CASSI 2024 summer student profiles
Justin Alejandro - Sacramento State University
Research Program: I worked with my mentor, Matthias Raives, on recreating one of his papers simulating winds of magnetars (neutron stars with strong magnetic fields), but instead I'll simulating hot Jupiter winds. My work was to view a wide range of variables and notice any trends that come with setting certain parameters. For example, I looked at how the mass loss rate of a hot Jupiter can depend on the sound speed traveling through its winds.
Why CASSI? I was excited to join the CASSI program because I've only heard good things from it. I was able by chance to meet some students who have gone here the summer prior, they couldn't stress enough how CASSI was their favorite summer program with a helpful assortment of panels, research talks, and endless opportunities to meet and know different scientists.
Favorite Experience: My favorite part about the program would have to be getting to meet with so many different people working in the field. As an undergrad, the idea of grad school and beyond has always hidden behind a sort of veil of mystery. But meeting so many people along this career process takes that uncertainty away, and even helps us be prepared for what's to come.
Nhi Doan - Pomona College
Research Program: I worked with Julia Brady to test volume-phase holographic (VPH) grating prototypes for the Magellan InfraRed Multi-object Spectrograph (MIRMOS), a next-generation near-infrared spectrograph being developed at Carnegie. As MIRMOS will probe some of the faintest galaxies and their surrounding circumgalactic medium as well as detect extremely weak signals from exoplanet atmospheres, we wanted to maximize the amount of light that passes through the instrument while minimizing unwanted stray light. VPH gratings are an essential technology that will enable MIRMOS to achieve both high throughput and low stray light. I was building an experiment to measure how much the VPH grating prototypes that we received from a vendor degrade the wavefronts that pass through them, because we wanted to know whether these prototypes meet the image quality performance desired by MIRMOS.
Why CASSI? I came back to CASSI this summer because I wanted to continue working on astronomical instrumentation and Carnegie is one of the very few places with a robust instrument development team on their campus. I also loved the welcoming and supportive community that I found at Carnegie last summer and wanted to continue being a part of that community.
Favorite Experience: Carnegie is a special place where scientists and engineers work closely with each other to build novel instruments that answer questions about the universe. My favorite experience was talking to the super cool engineers and machinists and learning about their day-to-day!
Alex Escamilla - San Diego State University
Research Program: I worked to calculate the star rate efficiency (SFE) of mock observations with STARFORGE, a GIZMO based code that provides the most complete star formation simulations to date. I the compared these calculations to observational data in order to understand the discrepancy of SFE in gravity only theoretical predictions vs. observations. I’ve been researching star formation for a while and it’s really exciting!
Why CASSI? I wanted to join CASSI in order to further my research and professional development. Another reason for joining CASSI is that I wanted to see if researching was something I’d be open to doing for my professional career. I have done research during the school year, but have never done it full-time. I’m also applying to graduate school this upcoming fall, so any chance at research is amazing.
Favorite Experience: My favorite part of the summer was the work environment here at CASSI, being surrounded by hard working and passionate individuals have inspired me to work really hard. Although this came with various struggles I enjoyed those as well.
Aarna Garg - UC Santa Cruz
Research Program: This summer I worked on measuring star formation rates through two methods: with UV/IR spectra and with radio emission. There's a difference in the star formation rates from these two methods and my project is to figure out why. Either the measurements have some errors, or our understanding behind star formation rates isn't complete yet!
Why CASSI? I wanted to join the CASSI program at Carnegie because I saw how the program was geared to prepare the interns for careers in academia, or to help us build skills for an industry job. I'm planning on getting my Ph.D. in astrophysics and felt that the workshops, research talks, and my individual project this summer would set me up for success in this field.
Favorite Experience: My favorite part about the program was meeting so many new scientists at the Observatories! I have learned so much from every person I met here and everyday I felt more prepared for a career in astrophysics academia.
Katie Hermanson - CSU East Bay
Research Program: My CASSI 2024 research was looking at the smallest-mass dwarf galaxies that form in dark matter halos. By simulating very tiny dwarf galaxies at extremely high resolutions, we could examine their properties and the way they form in the early universe. Because dwarf galaxies are at the extreme limit of galaxy formation, we were studying their dark matter halos and testing different kinds of dark matter models. This will allow us to ultimately constrain the possible properties of a dark matter particle and gain a better understanding of how dark matter affects the structure of our universe.
