Paul Sell

Biography:

Research

I am a senior astronomy graduate student currently working with Sebastian Heinz on optical and X-ray observations of microquasars and Christy Tremonti on optical and X-ray observations of post-starburst galaxies.

Teaching

I am currently a teaching assistant  for Astronomy 103 with Christy Tremonti.  I have worked as a teaching assistant for Astronomy 103 with Eric Hooper in the fall of 2008 and with Andy Sheinis in the fall of 2011.

I am also participating in the Delta Program at UW and am currently pursuing a teaching certificate.  As an integral part of this effort, I am completing a Delta internship with Eric Hooper, where I have developed a teaching-as-research study to explore student learning in the planetarium.

Through these teaching assistant and Delta experiences, I have discovered that I enjoy teaching and thinking carefully about which practices best engage students and maximize learning.

Outreach Activities

I love amateur astronomy and have been involved in a number of facets of astronomy public outreach.  Here are a few highlights:

• I have ~3.5 years of experience giving shows and conducting observing sessions at the Ritter Planetarium and Brooks Observatory on the University of Toledo campus.
• I have been very much involved in the Universe in the Park program at UW, leading over 30 sessions, where I have taken a projector and portable telescopes to bring astronomy to campers in the state parks of Wisconsin.
• I am the UW graduate student Washburn and Universe in the Park Telescopes Steward where I am involved with basic maintenance and coordination of the use of these telescopes.