Early Universe Environments & Peer Mentorship

Maria Wimberly被授予数学和物理科学提升博士后研究奖学金(MPS-Ascend)，以在加州大学河滨分校开展研究和教育项目。她计划研究近场宇宙学和银河系恒星形成的数值模拟。她在流体动力学模拟方面拥有丰富的经验，其中包括恒星形成模型。这些模型对超暗矮星系中重元素的产生产生了不同的预测，这取决于恒星形成的环境。她将改进加州大学布里奇奖学金的同伴指导计划，通过加强真正的同志情谊，扩大未被充分代表的少数族裔在物理学和天文学领域的参与。该计划包括为这些年轻的、多样化的科学家制定具体的个性化职业发展计划。温伯利将把预测的元素丰度模型与不同环境下星系的观测结果进行比较，以确定哪些物理过程在这些环境中最重要。她试图回答的一个关键问题是，在进入银河系之前，银河系超暗矮星系中有多少从未是其他较小星系的卫星。她试图了解银河系卫星星系中有多少是真实的、有史以来形成的第一批星系的原始遗迹。这些星系是寻找有史以来形成的第一批恒星的最佳地点。在扩大的加州-布里奇项目中，她计划建立一个垂直的指导结构。这些同伴指导活动为学生提供了空间，通过正常化共同的奋斗、个人的整体成功和确定如何改善他们的学业经历，围绕公平创建一个社区。这种类型的小组工作/指导有机地创造了领导机会和繁荣的社区。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Maria Wimberly is awarded a Mathematical and Physical Sciences Ascending Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (MPS-Ascend) to conduct a program of research and education at the University of California, Riverside. She plans a study of near–field cosmology and numerical modeling of galactic star formation. She has extensive experience with hydrodynamic simulations that include star formation models. These models yield different predictions of heavy element production in ultra–faint dwarf galaxies, which depend on the environment where the stars formed. She will improve the Cal–Bridge Scholarship’s peer mentorship program, to broaden the participation of underrepresented minorities in Physics & Astronomy by strengthening genuine camaraderie. The program includes specific personalized professional development planning for these young, diverse scientists. Wimberley will compare models of predicted element abundances to observations of galaxies in different environments, to determine which physical processes are most important in these environments. A key question she seeks to answer is what fraction of the Milky Way’s ultra–faint dwarf galaxies were never satellites of other smaller galaxy systems, prior to entering the Milky Way’s system. She seeks to learn what fraction of the Milky Way’s satellite galaxies are true, pristine relics of the first galaxies ever formed. These galaxies are optimal sites to search for signatures of the first stars ever formed. Within the expanded Cal-Bridge program, she plans a vertical mentoring structure. These peer mentorship activities provide space for students to create a community around equity through normalizing common struggles, individual holistic success, and determining how to improve their academic experience. This type of group work/mentoring organically creates leadership opportunities and a thriving community.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.