Lauren I.

Biddle
1400 W. Mars Hill Rd. Email: lbiddle@lowell.edu
Flagstaff, AZ 86001 Web: www.astrolauren.com

Research Interests
–Detecting and characterizing exoplanets using photometric, spectroscopic, and high contrast imaging methods.
–Probing the potential for planet formation within young star systems using models and empirical observations.
–Statistical analysis of current and future large astronomical surveys, i.e., “Big Data”.

Education
2010- University of Arizona; Tucson, Arizona
2014
B.S. Astronomy and Physics
Graduated: 05/2014
Academic Advisor: Dr. Tom Fleming

2015- Northern Arizona University; Flagstaff, Arizona

Present
M.S. Applied Physics
Thesis: Disk Lifetimes and Planet Formation Potential in Young Binary Systems
Expected Graduation: 05/2017
Research Advisor: Dr. Lisa Prato

Research Experience
02/2015- Young Binaries and Their Potential for Planet Formation—Lowell Observatory; Flagstaff, AZ
Present
–My research team utilizes component-resolved H-band and K-band spectra of multiple star systems in the nearby
star forming regions of Taurus, Ophiuchus, TW Hya, and Orion to determine the fundamental stellar and circum-
stellar properties of each component (such as effective temperature, v sin i, veiling, and radial velocity). These
values as well as downloadable ascii spectra of our entire sample (∼100 systems) will be openly available to the
community via our online database (the beta is currently accessible at http://jumar.lowell.edu/BinaryStars).
–For my Master’s thesis, I couple time-series photometry with our component-resolved spectra to determine the
relative rotational inclination of the companion stars. The occurrence rate of disks in these systems may indicate
whether disk lifetimes are affected by the orientations of their stellar companions, which would provide insight on
the potential for planet formation in systems with multiple components.

09/2014- Accretion Disk and Dust Emission Mechanisms of Low-Luminosity AGN—Gemini North; Hilo, HI
12/2014
–Our team explored a method in which we disentangle AGN emission from stellar emission in host galaxies to
probe whether accretion disks (1) become truncated at low accretion rates, and (2) their inner region replaced by
an advection-dominated accretion flow. Our analysis may be used to identify whether the obscuring torus of the
AGN unified model disappears at low accretion rates.

08/2012- Independently Lead Exoplanet Characterization—University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ

07/2014
–My team and I obtained ground-based multiband transit photometry of a variety of exoplanets analyzed for
multiple projects which include characterizing a warm-Neptune atmosphere, probing the possibility of detecting
planetary magnetic fields of hot Jupiters, as well as amending stellar planetary parameters and transit ephemerides.
 Lauren I. Biddle

09/2013- Deuterium Abundances in Molecular Cloud Cores—University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ

05/2014
–We carried out the first astrochemical survey comparing deuteration rates in the complete core population within
a single molecular cloud. We observed approximately 120 cores in Perseus in N2D+ 3-2, DCN 3-2, DNC 3-2,
DCO+ 3-2, and NH2D 1-1 lines with the the sub-millimeter HHT.

08/2012- Variability in Subdwarf O&B Stars and ZZ Ceti White Dwarfs—University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
05/2014
–I acquired high-speed time-series photometry of hot subdwarf B and O stars for a project lead by Dr. Elizabeth
Green in which we observed significant and erratic decreases in luminosity, reminiscent of behavior seen in VY Scl
cataclysmic variable accretion disks.

06/2013- REU in Solar and Space Physics; SwRI Boulder, CO

08/2013
–I adapted pre-existing image processing code to be compatible with archival data acquired with the Heliospheric
Imager aboard the STEREO spacecraft to identify observed coronal mass ejections (CMEs). Identified CMEs are
compiled into database to be used as an integrated tool for space weather prediction.

08/2012- Star Formation Signatures in Molecular Cloud Cores—University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ

05/2013
–The Astronomy Club at the University of Arizona observed, reduced, and analyzed cold cores in the Perseus
molecular cloud taken with the 12-meter Radio Telescope on Kitt Peak. Under the direction of Dr. Yancy Shirley,
we identified simultaneous red and blue asymmetries in the spectra, and postulated this signature is a direct
indication of material infall—a crucial first step in the process of star formation.

