Dr. Rachel Cruz

Laboratory Lecturer in Physics
Ph.D. Experimental Astrophysics, University of Florida

Office

50/2808

Lab

50/?

Phone

(904) 620-2235

Email:

r.cruz@unf.edu

Webpage:

n/a

Research Focus:

Experimental Astrophysics

 

Rachel J. Cruz

Curriculum Vitae

Education Ph.D. Physics, University of Florida, May 2006
Thesis: Development of the UF LISA Benchtop Simulator for Time Delay Interferometry
M.S. Physics, University of Florida, 2004
B.S. Physics, North Park University, Chicago, IL, 2000
B.A. Mathematics, North Park University, Chicago, IL, 2000

Achievements

• NASA Harriett G. Jenkins Pre-doctoral Fellow (JPFP), 2002-2005
• Awarded a JPFP Mini Research Grant to do research at NASA-Jet Propulsion Labratory, 2005
• Awarded a JPFP Mini Research Grant to do research at NASA-Jet Propulsion Labratory, 2004
• Presidential Recognition for outstanding achievement and contributions to the University of Florida, 2004
• Awarded a JPFP Mini-Grant to do research at NASA-GSFC in the Lab for High Energy Astrophysics, 2003
• University of Florida GAANN Fellow, 2000-2001
• Participated in a summer internship at NASA-GSFC in the Lab for Extraterrestrial Physics, 2000
• Graduated Magna Cum Laude from North Park University, 2000
• Awarded the North Park University Outstanding Senior Award, 2000
• Selected for the Research Experience for Undergraduates program at Kitt Peak National Observatory, 1999
• Awarded the Cancer Federation Prize for research, 1999
• North Park University Nyvall Scholar, 1996-2000
• Member of the Society of Physics Students and inducted into Sigma Pi Sigma Honor Society
• Member of the American Astronomical Society

Dr. Cruz's Selected Publications:

Papers and Presentations

• R.J. Cruz, J.I. Thorpe, A. Preston, R. Delgadillo, M. Hartman, S. Mitryk, A. Worley, G. Boothe, S.R. Guntaka, S. Klimenko, D.B. Tanner and G. Mueller, “The LISA Benchtop Simulator at UF,” submitted to Class. Quantum Grav. April 2006
  
• LISA Simulator at UF, talk presented at the GWDAW10 conference, Brownsville, TX, December 17, 2005
  
• Implementation of Time Delay Inteferometry using the UF LISA Simulator, talk presented at the SESAPS conference, Gainesville, FL, November 10, 2005
• R.J. Cruz, J.I. Thorpe and G. Mueller, “Laser Interferometer Space Antenna Simulator,” Laser Physics, 15, No.7, 2005
  
• J.I. Thorpe, R.J. Cruz, S. Sankar and G. Mueller, “Electronic Phase Delay- A first step towards a bench-top model of LISA,” Class. Quantum Grav., 22, S227, 2005. Selected as an annual highlight for 2004/2005 by the editorial staff at C&QG.
  
• J.I. Thorpe, R.J. Parks, S. Sankar and G. Mueller, “A first step towards a bench-top model of LISA,” Optics Letters, 29, No.24, 2004
  
• JPL Modulation Experiment and UF TDI Status, IGERT seminar presentation, University of Florida, December 8, 2004
  
• Gravitational Waves, poster presentation at the NASA Administrator’s Fellowship Program (NAFP) and Harriett G. Jenkins Predoctoral Fellowship Program (JPFP) Joint Symposium, Washington D. C., July 7, 2003
  
• D. Vassiliadis, A.J. Klimas, B.H. Ahn, R.J. Parks, A. Viljanen and K. Yumoto, “High-Latitude Electrodynamics From a Multi-Array Nonlinear Geomagnetic Model,” COSPAR Colloquia Series, 12, 2002
  
• S.C. Barden, C.F.W. Harmer, R.D. Blakley and R.J. Parks, “NOAO’s Next-Generation Optical Spectrograph,” Proc. SPIE, 4008, 593, 2000
  
• Investigation of Optimal Aperture Size for the Next Generation Optical Spectrograph, REU talk presented at the National Optical Astronomy Observatory headquarters, Tucson, August 1999