Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of South Carolina

Jones Physical Science Center Rm. 507, 712 Main Street

Columbia, South Carolina, 29208, USA

Phone: (803) 576-6066

Email: moniquealler@gmail.com OR ALLERM@mailbox.sc.edu

Web: http://boson.physics.sc.edu/~aller

2007

2001

1999

Ph.D. in Astronomy and Astrophysics

Department of Astronomy, University of Michigan

Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

Dissertation: Supermassive Black Holes: Their Masses, Host Galaxy Relationships, and Cosmic Distribution

Chair: Douglas O. Richstone

Committee: Rebecca Bernstein, Mario Mateo, Timothy McKay

M.S. in Astronomy and Astrophysics

Department of Astronomy, University of Michigan

Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

B.A. cum laude in Physics and in Medieval/Renaissance Studies

Wellesley College, Wellesley, Massachusetts, USA

2005

1999

Rackham One-Term Dissertation Fellowship, University of Michigan

Cum laude B.A., Wellesley College

2002-present

1999-present

American Astronomical Society

Sigma Xi, Scientific Research Society

1. •Characterizing observed extragalactic dust properties such as spatial distributions, opacities, and chemical contents
   

1. •Studies of quasar absorption systems, with a focus on their dust/chemical content
   

1. •Extragalactic star-formation processes including star-formation stimuli in unusual environments such as polar rings
   

1. •Evolution of relationships between supermassive black holes and their host galaxies, from intermediate redshifts (z~1-2) to the local universe
   

1. •Characterizing the spatial and cosmic redshift distributions of supermassive black holes/AGN
   

1. •Observationally-driven studies of the structure, dynamics, and evolution of galaxies
   

1. •Application and development of tools and analyses to probe the morphological transformation of galaxies from intermediate redshifts to the local universe

Postdoctoral Researcher for Prof. V.P. Kulkarni    

Dept. of Physics & Astronomy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA

Used Spitzer IRS spectral data to search for evidence of silicate dust in z<1.5 quasar absorption systems, and to constrain the chemical properties of this silicate dust. Leading a project to study star-formation stimulation mechanisms in polar ring galaxies using multi-wavelength (UV, optical, Spitzer IRAC, radio) imaging data. Leading a project to study the opacity and spatial distribution of extragalactic dust, utilizing optical and Spitzer IRAC imaging of superposed galaxy pairs in the local universe.

Postdoctoral Researcher for Prof. C.M. Carollo    

Institute of Astronomy, Dept. of Physics, ETH Zürich, Switzerland

Utilized ACS and ground-based photometric data, at redshifts0.2<z<1.0, from the COSMOS survey, to examine the properties of star-forming early-type galaxies, and to study galaxy structural evolution, as determined from both parametric and non-parametric characterizations of galaxy light profiles.

Graduate Student Research Assistant to Prof. D. Richstone

Dept. of Astronomy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

Observed, analyzed, and managed ground-based spectroscopy data for the Nuker Team, and worked on projects to understand the nature of the host galaxy-supermassive black hole (SMBH) relationship in the local universe, and the cosmic distribution of SMBHs.

Research Projects with MPIfR Staff Members

MPIfR, Bonn, Germany

Worked under Dr. T. Krichbaum to follow the spectral evolution of BL Lac using broadband data, and helped in the management of the database for the VLBA 2 cm survey of component motions (e.g. Kellermann, K.I., et al., 2004, ApJ, 609, 539) under Dr. A. Zensus.

Undergraduate Summer Research Assistant NAIC to Dr. M. Davis

Arecibo Observatory, Arecibo, Puerto Rico, USA

Worked on Arecibo telescope calibration (following Gregorian dome installation), on a project searching for HI absorption in the host-galaxies of high redshift quasars (with Drs. Davis, Ghosh, and Salter) which resulted in a new technique for excising radio interference, and on a project examining single-epoch measurements of broadband radio continuum spectra (with Dr. Salter and fellow students).