Why CASSI? I wanted to join the CASSI program because the project I was matched with seemed perfect for me. I already had research experience in dark matter physics, and I wanted to learn new things about cosmology, simulations, coding, and theoretical dark matter that I hadn't been exposed to yet. I also really wanted the opportunity to explore Pasadena, Los Angeles, and the surrounding areas.
Favorite Experience: My favorite part about CASSI was developing relationships with the other students in the cohort and with my mentor. Having deep conversations about the nature of our research and our place in the scientific community as young, curious physicists was very rewarding. Additionally, getting the chance to talk passionately about my own niche astrophysics interests with receptive audiences was very satisfying.
Joahan Castañeda Jaimes - Caltech
Research Program: I studied ultraluminous infrared galaxies using the Mid Infrared Instrument on the James Webb Space Telescope. I specifically focused on one target and analyzed its spectrum to identify and measure dust grain features and emission line features. Our goal is to use these features to understand the interesting gas and dust physics in these objects to try to uncover any hidden physical features that we would have never been able to see with previous spectroscopic instruments. Since my target is also a galaxy merger remnant, we also hope to build our understanding on the galaxy evolution process within the galaxy merger stage.
Why CASSI? My previous research experience had only been with faculty at Caltech, so I wanted to explore another scientific institution to broaden my research network. I had also heard great things about CASSI from the other Caltech students that had previously been involved with the program. Carnegie Observatories itself also has a rich history with the astronomy that goes on at Caltech so I also thought it would be cool to see such a historically important campus during my time as an undergraduate in Southern California.
Favorite Experience: The opportunity to meet undergraduate students from other institutions in my cohort. I don’t normally get to do this and I believe it's important to hear from as many different voices as possible since research is intrinsically a collaborative effort. We’re not working on the same projects or sometimes even remotely adjacent projects, yet I think there is still tons to learn from being near other early career researchers who are trying to navigate their way through our field.
Steven Romero-Ruiz - Caltech
Research Program: My project consisted of updating the HI kinematic distances of pulsars in order to help develop an electron density model to determine the unknown distances on known pulsars. These distances are found through observing the absorption and emission spectra of these pulsars with intervening neutral hydrogen to determine the radial velocities of HI clouds in front of and behind the pulsar to constrain its distance using a rotation curve model. These distances can have uncertainties in the scale of kiloparsecs so we wanted to use a Bayesian inference approach to statistically predict the actual distance limits of the pulsar.
Why CASSI? This summer I wanted to do research that is not pure computer science theory but coding in a field of interest of mine. Carnegie was a perfect place to integrate my coding skills into astronomy and astrophysics. Carnegie also has helped me with soft skills such as presenting and how to network with other scientists.
Favorite Experience: My favorite part of the program was the Carnegie community and support offered. Having a very supportive mentor and community removed the intimidation of research that I originally had coming in. All the workshops and help available on all sorts of areas was also one of my favorite aspects of the program.
River Schmidt-Eder - Carleton College
Research Program: My research project with Anthony Pahl focused on correlating the ionizing photon production efficiencies of high-redshift galaxies to their effective radii. The project focused on the complex history of reionization, an important epoch in cosmic history. By leveraging new high resolution near-infrared sensitive data from the James Webb Telescope and employing Python solutions relevant to data analysis, we were modeling the sizes of ancient galaxies billions of light years away using GALFIT. Our research aimed to unravel how much compact galaxies may be contributing disproportionately to the ionization of hydrogen in the early universe thereby shedding light on fundamental questions about galaxy evolution and the large-scale structure of the cosmos as we know it today.
Why CASSI? Physics and chemistry were key interests for me in high school. Considering this program, I viewed astrophysics as standing out as the ultimate fusion of these disciplines, pushing the boundaries of our understanding of the universe. My grandmother, a dedicated astronomer, was my primary source of STEM knowledge growing up. Her passion and expertise in astronomy ignited my curiosity and inspired me to investigate deeper into the field of astronomy. I am driven to follow in her footsteps to uncover the fascinating truths about our reality and the cosmos. Additionally, I am committed to immersing myself in a community of diverse and intelligent individuals, as I firmly believe that diverse perspectives are crucial for innovative problem-solving and personal growth.
Favorite Experience: My favorite part about the summer project was the grad panels. They did an effective job of helping me carefully consider whether graduate school is right for me and what the experience would be like if I were to attend. I also just enjoyed being introduced to all facets of the astronomy program here at Carnegie, whether relevant to instrumentation, simulation, data collection, analysis, or otherwise.
