Education:

Ph.D. in Astronomy, University of Wisconsin - Madison                            2005

“Intergalactic Mergers and Starbursts and their Role in Galaxy Evolution.” 

Advisor Jay Gallagher.

M.S. in Astronomy, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI                      2003

Minor in physics.

B.A. in Physics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH             2000

Minors in computer science and music.

Junior Year Abroad University of Bristol, Bristol, England               1998-1999

Awards:

Wisconsin Space Grant ($8000 over 2 years)                         2002-2005

French Felton Award for Early Excellence in Education (for work as TA)             2001

Dean’s High Honors List, Case Western Reserve University                1996-2000

Presidential Scholarship, CWRU                                         1996-2000

Alumni Association Scholarship, CWRU                                 1999-2000

Golden Key National Honor Society, member                      1997-2000

Alice Seagraves Award for Study Abroad, CWRU                  1998

Research Experience:

Postdoctoral Research:  Utrecht University               2007-Present

Research in extragalactic globular cluster systems, VLT VIMOS spectroscopy, metallicity and cluster age-dating.

Postdoctoral Fellowship:  McMaster University                                       2005-2007

Worked in collaboration with Prof. William Harris on extragalactic globular clusters, interacting galaxies, compact groups, and the central black hole/galaxy mass relationship.

Postdoctoral Research:  University of Wisconsin.                           Summer 2005

Conducted research on interacting and starbursting galaxies in collaboration with Profs. Jay Gallagher and Linda Sparke.

Research Assistant:  University of Wisconsin                2002-2005

Worked in collaboration with Prof. Jay Gallagher.  Investigation of starburst galaxies with evidence of collision, and the impact of the starburst on the host galaxy.

Research Assistant:  University of Wisconsin                     2001

Research Assistant under the direction of Prof. Amy J. Barger.  Analysis of Extremely Red Objects (EROs) and their submillimeter properties.

Senior Project:  Case Western Reserve University                1999-2000

Senior thesis under the direction of Prof. Glenn Starkman.  Examination of the probability of detection of extra-solar planets with the Big Occulting Steerable Satellite (BOSS).

Observing Experience:

Mauna Kea:  2 runs,13 nights University of Hawaii 2.2m (QUIRC NIR).

Kitt Peak:      5 runs, 14 nights WIYN 3.5m.

                     (Minimo, NIRIM, SparsePak)

         6 runs, 36 nights at the WIYN 0.9m.

         1 run, 4 nights at the 2.1m (SQIID NIR)

Gemini:        1 night obtained, Queue Observing

CFHT:           1 night obtained, queue observing

Meade 16”:   Wisconsin received a donation of a 16” Meade.  My class was responsible for overseeing installing the Meade, getting it operational, developing a users manual and researching, purchasing and installing a new CCD camera.  I led the CCD task committee, but was a core member in the entire installation process.

Public Observing nights (see Outreach Section)

Teaching Experience

Introductory Astrophysics for Graduate Students                                   2006

Independently taught a module in introductory astrophysics for graduate students at McMaster University.  Developed course materials emphasizing stellar structure and evolution. 

Mentoring:  University of Wisconsin                          2004

Mentored a summer, undergraduate research student working interacting galaxies.  Was the primary contact for student, guided her research project, set work hours, answered questions, and assigned readings.

Astronomy 103/104 Honors Session                         2004

Co-taught the 6-session honors component of the introductory astronomy courses.  Responsibilities included developing new course materials, leading sessions and the defining the course structure.

Teaching Assistant:  University of Wisconsin                       2000-2001

Teaching Assistant for introductory astronomy courses in stellar, extragalactic, and planetary astronomy.  Led discussion sections, observing nights and helped students prepare for exams. 

Science Olympiad                                 2002-2003

Coached a group of high school students during bi-weekly sessions in Madison.  The West High team took Gold in “Reach for the Stars” at the state level, and 10th place in Nationals.

Professional Enrichment Conferences:

Engaging the EPO Community:  Best Practices, New Approaches          2006

Attended this 118th Annual Meeting of the ASP in Baltimore, MD, discussing current technologies and methods for maximizing the effect of outreach.

Cosmos in the Classroom                                        2004

Attended a meeting at Tufts on educational strategies to improve learning in astronomy courses. 

