MPS-Ascend: Disentangling the Complexities of Galaxy Evolution Using Genetically Modified Galaxies

该奖项全部或部分由《2021年美国救援计划法案》（公法117-2）资助。娜塔莉·n·桑切斯（Natalie N. Sanchez）被授予美国国家科学基金会数学和物理科学提升博士后研究奖学金（NSF MPS-Ascend），以开展一项与扩大STEM中代表性不足群体参与相关的研究和活动计划。桑切斯博士的研究项目名为“MPS-Ascend：利用转基因星系解开星系演化的复杂性”，由一位赞助科学家指导。该奖学金的主办机构是卡内基天文台，赞助科学家是安德鲁·本森博士。几十年的观测表明，由能量过程驱动的大规模气体流出对星系演化至关重要。这样的气流抑制和调节恒星的形成。来自超新星和恒星风的恒星反馈是驱动外流的重要能量来源，来自超大质量黑洞（SMBH）的风也是如此。在星系形成的复杂背景下——比如正在进行的大小合并、流入的气体细丝、冷却的气体流动和反馈过程——解开物理过程的因果关系证明是一个挑战。PI将使用数值模拟来创建“转基因”（GM）星系：模拟基于几乎相同的初始条件，星系吸积历史略有改变。GM技术的控制实验分离了不同组装历史、SMBH反馈实现和恒星形成历史的影响，以解开驱动星系形成的复杂动力学过程。PI将与帕萨迪纳的社区学院和加州桥项目合作，每年创建并运营一个为期两周的密集编程暑期学校，其中包括教授python编程技能，多种形式天体物理数据的实际研究经验，以及以stem为重点的职业讲座。该计划的目标是增加对stem领域历史上被边缘化的学生的支持和保留。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This award is funded in whole or in part under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-2). Natalie N. Sanchez is awarded a NSF Mathematical and Physical Sciences Ascending Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (NSF MPS-Ascend) to conduct a program of research and activities related to broaden participation by groups underrepresented in STEM. This fellowship to Dr. Sanchez supports her research project entitled "MPS-Ascend: Disentangling the Complexities of Galaxy Evolution Using Genetically Modified Galaxies", under the mentorship of a sponsoring scientist. The host institution for the fellowship is Carnegie Observatories, and the sponsoring scientist is Dr. Andrew Benson.Decades of observations have shown that large scale gas outflows driven by energetic processes are critical in galaxy evolution. Such flows inhibit and regulate star formation. Stellar feedback from supernova and stellar winds is an important source of energy for driving outflows as are winds from Super Massive Black Holes (SMBH). Amidst the complicated backdrop of galaxy formation–such as ongoing major and minor mergers, inflowing gas filaments, cooling gas flows, and feedback processes–unraveling the cause and effect of physical processes proves a challenge. The PI will use numerical simulations to create "Genetically Modified" (GM) galaxies: simulations based on nearly identical initial conditions with slightly changed galaxy accretion histories. The controlled experiments of the GM technique isolate the impact of different assembly histories, SMBH feedback implementation, and star formation histories to disentangle the complicated dynamical processes that drive galaxy formation.Working with Community Colleges in Pasadena and the Cal Bridge Program, the PI will create and run a two-week, intensive coding summer school each year that includes teaching python coding skills, practical research experience with multiple forms of astrophysical data, and lectures on STEM-focused careers. The goal of this program is to increase the support for and retention of historically marginalized students in STEM-fields.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.