A Fundamental Calibration of Pre-Main-Sequence Evolution Models for Low-Mass Stars and Brown Dwarfs

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AST-0607773INSTITUTION: Vanderbilt UniversityPI: Keivan StassunTITLE: A Fundamental Calibration of Pre-Main-Sequence Evolution Models for Low-Mass Stars and Brown DwarfsABSTRACTDr. Keivan Stassun (Vanderbilt University), along with Gregory W Doppmann (Gemini Observatory) and Subhanjoy Mohanty (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics) will undertake a program of observational research that has as its goal the fundamental calibration of theoretical evolution models for young, low-mass stars and brown dwarfs. Specifically Dr. Stassun will: 1) make accurate measurements of physical properties for pre-main-sequence (PMS) stars and brown dwarfs; and 2) test stellar interiors models and calibrate age determinations for low-mass PMS stars and brown dwarfs.Dr. Stassun will continue and expand, in collaboration with Fisk University (a Historically Black College/University located 1.5 miles from Vanderbilt), a systemic program of education, outreach, and mentoring at the K-12, undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral levels aimed at significantly enhancing and broadening the participation of underrepresented minorities in astronomy. The research program will be undertaken, in part, by a Vanderbilt PhD student with active participation of a Fisk-Vanderbilt Masters-to-PhD Bridge program graduate student and one or more Fisk Astronomy and Space Science Training program undergraduates.