Science with SALT                                     2003

Presented at a meeting in Cape Town, South Africa organized to discuss the science uses of SALT.

Professional Service:

Referee                                              2005-present

Astrophysical Journal (ApJ), Astronomical Journal (AJ), Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (MNRAS)

Telescope “Czar”                                                      2004-2005

Responsible for coordinating UW telescope activities and for training students to run public nights at Washburn Observatory and to use the UW’s 16” Meade Schmidt-Cassegrain and 6” refractor.

Galaxies Coffee                                                      2000-2004

Organized meetings on a bi-weekly basis to gather researchers at UW of all levels working extragalactic astronomy for lively discussions. 

Student “Czar”                                          2003-2004

Student-Faculty liaison during my fourth year at UW.  Responsible for attending faculty meetings and mediating between students and faculty in various issues such as salary negotiations, distribution of TA positions and student resources.  Responsible for office space allotment, organizing new grad student recruitment events, delegating tasks and ensuring department “chores” such as staffing the observatory on public viewing nights are completed.  

Orientation Committee / TA Training                                2002-2005

Coordinated orientation events for new grad students at UW.  Trained new students to use the planetarium, telescopes, and other equipment for use in discussion sections. 

Public Outreach:

Planetarium                                                                                         2006-2007

Gave various shows, including a tour of the night sky and half hour presentations on various astronomical topics, to the public at the McMaster University Planetarium.  Also gave several shows geared to introduce high school students to careers in astronomy.

Universe in the Park                                             2000-2005

Developed and presented over two-dozen educational talks at state parks around Wisconsin.  Also guided public viewing through the program’s 8” Meade telescope.

Expanding Your Horizons                                       2004

Volunteered to provide educational activities in astronomy for middle school girls in Wisconsin. 

Mars Viewing Event                                  2003

Coordinated volunteers for Mars Public Viewing event during the 2003 close approach. Operated the Washburn telescope for over 500 people who visited during the busiest night.

UW Space Place                                            2001

Presented an independent lecture in a series emphasizing the development of the scientific method and its application to astronomy.

Washburn Public Viewing Nights                                    2000-2005

Directed numerous public viewing nights at the University of Wisconsin Washburn Observatory, which houses the department’s 16” refractor. 

Publications:

Refereed:

“The Globular Cluster Systems Around NGC 3311 and NGC 3309”

Wehner, E. M. H., Harris, W. E., Whitmore, B., Rothberg, B., & Woodley, K. A.  2007, ApJ, submitted. 

“NGC 2655:  From Inner Polar Ring to Outer Shells and Tails”

Sparke, L. S., van Moorsel, G., Erwin, P. & Wehner E. M. H., AJ, in press

“Ultracompact Dwarf Candidates in the Hydra Cluster”

Wehner, E. M. H. & Harris, W. E., 2007, ApJ, 668, L35

“The Leo Elliptical NGC 3379:  a Metal-Poor Halo Emerges”, 2007, ApJ, 666, 903

Harris, W. E., Harris, G. L. H., Layden, A. C., & Wehner, E. M. H.

“Tidal Debris in the Starburst Galaxy, NGC 3310:  Remnants of Galaxy Evolution”

Wehner, E. H., Gallagher, J. S., Papaderos, P., Fritze-von Alvensleben, U., & Westfall, K. B., 2006, MNRAS, 371, 1047.

“From Supermassive Black Holes to Dwarf Elliptical Nuclei: a Mass Continuum” 

Wehner, E. H. & Harris, W. E., 2006, ApJ, 644, L17.

”Tidal Debris in the Starburst Galaxy NGC 3310 I:  a New Tidal Loop”

Wehner, E. H. & Gallagher, J. S. 2005, ApJ, 618, L21

“The Submillimeter Properties of Extremely Red Objects''

Wehner, E. H., Barger, A.J., Kneib, J.-P., 2002, ApJ, 577, L83.

“X-ray, Optical, and IR Imaging and Spectral Properties of the 1 Ms Chandra Deep Field N. Sources''

Barger, A.J., Cowie, L.L., Brandt, W.N., Capak, P., Garmire, G.P., Hornschemeier, A.E., Steffen, A.T., Wehner, E. H., 2002, AJ, 125, 1839.

