into the classroom.
Professional Associations
American Astronomical Society
Science Teachers Association of Texas
Informal Science Education Association
Texas Earth Science Teachers Association
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