ABOUT ME
I am an external research collaborator with the stellar physics group at the Instituto de Astrofísica e Ciências do Espaço (IA) in Porto - Portugal. I was awarded a PhD in Astronomy in January 2020 by the Faculty of Science, University of Porto. I attained both my MSc. in Physics and BSc. in Physics (major) and Mathematics (minor) from Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) in Mbarara - Uganda in 2014 and 2011, respectively. I was an Alexander von Humboldt fellow at the Max-Planck-Institut fur Astrophysik (MPA) from 2020 to 2021. I am currently a Branco Weiss fellow at Max-Planck-Institut fur Astrophysik (MPA). A part from my scientific research, I am also involved in using astronomy to stimulate the interest of Ugandan high school students in pursuing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) related careers, with more focus on female students.
​EDUCATION
PhD in Astronomy Oct. 2015 - Jan. 2020
Instituto de Astrofísica e Ciências do Espaço (IA),
Universidade do Porto,
Porto, Portugal.
Thesis title: Asteroseismic characterization of exoplanet-host stars in preparation for NASA’s TESS and ESA’s
PLATO space mission.
MSc. in Physics 2012 - 2014
Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST),
Mbarara, Uganda.
Dissertation title: Mass loss and Age of Red Giant Clump stars in the Kepler cluster NGC 6819.
BSc. in Physics & Mathematics 2008 - 2011
Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST),
Mbarara, Uganda.
Undergraduate project title: Construction of a photo-taking refracting telescope.
Contract - Investigator Oct. 2019 - Jan. 2020
Instituto de Astrofísica e Ciências do Espaço (IA),
PT4150-762,
Porto - Portugal
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RESEARCH POSITIONS
Postdoc-Humboldt Fellow Feb. 2020 - Oct. 2021
Max-Planck-Institut fur Astrophysik (MPA),
Karl-Schwarzschild-Strasse 1, D-85748,
Garching - Germany
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RESEARCH VISITS
Modelling binary benchmark stars Nov. 2019
Max-Planck-Institut fur Astrophysik (MPA),
Karl-Schwarzschild-Strasse 1, D-85748,
Garching - Germany
Asteroseismology of red giant stars Nov. 2018
Astronomy for African Scientists 2014
Inter-University Center of Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA),
University of Pune,
Pune, - India
Asteroseismology of red giant stars 2015
Max Planck Institute for Solar system research (MPS),
Göttingen - Germany
Branco Weiss Fellow Oct. 2021 - Update
Max-Planck-Institut fur Astrophysik (MPA),
Karl-Schwarzschild-Strasse 1, D-85748,
Garching - Germany
Quick Course in Asteroseismology 2013
South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO),
University of Cape Town,
Cape Town - South Africa
Max Planck Partnership group leader Jan. 2023 -
Max-Planck-Institut fur Astrophysik (MPA),
Karl-Schwarzschild-Strasse 1, D-85748,
Garching - Germany
CO-INVESTIGATOR (SPACE MISSIONS)
Testing asteroseismic tools on subgiant stars 2018 to-date
PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars mission (PLATO)
Principal investigator: Dr. Margarida S. Cunha
Testing asteroseismic tools on main-sequence stars 2018 to-date
PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars mission (PLATO)
Principal investigator: Dr. Margarida S. Cunha
Exploring exoPlanets with CHEOPS 2018 to-date
CHaracterising ExOPlanets Satellite (CHEOPS)
Principal investigator: Dr. Sergio A. G. Sousa
TEACHING
Lecturer Kyambogo University (KyU)
Teaching Assistant Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST)
College teacher St. Lawrence College Paris - Palais
SUMMER SCHOOLS
Sub-Saharan Africa Astronomy Summer School (SSAASS)
Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics in Germany and Mbarara University of Science and Technology in Uganda
Imperial Botanical Beach Hotel in Entebbe- Uganda
School objectives: The school will focused on three fields of scientific research, namely: galaxies, extra-solar planet science, and stellar interior physics.
September 6th - 17th, 2021
6th Annual MESA Summer School
University of California,
Santa Barbara - USA.
School objectives: Though extensive hands-on labs, participants will gain familiarity with MESA and learn how to make better use of MESA in their own research. MESA topics covered include planets, binaries, etc.
August 14 - 18, 2017
IVth Azores International Advanced School in Space Science
Horta, Azores Islands - Portugal,
School objectives: Asteroseismology and Exoplanets: Listening to the Stars and Searching for New Worlds” - Addressed the topics at the forefront of scientific research being conducted in the fields of asteroseismology and exoplanetary science, two fields of modern astrophysics that share many synergies and resources.
July 17 - 27, 2016