I am an infrared astronomer who investigates the astrophysical process having to do with the formation of stars in the Milky Way galaxy. I work on the development of theoretical models of the structure of the Milky Way galaxy using infrared data at a variety of wavelengths to identify the major classes of objects that contribute to the infrared emission of our galaxy, and their distribution in space. I also carry out new research in areas that are suggested by the infrared data which include the detection of external, nearby galaxies in the far infrared, and the detection of the clustered infrared light from very distant galaxies. I am also an educator and science popularizer.