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Lori Porter

Aspiring Astrophysicist

University of Louisville

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Courses

  • Professional/Science and Technical Writing
    • 3 credits | Spring 2019 | Morehead State University
    • Writing-intensive course that focused on the development of writing for professional purposes, including CVs, grants, proposals, cover letters, and similar documents.
  • Calculus 1-3
  • Modern Physics & Lab
    • 3 credits lecture, 1 credit lab | Fall 2020 | University of Louisville
    • Introduction to special relativity and quantum theory, with applications to atomic, nuclear, and solid state physics.
    • Lecture
    • Lab
  • Intermediate Statistical Analysis
    • 3 credits | Spring 2021 | University of Louisville
    • intermediate level applied statistics course covering key aspects of data exploration, visualization, and traditional topics in statistical inference, including how to use and interpret software.
  • Atomic and Nuclear Lab
    • 1 credit | Spring 2021 | University of Louisville
    • Experimental procedures in atomic and nuclear physics.
  • Thermal Physics
    • 3 credits | Spring 2021 | University of Louisville
    • The laws of thermodynamics, thermodynamic reasoning, and elements of statistical mechanics.
  • Applied Statistical Regression Models
    • 3 credits | Fall 2021 | University of Louisville
    • Covers normal distribution, t-distribution, hypothesis testing, inference for two or more population means, one-way and two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), linear regression with one or more independent variables, inferential and diagnostic methods in regression and correlation, multiple regression analysis, model building in regression; factorial experiments, and design of experiments. Utilizes R code.
  • Intro to Stellar Astrophysics
    • 3 credits | Fall 2021 | University of Louisville
    • A calculus-based introduction to the physics of the solar system, and stars, covering celestial mechanics, tides, the nature of light, star and planet formation and evolution.
  • Observational Astronomy
    • 1 credit| Fall 2021 | University of Louisville
    • Optical astronomy including observing at Moore Observatory, solar observing, instrumentation control with computers, and astronomical data acquisition and interpretation.
  • Differential Equations
    • 4 credits | Fall 2021 | University of Louisville
    • Topics include methods of solution of differential equations,and simple modeling of phenomena using differential equations.
  • Statistical Computing and Data Management with SAS
    • 3 credits | Spring 2022 | University of Louisville
    • Introduces the fundamentals of data management and analysis using SAS. Covers elementary statistical analyses such as measures of location and spread, correlation, detection of outliers, graphical displays, comparison of groups, as well as additional specialized studies.
  • Mechanics
    • 3 credits | Spring 2022 | University of Louisville
    • Kinematics, particle dynamics, oscillatory motion, central forces, rigid body motion, variation methods.
  • Astrophysics
    • 3 credits | Spring 2022 | University of Louisville
    • Physics applied to the interstellar medium; the atmospheres, structure, and evolution of stars; galaxies.
  • Undergraduate Research
    • 3 credits | Spring 2022 | University of Louisville
    • Individualized research under a faculty member. Investigating the morphology of void galaxies using the Galaxy and Mass Assembly (GAMA) data and Galaxy Zoo under Dr. Benne Holwerda.
  • Optics
    • 3 credits | Fall 2022 | University of Louisville
    • Introduction to wave theory of light and relation between light waves and rays; theory of thick lenses and lens aberrations; interference and diffraction of coherent light.
  • Electromagnetic Fields
    • 3 credits | Fall 2022 | University of Louisville
    • Electrostatic and magnetostatic fields in free space and in material media, solutions of Poisson's equation, time dependent fields, Maxwell's equations.
  • Elementary Quantum Mechanics
    • 3 credits | Fall 2022 | University of Louisville
    • General concepts of quantum mechanics. Schrodinger equation and solutions in one, two and three-dimensions, hydrogen atom, and orbital angular momentum.

Programming Languages & Softwares

  • Python | Intermediate | self-taught
    • 3 years of experience in Matplotlib, Pandas, and Seaborn packages. I have used both Jupyter Notebooks and traditional Python scripts via the Terminal to perform astronomical data analysis using both observational and simulation data.
  • HTML/CSS | Beginner | self-taught
    • Limited experience in using HTML and CSS for website design, evident in this very website. I utilized Bootstrap to create a basic website design, using CSS for style elements and HTML for structure.
  • SPSS | Beginner | Courses: PHST-302 and PHST-310
    • Roughly one year of experience using SPSS to perform statistical analyses as taught in courses for my Applied Statistics/Data Science minor. See above for course information and descriptions.
  • R | Beginner | Course: PHST-310
    • One semester of experience using R to perform statistical analyses as taught in courses for my Applied Statistics/Data Science minor. See above for course information and descriptions. I plan on taking between one and two additional courses to further my skills in this language.
  • MATLAB | Beginner | Course: PHYS-350
    • One semester of experience using MATLAB to solve differential equations as taught in a course for my physics major. See above for course information and descriptions.
  • SAS | Beginner | Course: PHST-520
    • One semester of experience using SAS to perform data analysis. See above for course information and descriptions.

Foreign Languages

  • Mandarin Chinese | Beginner | Courses: CHNS-101
    • One summer of learning spoken Mandarin Chinese and pinyin while studying abroad in Tianjin, China. This was part of a study abroad experience from the Craft Academy for Excellence in Science and Mathematics. Focus included interpersonal communication used for ordering food from restaurants, grocery shopping, and daily life as a college student in mainland China. Total experience amounted to six weeks of immersion. I hope to take more classes to further my knowledge and practice written communication.
  • Spanish | Beginner | Courses: SPAN-121 and SPAN-122
    • Two semesters of learning basic Spanish with a focus on everyday communication and interpersonal skills through the University of Louisville's Spanish department. I hope to continue my skills in Spanish and apply them to astronomy in areas such as Chile's observatories.
Picture of the Summar Palace in China

Other Skills

  • Outreach
  • Event-planning
  • LaTeX
  • Leadership
  • Public Speaking
  • Soldering
  • Wood-working
  • Microsoft Office Certified (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Access)