Publications
2014 Biddle, L. I.; Pearson, K. A.; Crossfield, I. J. M.; Fulton, B. J.; Ciceri, S.; Eastman, J.; Barman, T.; Mann,
A. W.; Henry, G. W.; Howard, A. W.; Williamson, M. W.; Sinukoff, E.; Dragomir, D.; Vican, L.; Mancini, L.;
Southworth, J.; Greenberg, A.; Turner, J. D.; Thompson, R.; Taylor, B. W.; Levine, S.; Webber, M. W., Warm Ice
Giant GJ 3470b II. Revised Planetary and Stellar Parameters from Optical to Near-Infrared Transit Spectroscopy
(Published in MNRAS)
2016 Allen, T. S.; Prato, L.; Wright-Garba, N.; Schaefer, G.; Biddle, L. I.; Skiff, B; Avilez, I.; Muzzio, R.; Simon, M.,
Properties of the Closest Young Binaries I: DF Tau’s Unequal Circumstellar Disk Evolution (In Press)
2016 Turner, J. D.; Pearson, K. A.; Biddle, L. I.; Smart, B. M.; Zellem, R. T.; Teske, J. K.; Hardegree-Ullman, K.
K.; Griffith, C. C.; Leiter, R. M.; Cates, I. T.; Nieberding, M. N.; Smith, C. W.; Thompson, R. M.; Hofmann, R.;
Berube, M. P.; Nguyen, C. H.; Small, L. C.; Guvenen, B. C.; Richardson, L.; McGraw, A.; Raphael, B.; Crawford,
B. E.; Robertson, A. N.; Tombleson, R.; Carleton, T. M.; Towner, A. P. M.; Walker-LaFollette, A. M.; Hume, J.
R.; Watson, Z. T.; Jones, C. K.; Lichtenberger, M. J.; Hoglund, S. R.; Cook, K. L.; Crossen, C. A.; Jorgensen,
C. R.; Romine, J. M.; Thompson, A. R.; Villegas, C. F.; Wilson, A. A.; Sanford, B.; Taylor, J. M.; Henz, T. N.,
Ground-based near-UV observations of 15 transiting exoplanets: constraints on their atmospheres and no evidence
for asymmetrical transits (Published in MNRAS)
2015 Dragomir, D.; Benneke, B.; Pearson, K. A.; Crossfield, I. J.; Eastman, J.; Barman, T.; Biddle, L. I., Rayleigh
Scattering in the Atmosphere of the Warm Exo-Neptune GJ 3470b (Published in ApJ)
2015 Zellem, R. T.; Griffith, C. A.; Pearson, K.; Turner, J. D.; Henry, G. W.; Williamson, M. H.; Fitzpatrick, M. R.;
Teske, J. K.; Biddle, L. I., XO-2b: A Hot Jupiter with a Variable Host Star that Potentially Affects Its Measured
Transit Depth (Published in ApJ)
2015 Green, E. M.; Limoges, M. M.; Gianninas, A.; Bergerson, P.; Fontaine, G.; Dufour, P.; O’Malley, C. J.; Guvenen,
B.; Biddle, L. I.; Pearson, K.; Deyoe, T. W.; Bullivant, C. W.; Hermes, J. J.; Van Grootel, V.; Grosjean, M.,
High-speed Photometric Observations of ZZ Ceti White Dwarf Candidates (ASP Conference Series “19th European
White Dwarf Workshop” 06/2015)
 Lauren I. Biddle

2014 Johnson, C.B.; Green, E. M.; Wallace, S.; O’Malley, C. J.; Amaya, H.; Biddle, L. I.; Fontaine, G., Photometric
Survey to Search for Field sdO Pulsators (ASP Conference Series “6th Meeting on Hot Subdwarf Stars and Related
Objects” 04/2014)
2014 Green, E.; Johnson, C.; Wallace, S.; O’Malley, C.; Amaya, H.; Biddle, L. I.; Fontaine, G., Glimpses into the
Secret Lives of Hot Subdwarf Stars (ASP Conference Series “6th Meeting on Hot Subdwarf Stars and Related
Objects” 04/2014 )

