Matthew Kirby

Matthew Kirby

PhD student at the University of Arizona

Click here for a full pdf copy of my CV

Education

In Progress
Ph.D. in Physics
University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Advisor: Prof. Eduardo Rozo

Certificate in College Teaching
University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ

2009-2013
B.S. in Physics
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Advisor: Prof. Gyorgy Korniss

Research experience

Improving DES Cluster Cosmology via SPT Cluster Observations (2019-Present)
Advisor: Eduardo Rozo
Using the overlapping area of the Dark Energy Survey and South Pole Telescope, I built a complete sample of DES clusters with SPT detections. I then used the sample to constrain the variance in the richness-mass relation and tighten cosmological constraints.

CLMM Development (2018-Present)
LSST DESC
Co-Leading development of a software package to measure halo mass and bias using weak lensing data from simulations and observations.
Relevant Publications: Avestruz et al. In Prep

Core Cosmology Library Development (2017-2018)
LSST DESC
Standardized physical constants between all of the dependencies of the Core Cosmology Library (CCL). CCL is a software package designed to compute basic cosmological observables to a high degree of accuracy.
Relevant Publications: Chisari et al. 2019

Preprocessing among the Infalling Galaxy Population of EDisCS Clusters (2016-2018)
Advisor: Dennis Zaritsky
Computed redshifts for galaxies in the EDisCS clusters using data taken on a low dispersion spectrograph and then analyzed the colors and clustering properties of confirmed member galaxies.
Relevant Publications: Just et al. 2019

Improving SDSS Cluster Cosmology via a Modest X-ray Follow-Up Program (2016-2019)
Advisor: Eduardo Rozo
Obtained X-ray mass proxies for the 30 richest galaxy clusters in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and developed a statistical model that I used to tighten cluster cosmology constraints.
Relevant Publications: Kirby et al. 2019

The Morphological Content of the Infall Regions of EDisCS Clusters (2014-2016)
Advisor: Dennis Zaritsky
Identified cluster member galaxies, led a small group that visually classified the morphology of each cluster member, and analyzed the distribution of morphologies.
Relevant Publications: Kirby et al. In Prep

Measuring Photometric Redshift Bias Due to Unmodeled Dust Reddening (2013-2014)
Advisor: Elliot Cheu
Applied dust absorption models to galaxy spectra to measure the expected photometric redshift bias due to unmodeled galactic dust.

Evolving Opinions on Social Networks with Competing Committed Groups (2011-2013)
Advisor: Gyorgy Korniss
Simulated and tracked the propagation of opinions on several types of connected social networks with static members using the naming game algorithm.
Relevant Publications: Xie et al. 2012

Teaching Experience

Primary Instructor
Algebra-Based Electricity and Magnetism, Summer 2014
Developed course materials including short lectures, collaborative group work, homework, and exams with an emphasis on active learning for a 4.5 week algebra-based course on electricity and magnetism

Lecturer
Algebra-Based Mechanics, Fall 2014
Led lectures including active learning components on algebra-based mechanics. My section was selected to take part in a pilot program to test an innovative collaborative learning space.

Graduate Teaching Assistant
Assorted Courses from 2013-2017
Algebra-based mechanics for non-science and biology majors.
Algebra-based electricity and magnetism for non-science and biology majors.
Calculus-based mechanics for science majors and engineers.
Calculus-based electricity and magnetism for science majors and engineers.
Introduction to programming for physics applications.