Thesis:

“Intergalactic Mergers and Starbursts and Their Role in Galaxy Evolution”

Wehner, E. H., 2005, PhD Thesis – University of Wisconsin.

Conference Proceedings:

“The Surprisingly Abnormal Halo of the ’Normal’ Elliptical, NGC 3379”

Wehner, E. M. H., Harris, W. E., Harris, G. L. H., & Layden, A. C., 2007

Galaxies in the Local Volume, Sydney, Australia, in press.

“II Zwicky 23 and Family, a Galaxy Group in Interaction”

Wehner, E. H.  2005, Groups of Galaxies in the Nearby Universe, Santiago, Chile. 

“Tidal Debris in the Starburst Galaxy, NGC 3310:  Remnants of Galaxy Evolution”

Wehner, E. H., Gallagher, J. S., Papaderos, P., Fritze-v. Alvensleben, U., & Westfall, K. B.  2006, AN, 326, 520

“Colliding Galaxies:  What Their Debris Tells Us”

Wehner, E. H.  2004, Wisconsin Space Grant Conference

An Exploration of Starburst Galaxies:  Shells, Stellar Populations and Kinematics”

Wehner, E. H.  2004, Science with Salt 2004

Popular Articles:

“The Missing Link Between Dwarf Galaxies & Globular Clusters”, 2007, Gemini Focus Magazine, in press.  (cover article)

“Uncovering a Missing Link Between Dwarf Galaxies and Globular Clusters”, 2007, Gemini Front Page Web-Splash, http://www.gemini.edu/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=247

Presentations:

“UCD Candidates in the Hydra Cluster”

Wehner, E. M. H. & Harris, W. E., 2007 CASCA meeting.

“CSI Universe:  Determining the Role of Collisions in Galaxy Evolution”

Invited talk, Physics Department, College of St. Benedict/St. John’s University, January 2007

“The Globular Cluster System of the Hydra cD, NGC 3311”

Wehner, E. M. H. & Harris, W. E., 2007, AAS poster

“Tidal Tales of Minor Mergers II: Star Formation in the Tidal Debris of Minor Mergers”

Knierman, K. A., Knezek, P. & Wehner, E., AAS Winter 2007 meeting, poster

“Merging History of the Local Starburst Galaxy, NGC 3310”

Invited talk, Department of Physics & Astronomy colloquium, Queens University, Nov. 2006

“An exploration of the merging history of the local starburst galaxy, NGC 3310”

Wehner, E. H., Gallagher, J. S., Papaderos, P., Fritze-v. Alvensleben, U.

2006, Galaxy Mergers Workshop Poster, Baltimore, MD. 

“From Supermassive Black Holes to Dwarf Elliptical Nuclei: a Mass Continuum” 

Wehner, E. H. & Harris, W. E., 2006, CASCA Meeting.

“An exploration of the merging history of the local starburst galaxy, NGC 3310”

Wehner, E. H., Gallagher, J. S., Papaderos, P., Fritze-v. Alvensleben, U.

2006, AAS Poster. 

“Stellar Debris Around Starburst Galaxies:  the Remnants of Galaxy Evolution”

Invited talk, Department of Physics & Astronomy colloquium, University of Waterloo, Nov. 2005

“II Zwicky 23 and Family, a Galaxy Group in Interaction”

Wehner, E. H.  2005, Groups of Galaxies in the Nearby Universe, Santiago, Chile. 

“NGC 3310:  A New Tidal Loop?”

Wehner, E. H., Gallagher, J. S., Papaderos, P., Fritze-v. Alvensleben, U.  2005, AAS Poster

“Structure of the Interacting Starburst Galaxy II Zw 23”

Cigan, P. J., Gallagher, J. S., Rudie, G., Wehner, E. H., 2005, AAS Poster

“Tidal Debris in Starburst Galaxies”

Wehner, E. H. & Gallagher, J. S.  2004, AAS Poster

“Star formation Rate History in the Local Universe”

Wehner, E. H., Gallagher, J. S., Brown, W. R.  2003, AAS Abstract

Outside Interests/Languages:

Horseback riding, travel, music, reading, swimming, photography, modern dance

Languages:  Dutch -- currently studying.  German -- one year of intensive study; practical application during trips to Germany.  French:  Three years study.