The Rise and Fall of Star Formation in Galaxies

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Galaxies are complex celestial objects that require knowledge of physics from quantum to cosmological scale to understand. Nearly a century after the first distance measurement to external galaxies, astronomers now routinely survey the stellar and gaseous content of galaxies from the first billion years after the Big Bang until the present day. Despite the wealth of observations of distant galaxies, fundamental questions remain. What are the key processes regulating star formation in galaxies? How and when did galaxies reionize the Universe? Answering these questions is the long-term objective of my research program. The study of distant galaxies is about to enter a transformative era with the imminent launch of the James Webb Space Telescope, the long-anticipated successor of the Hubble Space Telescope. Moreover, a Canadian consortium is constructing the Gemini Infrared Multi-Object Spectrograph, a powerful instrument with new capabilities for surveying distant galaxies. Astronomers will probe distant galaxies at unprecedented sensitivity and resolution. To fully capitalize on these opportunities, I will train a new generation of astronomers in skills to tackle pressing questions on galaxy evolution. My short-term objectives are to obtain deep and resolved views of distant galaxies using state-of-the-art techniques and instruments across the electromagnetic spectrum. Building on my experience, we will leverage gravitational lensing to obtain the deepest views of distant galaxies. By measuring their dense molecular gas fraction and ionized gas outflows, my program will unravel how star formation is regulated in distant galaxies. Furthermore, we will obtain the most resolved view of distant galaxies with adaptive optics and interferometry --- both techniques provide superior spatial resolution that enabled the discovery of a supermassive black hole in the Galactic Center (Nobel Prize in Physics 2020). We will scrutinize how active supermassive black holes heat and expel gas from their host galaxies and measure rotation curves for primeval galaxies that probe their dark matter content and turbulence. Altogether, my program will bring about profound and novel insights into distant galaxies, informing future surveys and instrument designs. My emphasis on international collaborations will provide invaluable training opportunities for students and lay the foundation for Canada to play a leading role in constructing and using next-generation facilities. The HQP training will emphasize professional development, so that trainees will be equipped with analytic, computing and leadership skills that are sought after within and beyond academia. I am committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive work environment. As such, the HQP training plan is designed based on EDI principles and builds on my experience in mentoring trainees with diverse backgrounds.