Service and Outreach

2017 - 2018
Volunteered at the Pima Air and Space Museum to replace antiquated displays in the Space Gallery.
Funded by the UA/NASA Space Grant

2014 - 2019
Physics Graduate Student Council

Publications

  1. Avestruz, C. et al. (with 22 others include Kirby, M.) “CLMM: A Galaxy Cluster Lensing Utility for Cosmology”, In Prep.
  2. Kirby, M. et al. “The Morphological Content of the Infall Regions of EDisCS Clusters”, In Prep.
  3. Kirby, M. et al. “Improved Cosmological Constraints from SDSS redMaPPer Clusters via X-ray Follow-up of a Complete Subsample of Systems”, 2019 (arXiv:1910.13548)
  4. Just, D., Kirby, M., et al. “Preprocessing among the infalling galaxy population of EDISCS clusters.”, 2019 (ApJ, 885, 6)
  5. Chisari, N. E. et al. (with 31 others including Kirby, M.) “CCL: Core Cosmology Library”, 2019 (ASCL, 1901.003)
  6. Chisari, N. E. et al. (with 29 others including Kirby, M.) “Core Cosmology Library: Precision cosmological predictions for LSST”, 2019 (ApJS, 242, 2)
  7. Xie, J., Emenheiser, J., Kirby, M., et al. “Evolution of opinions on social networks in the presence of competing committed groups”, 2012 (PLoS ONE 2012).

Awards and Fellowships

  1. Universities Research Association Fermilab Visiting Scholar - 2019
  2. UA Nasa Space Grant Fellowship - 2017-2018
  3. Outstanding Graduate Student Speaking Award - 2017
  4. Outstanding Graduate Student Speaking Award - 2016
  5. Selected to Participate in Collaborative Learning Space Pilot Program - 2014

Contributed Conference Talks and Posters

  1. Improved Cosmological Constraints from SDSS redMaPPer Clusters via X-ray Follow-up of a Complete Subsample of Systems, June 2019
    Dark Energy Survey Collaboration Meeting
  2. The Scatter in Cluster Scaling Relations with a Complete Cluster Sample, March 2018
    SnowCluster 2018 (Poster)
  3. Scaling Relations with a Complete Cluster Sample, February 2018
    LSST Dark Energy Science Collaboration Meeting
  4. What Can We Learn from Tidal Debris?, December 2015
    KASI-Arizona Collaboration Meeting

Other Notable Seminars

  1. Measuring Redshifts to Distant Objects in the Universe, March 2018
    University of Arizona Graduate Student Seminar
  2. The Search for Dark Matter, September 2017
    University of Arizona Graduate Student Seminar
    Outstanding Graduate Student Speaking Award Winning
  3. Weighing the Most Massive Objects in the Universe, April 2017
    University of Arizona Graduate Student Talks
  4. What is an Ultra Diffuse Galaxy and Why do we Care?, September 2016
    University of Arizona Graduate Student Seminar
    Outstanding Graduate Student Speaking Award Winning
  5. Galactic Ghosts: What Can We Learn From Stellar Streams, November 2015
    University of Arizona Graduate Student Seminar
  6. The Evolution of Galaxies, May 2015
    University of Arizona Graduate Student Seminar

Travel Grants

  1. LSST DESC Workshop Support Program, 2019
  2. Dark Energy Survey Early Career Scientist Travel Grant, 2019
  3. University of Arizona Department of Physics Fanfare Award, 2018
  4. University of Arizona Graduate and Professional Student Association Travel Grant, 2018
  5. LSST Dark Energy Science Collaboration Travel Grant, 2018
  6. LSST Dark Energy Science Collaboration Travel Grant, 2017

Conferences and Workshops

  1. DES Collaboration Meeting, Sussex, November 2019
  2. CLMM Workshop, GCCL Bochum, July 2019
  3. LSST DESC Collaboration Meeting, APC Paris, July 2019
  4. DES Collaboration Meeting, Penn, June 2019
  5. LSST DESC Collaboration Meeting, Berkeley, February 2019
  6. CLMM Workshop, CMU, July 2018
  7. LSST DESC Collaboration Meeting, CMU, July 2018
  8. LSST DESC Collaboration Meeting, SLAC, February 2018
  9. SLAC Summer Institute: Cosmic Opportunities, SLAC, August 2017
  10. LSST DESC Collaboration Meeting, Stony Brook University, July 2017
  11. LSST DSFP, Local representative, University of Arizona, April 2017
  12. KASI-Arizona Collaboration Meeting, University of Arizona, December 2015
  13. Software Carpentry Workshop, University of Arizona, 2015