Talks and Presentations

09/2015 Talk: Young Binaries in Taurus; Flagstaff Research Symposium, Lowell Observatory, Flagstaff, AZ
05/2014 Talk: Transit Spectroscopy and Revised Planetary and Stellar Parameters of Warm Ice Giant GJ 3470b; Depart-
ment of Physics, Lucy Engel Undergraduate Research Symposium, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
04/2014 Talk: Warm Ice Giant GJ 3470b: Revised Planetary and Stellar Parameters, and Transit Spectroscopy; Stew-
ard/NOAO Joint Colloquium Series, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
01/2014 Talk: Warm Ice Giant GJ 3470b: Revised Planetary and Stellar Parameters from Optical to Near-infrared Transit
Photometry; 223rd AAS, Washington DC
08/2013 Talk: CLEDHI: Autonomous Detection for Coronal Mass Ejections; High Altitude Observatory, Boulder, CO
06/2013 Talk: Enhancement of the Astronomy Club at the University of Arizona; 222nd AAS, Indianapolis, IN

03/2015 Poster: Warm Ice Giant GJ 3470b: Revised Planetary and Stellar Parameters from Optical to Near-Infrared
Transit Photometry; Star and Planet Formation in the Southwest, Biosphere 2, Oracle, AZ
01/2015 Poster: Accretion Disk and Dust Emission in Low-Luminosity AGN ; 225th AAS, Seattle
10/2013 Poster: Warm Ice Giant GJ 3470b: Revised Planetary and Stellar Parameters from Optical to Near-Infrared
Transit Photometry; DPS Meeting, Denver, CO
08/2013 Poster: Autonomous Detection of Coronal Mass Ejections; REU, Boulder, CO
06/2013 Poster: Testing a Method of Detecting a Magnetic Field of Transiting Hot-Jupiter CoRot-1b; 222nd AAS,
Indianapolis
01/2013 Poster: Detecting The Magnetic Field of the Transiting Exoplanet WASP-48b With Near-UV Observations; 221st
AAS, Long Beach

Teaching Experience
2015- Physics Lab Instructor—Northern Arizona University; Flagstaff, Arizona
Present
Lab instructor for PHY 161 - University Physics I and PHS 101 - Physical Science In Everyday Life. Duties are
to facilitate students’ learning in a laboratory setting, ensure the safety of the students and lab equipment, and
hold specified hours of availability outside scheduled lab sessions.
2011-14 Public Observing Telescope Operator and Mini-Lecturer—Steward Observatory; Tucson, Arizona
Operator and mini-lecturer on public observing nights at the 21” Ray White Telescope on the University of Arizona
campus. Duties are to maintain the safety of the telescope and viewers, select and point telescope to objects for
viewing, present generalized mini-lectures on respective objects, and provide knowledgeable answers to questions
posed by public viewers and university students.
 Lauren I. Biddle

Honors and Awards

2014 William Bickel Enthusiasm for Laboratory and Pedagogy Award; Department of
Physics, University of Arizona
2014 Undergraduate Research Achievement; Department of Astronomy, University of Arizona
2013 Chambliss Student Award Honorable Mention; AAS 222nd Meeting, Indianapolis
2013-14 Glen Purviance Memorial Scholarship; Department of Astronomy, University of Arizona
2012-13 Angelos Lagandas Scholarship; Department of Astronomy, University of Arizona
2010-14 Arizona Excellence Scholarship; University of Arizona
2010-14 Eleanor and Anthony DeFrancis Scholarship; National Italian American Foundation
2010 Dean’s List

Certifications
2013- DCT Observer; 4.3m Discovery Channel Telescope Telescope, Happy Jack, AZ
Present
2013-15 Telescope Operator; 1.55m Kuiper Telescope, Mt. Bigelow, AZ
2012-14 Telescope Operator; 21” Ray White Telescope, UofA Campus

Extracurricular Activities
2013-14 Women’s Science Forum Mentee
2013-14 Astronomy Club Treasurer
2012-13 Astronomy Club Fundraising Chair

Professional Affiliations
J.Member American Astronomical Society (AAS)
J.Member Division for Planetary Science (DPS/AAS)
Member American Physical Society (APS)
Member Society of Physics Students (SPS)