2010-present

2007-2010

2000-2007

Summer

2000

June 1998-Jan. 1999

Mainieri, V., Bongiorno, A., Merloni, A., Aller, M., Carollo, M., Iwasawa, K., Koekemoer, A.M., Mignoli, M., et al., “Black hole accretion and star formation rates of obscured quasars in XMM-COSMOS”, 2011, A&A, accepted

Lusso, E., Comastri, A., Vignali, C., Zamorani, G., Treister, E., Sanders, D., Bolzonella, M., Bongiorno, A., ... Aller, M.C. et al., “The bolometric output and host-galaxy properties of obscured AGN in the XMM-COSMOS survey”, 2011, A&A, 534, A110

Cameron, E., Carollo, C.M., Oesch, P., Aller, M.C., Bschorr, T., Cerulo, P., Aussel, H., Capak, P., et al., “Bars in Early- and Late-Type Disks in COSMOS”, 2010, MNRAS, 409, 346

Oesch, P.A., Carollo, C.M., Feldmann, R., Hahn, O., Lilly, S.J., Sargent, M.T., Scarlata, C., Aller, M.C., et al., “The Build-Up of the Hubble Sequence in the COSMOS Field”, 2010, ApJL, 714, 47

Mainieri, V., Vignali, C., Merloni, A., Civano, F., Puccetti, S., Brusa, M., Gilli, R., Bolzonella, M., ... Aller, M. et al., “Ultraluminous X-ray Sources out to z~0.3 in the COSMOS Field”, 2010, A&A, 514, 85

Gültekin, K., Richstone, D.O., Gebhardt, K., Lauer, T.R., Tremaine, S., Aller, M.C., Bender, R., Dressler, A., et al., “The M-σ and M-L Relations in Galactic Bulges, and Determinations of Their Intrinsic Scatter”, 2009, ApJ, 698, 198

Gültekin, K., Richstone, D.O., Gebhardt, K. Lauer, T.R., Pinkney, J., Aller, M.C., Bender, R., Dressler, A., et al., “A Quintet of Black Hole Mass Determinations”, 2009, ApJ, 695, 1577

Siopis, C., Gebhardt, K., Lauer, T.R., Kormendy J., Pinkney, J., Richstone, D., Faber, S.M., Tremaine, S., Aller, M.C., et al., “A Stellar Dynamical Measurement of the Black Hole Mass in the Maser Galaxy NGC 4258”, 2009, ApJ, 693, 946

Gebhardt, K. Lauer, T.R., Pinkney, J., Bender, R., Richstone, D., Aller, M., Bower, G., Dressler A., et al., “The Black Hole Mass and Extreme Orbital Structure in NGC 1399”, 2007, ApJ, 671, 1321

Aller, M.C., & Richstone, D.O., “Host Galaxy Bulge Predictors of Supermassive Black Hole Mass”, 2007, ApJ, 665, 120

Lauer, T.R., Gebhardt K., Faber, S.M., Richstone, D., Tremaine, S., Kormendy, J., Aller, M.C., Bender, R., et al., “The Centers of Early-Type Galaxies with Hubble Space Telescope. VI. Bimodal Central Surface Brightness Profiles”, 2007, ApJ, 664, 226

Lauer, T.R., Faber, S.M., Richstone, D., Gebhardt, K., Tremaine, S., Postman, M., Dressler, A., Aller, M.C., et al., “The Masses of Nuclear Black Holes in Luminous Elliptical Galaxies and Implications for the Space Density of the Most Massive Black Holes”, 2007, ApJ, 662, 808

Lauer, T.R., Faber, S.M., Gebhardt, K., Richstone, D., Tremaine, S., Ajhar, E.A., Aller, M.C., Bender, R., et al., “The Centers of Early-Type Galaxies with Hubble Space Telescope. V. New WFPC2 Photometry”, 2005, AJ, 129, 2138

Aller, M.C., & Richstone, D., “The Cosmic Density of Massive Black Holes from Galaxy Velocity Dispersions”, 2002, AJ, 124, 3035

Aller, M.C., Kulkarni, V.P., Higdon, S.J.U., & Higdon, J., “Mapping Extragalactic Dust with Multi-Wavelength Imaging of Backlit Galaxy Pairs”, at the “From Dust to Galaxies” Conference, June 27-July 1, 2011, IAP, Paris, France

