My primary research interest is infrared and X-ray observations of X-ray Binaries (XRBs). These are interacting binary stars comprised by a "normal" star and a "compact object" - a black hole or neutron star. Material from the normal star is accreted onto a disk around the compact object, producing strong X-ray emission. I am particularly interested in studying the large population of XRBs located in/near the Galactic Centre. Due to the large amount of gas and dust in the centre of the Milky Way, the optical light from these XRBs does not reach us on Earth. Therefore infrared (IR) observations of these systems are required to determine their properties, such as orbital period and masses of the two system components, and thus identify which sources are stellar-mass black holes and which are neutron stars.

I am also involved in IR instrumentation for large telescopes as a member of the FLAMINGOS-2 team. FLAMINGOS-2 is a near-IR cryogenic imager and multi-object spectrograph being built for the 8-meter Gemini South telescope in Chile. My primary task is to assist in the testing of the instrument during integration, optimize it for scientific use, and participate in the commissioning of FLAMINGOS-2 on the telescope, currently planned for early 2009.