CAREER: The Early Stages of Galaxy Evolution

虽然近年来我们对星系形成和演化的了解大大增加，但一些最重要的问题在很大程度上仍然是未知的。特别是，早期宇宙中低质量年轻星系的特征仍然是天体物理学的前沿之一。虽然在未来地面和太空望远镜出现之前，我们无法分析它们的光谱，但我们可以通过对更近的宇宙的合理类比，对它们的物理状况了解很多。因此，PI将详细识别和研究z~2的最年轻和质量最低的星系，在z~2红移时，宇宙只有当前年龄的20%，但在这个红移时，星系仍然足够明亮，可以进行详细研究。PI将领导一项综合运动，从近红外光谱测量z~2低质量星系的金属丰度和电离参数；确定z~2处质量-金属丰度关系的暗端；研究引力透镜星系。PI的工作将集中在威斯康星大学密尔沃基分校（UWM），这是一个在城市环境中拥有大量本科生的机构，而且在天文学方面很少存在。PI是本科生天文俱乐部的指导教师之一，该俱乐部每周开会，重点是让学生有机会通过无线电搜索脉冲星参与真正的天文研究。她还将通过课程开发、推广和指导来自弱势群体的学生，在增加天文学在威斯康星大学的存在方面发挥主导作用。

While our understanding of galaxy formation and evolution has increased enormously in recent years, some of the most important issues are still largely unknown. In particular, the characterization of low mass, young galaxies in the early universe remains one of the frontiers of astrophysics. Although we cannot analyze their spectra until the advent of future ground and space-based telescopes, we can learn a great deal about their physical conditions using plausible analogs the more nearby universe. The PI will therefore identify and study in detail the youngest and lowest mass galaxies at z~2, a redshift at which the universe was only 20% of its current age, but at which galaxies are still bright enough for detailed study. The PI will lead a comprehensive campaign to measure metallicities and ionization parameters in low-mass galaxies at z~2 from near-infrared spectra; determine the faint-end of the mass-metallicity relation at z~2; and study gravitationally lensed galaxies.The PI's work will be centered at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee (UWM), an institution with a large undergraduate population in an urban environment, and one with little previous presence in astronomy. The PI is one of the faculty advisors of the undergraduate astronomy club, which meets weekly and focuses on giving students the opportunity to participate in real astronomical research through radio searches for pulsars. She will also play a leading role in increasing the presence of astronomy at UWM through curriculum development, outreach, and mentoring of students from under-represented populations.