Aller, M.C., Kulkarni, V.P., York, D.G., Vladilo, G., Welty, D.E., & Som, D., “Probing the Composition of Interstellar Dust at z=0.9”, at the 2011 Meeting of Astronomers in South Carolina, March 26, 2011, SC State University, Orangeburg, SC, USA

Aller, M.C., “Supermassive Black Holes and Galaxy Morphology“, colloquim in the University of South Carolina Department of Physics & Astronomy, December 2, 2010, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA

Aller, M.C., Kulkarni, V.P., York, D.G., Vladilo, G., Welty, D.E., & Som, D., “Probing the Composition of Interstellar Dust Over the Past 7 Gyr”, at the South-Atlantic Coast Section of the AAPT Meeting, October 22-23, 2010, Charleston, SC, USA

Aller, M.C., Carollo, C.M., Oesch, P.A., & COSMOS collaboration, “Star Formation in COSMOS Early-Type Galaxies With and Without a Disk”, at the 215th American Astronomical Society Meeting, January 2010, Washington, D.C., USA

Aller, M.C., Carollo, C.M., et al., “The Formation of Massive Galaxies in Dense and Low Density Environments”, at the COSMOS Science Meeting, June 9-13, 2008, IAP, Paris, France

Aller, M.C., & Richstone, D.O., “Host Galaxy Bulge Predictors of Supermassive Black Hole Mass”, at the Galactic Nuclei Workshop, July 24-28, 2006, Lorentz Center, Leiden, Netherlands

Aller, M.C., & Richstone, D.O., “The Relationship Between SMBH Mass and Gravitational Potential Energy”, at the 207th American Astronomical Society Meeting, January 2006, Washington, D.C., USA

Aller, M.C., & Richstone, D.O., “The Black Hole Mass Density from Velocity Dispersions”, at the 199th American Astronomical Society Meeting, January 2002, Washington D.C., USA

Aller, M.C., Davis, M., Ghosh, T., & Salter, C., “Excision of Radio Interference from Observations of Hydrogen Absorption Lines from Highly Redshifted Quasars”, at the URSI National Radio Science Meeting, January 1999, Boulder, Co., USA

Jun.-Jul. 2011

Mar. 2011

Dec. 2010

Oct. 2010

Jan. 2010

Jun. 2008

Jul. 2006

Jan. 2006

Jan. 2002

Jan. 1999

Kulkarni, V.P., York, D.G., Meiring, J., Som, D., Lauroesch, J.T., Peroux, C., Khare, P., & Aller, M.C., “Sub-damped Lyman-alpha Absorbers at z<0.6: An Unexplored Terrain the the Quest for Cosmic Metals”

Kulkarni, V.P., Aller, M.C., Higdon, S.J.U., & Higdon, J.L., “Rings of Fire: A Spitzer IRAC Study of Polar Ring Galaxies”

HST

Cycle 19

Spitzer

Cycle 8

Aller, M.F., Hughes, P.A., Aller, H.D., Marscher, A.P., Jorstad, S.G., Hovatta, T., & Aller, M.C., “Evidence for Shocks as the Origin of Gamma-Ray Flares in Blazars”,

Aller, M.C., Carollo, C.M., Oesch, P.A., & COSMOS Team, “Star Formation in COSMOS Early-Type Galaxies With and Without a Disk”, 2010, BAAS, 215, 329.05

Aller, M.C., & Richstone, D.O., “The Relationship Between SMBH Mass and Gravitational Potential Energy”, 2005, BAAS, 207, 102.03

Siopis, C., Aller, M.C., Bender, R., Bower, G.A., Dressler, A., Faber, S.M., Filippenko, A.V., Gebhardt, K., et al., “The Scatter in the M- Relation”, 2004, BAAS, 205, 110.11

Siopis, C., Aller, M.C., Bender, R., Bower, G., Dressler, A., Faber, S.M., Filippenko, A.V., Gebhardt, K., et al., “A Comparison of Estimates of the Black Hole Mass in the Maser Galaxy NGC 4258”, 2002, BAAS, 201, 68.02

Ghosh, T., Davis, M.M., Salter, C.J., & Aller, M.C., “An HI Search for the Host Galaxies of 27 Radio-Loud AGN at z~2.3”, 2002, in The Universe at Low Radio Frequencies, IAU Symp. 199, ed. A. Pramesh Rao, G. Swarup, & Gopal-Krishna, 127

