Deborah Ferguson

Education

Ph.D. Student, Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology (2016 - Present)

M.S. in Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology (2017)

B.S. in Physics, Minors in Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Kentucky (2016)

Research

Numerical Relativity and Strong Field Gravity

• Advisor: Dr. Deirdre Shoemaker (Georgia Institute of Technology)
• Years: 2017 - Present

Milky Way Tomography with K and M Dwarf Stars: The Vertical Structure of the Galactic Disk

• Advisors: Dr. Susan Gardner (University of Kentucky) and Dr. Brian Yanny (Fermilab)
• Years: 2014 - 2017
• Published in The Astrophysical Journal
• arXiv:1706.01900

Using Resonant Frequencies and Overtones to Calculate the Sound Velocity of TIPS Pentacene

• Advisor: Dr. Joseph Brill (University of Kentucky)
• Years: 2013 - 2014

Mobile Physics Engine Modeling Two Dimensional Elastic and Inelastic Collisions for the Educational Demonstration of Physics Phenomena

• Advisor: Dr. Jerzy Jaromczyk (University of Kentucky)
• Years: 2013 - 2014

Impact of Chemical Extracts of Seeds from Endophyte Infected and Non-Infected Tall Fescue on Soil Microbial Communities

• Advisor: Dr. David McNear (University of Kentucky)
• Years: 2012 - 2013

Testing the Accuracy of the Honeywell HMC5883L 3-axis Magnetometer

• Advisor: Dr. Christopher Crawford (University of Kentucky)
• Years: 2011 - 2012

Teaching

Current:
GTA for Physics 2232 - Honors Physics II

Previous:
(Summer '17) GTA for Physics 2211 Summer Online Undergraduate Program - Intro Physics I
(Spring '17) GTA for Physics 2212 - Intro Physics II
(Fall '16) GTA for Physics 2211 - Intro Physics I

Honors and Awards

(2016) Georgia Tech Institute Fellowship
(2016) Outstanding Senior in Physics, University of Kentucky
(2015) First Place - ACM Programming Competition, University of Kentucky Chapter, Division II
(2015) University of Kentucky Summer Research Grant
(2015) Outstanding Junior in Physics, University of Kentucky
(2014) 42nd in United States, IEEEXtreme 24-Hour Programming Competition
(2013) Singletary Scholarship, University of Kentucky
(2013) 125th in United States, IEEEXtreme 24-hour Programming Competition
(2013) National Merit Finalist, National Merit Scholarship Foundation