Aller, M.C., & Richstone, D.O., “The Black Hole Mass Density from Velocity Dispersions”, 2001, BAAS, 199, 25.04

Aller, M.C., Davis, M., Ghosh, T., & Salter, C., “Excision of Radio Interference from Observations of Hydrogen Absorption Lines from Highly Redshifted Quasars”, 1999, United States National Committee – International Union of Radio Science Program and Abstracts: National Radio Science Meeting January 4-8, 1999, J/E1-3, 1540

Salter, C.J., Ghosh, T., Alejandro, A., Aller, M.C., Cordero, Y., Daubar, I., DeDeo, S., Kaplan, D.L., et al., “Single-Epoch Measurements of Broadband Radio Continuum Spectra”, 1998, BAAS, 193, 107.22

Aller, M.C., Davis, M., Ghosh, T., & Salter, C., “A High Redshift Hydrogen Search at Arecibo Observatory”, 1998, in the KECK Northeast Astronomy Consortium Proceedings of the 1998 Undergraduate Symposium on Research in Astronomy, 1

Aller, M.F., Marscher, A.P., Hartman, R.C., Aller, H.D., Aller, M.C., Balonek, T.J., Begelman, M.C., Chiaberge, M., et al., “Radio to -Ray Observations of 3C 454.3: 1993-1995”, 1997, in Proceedings of the Fourth Compton Symposium, ed. C.D. Dermer, M.S. Strickman, & J.D. Kurfess (New York: IAP), 410, 1423

Jauslin, M., “A Multiwavelength Analysis of COSMOS Data”, senior research project at the ETH Zurich

Schaer, M., “An Examination of Bulge:Disk Decompositions in the COSMOS”, senior research project at the ETH Zurich

Spring 2009-2010

Spring 2009

Georgiana Experience Astronomy Research in Schools (GEARS) K-12 program independent unit (Galaxies) reviewer

Taught exercise/discussion section of Astrophysics I (~20 students) for physics majors, ETH Zurich

Taught exercise/discussion section of Astrophysics I (~20 students) for physics majors, ETH Zurich

Taught 2 laboratory sections of non-science-major course, “Introductory Astronomy: Extragalactic” ( up to 10 students/section) with Dr. Hughes, University of Michigan

Independently taught “Naked-Eye Astronomy” course for undergraduates (~50 students), University of Michigan

Taught 2 discussion sections of non-science-major course, “Introductory Astronomy: Extragalactic” ( up to 22 students/section) with Profs. Aller & R. Bernstein, University of Michigan

Taught 2 laboratory sections of non-science-major course, “Introductory Astronomy: Extragalactic” ( up to 10 students/section) with Dr. Hughes, University of Michigan

Taught 2 discussion sections of non-science-major course, “Introductory Astronomy: Solar System” (up to 22 students/section) with Prof. Sears, University of Michigan

(Co-) Laboratory Equipment Coordinator - responsible for maintaining and repairing existing laboratory equipment, ordering new laboratory equipment, and developing new and revised laboratory experiments for introductory astronomy courses, University of Michigan

Taught 2 discussion sections of non-science-major course, “Introductory Astronomy: Solar System” (up to 22 students/section) with Prof. Sears, University of Michigan

Taught 2 laboratory sections of non-science-major freshman seminar course on  “Observational Astronomy” (up to 10 students/section) with Dr. Paglione, University of Michigan

Taught 4 discussion sections of non-science-major course, “Introductory Astronomy: Extragalactic” (up to 22 students/section) with Prof. G. Bernstein, University of Michigan

Taught 4 discussion sections of non-science-major course, “Introductory Astronomy: Solar System” (up to 22 students/section) with Prof. Cowley, University of Michigan

Physics Grader, Department of Physics, Wellesley College

Physics Tutor, Department of Physics, Wellesley College

Fall 2011

Fall 2009

Fall 2008

Spring 2007

Winter 2007

  

Fall 2006

Spring 2006

Winter 2004

2001-2004

Winter 2001

Fall 2000

Winter 2000

Fall 1999  

1998-1999

1996-1999