Leia Shen - Harvey Mudd College
Research Program: I worked with Dr. Josh Simon to find binary systems with compact object companions in the Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fibre Spectroscopic Telescope survey with lithium indication. There is much evidence showing that there is a link between lithium enhancement in the star’s spectrum and the presence of compact objects (black holes and neutron stars) in a companion. Our project was motivated by the detection of Gaia NS1, a candidate that has a companion that is one of the most massive stars, where lithium enhancement also presents. We started to select stars from LAMOST with similar properties and measure their lithium abundance to find other candidates for binary systems with compact objects.
Why CASSI? The reason I attended CASSI is because of all the opportunities it’s offering me. As one who is considering further pursuing an academic career in the future, all the professional development events in CASSI can better prepare me. Also, the opportunity to conduct individual research and attend the AAS conference in the winter strengthens my understanding of the Astrophysics field.
Favorite Experience: I loved to talk to people in the cohort because everyone was so supportive and had an interesting perspective on both life and science. Talking to them not only enriched my understanding of people’s research but also of other backgrounds and cultures.
Lizzy Teryoshin - UC San Diego
Research Program: This summer I ran a three-dimensional 25 solar mass supernova simulation using the FLASH hydrodynamic code, and developed python scripts to streamline the process of restarting the simulation and data analysis. Our goal was to describe and quantify the range of asymmetries produced in the simulation and compare them to observations of real supernovae such as Cas A and SN 1987A with a focus on the distributions of heavier elements such as iron and nickel. This should help us develop a better understanding of the origins of similar asymmetries observed in real supernovae.
Why CASSI? I wanted to join CASSI mainly for the opportunity to learn more about a field that I didn’t have a lot of experience in (astrophysics) to get a better understanding of what I might want to study in the future. Also, during the school year, I worked in a biophysics lab running simulations of cell transport, so I liked that the project I would be working on at CASSI used a lot of similar skills. It was reassuring to know that even if I didn’t end up enjoying the project, I would walk away with useful skills that I could apply to my research at UCSD.
Favorite Experience: My favorite part about CASSI was the community and the people. Everyone was so nice and approachable and there were many opportunities to get to know people like social hours and tea times.
Damien Tessmer - San Diego State University
Research Program: I was looking for the relationship between different elemental abundances of stars and their location in the Milky Way. I will then use the trends to infer chemical yields of stars and hold them up against existing stellar evolution models to see which they agree with.
Why CASSI? I wanted to work at Carnegie because of the amount of history this institution has. This is my first research experience and I will use the skills and connections I have made here to be more prepared to apply and attend grad school.
Favorite Experience: My favorite part of the summer was been the outreach with Upward Bound. I felt like my panel was able to answer all of the questions the students had about higher education and provided a wealth of different experiences to make college seem way more accessible.
Ryan Tsiao - UC Riverside
Research Program: I worked with Dr. Nima Chartab to find the metallicity of a protocluster found by the Lyα Tomography IMACS Survey (LATIS). Once we determine the metallicity of this stellar structure we will compare it to a field group of galaxies at a similar redshift to see if the galaxies within the protocluster are metal deficient or rich. This data will allow us to draw conclusions on how the environment these protoclusters grow up in affects their overall formation.
Why CASSI? I wanted to join Carnegie for their very nicely structured summer internship, as it looked very polished and seemed to offer a lot of resources for succeeding in the field (which they have most definitely lived up to).
Favorite Experience: My favorite thing about being here was definitely the work environment, as everyone was incredibly nice and supportive and the library I did most of my work in has historical significance, which added to the feeling that I was doing real science here at Carnegie.
Alexis Vazquez
Research Program: I studied the distribution of supermassive black hole (SMBH) accretion rates in nearby galaxies by taking a semi-analytic approach using Galacticus to model galaxy formation and evolution. Observations suggested there is a strong correlation between the growth of central SMBHs and the evolution of their host galaxy's galactic bulge. Our goal was to investigate how accurately its models can replicate observed accretion rates at low redshifts. By attempting to fit models to observations we can explore a range of parameters to understand their impact. These questions are crucial to understanding the evolution and growth of galaxies and their central black holes.
Why CASSI? The CASSI program at Carnegie truly stands out in the science community, being highly recommended by everyone I spoke to. I was drawn to this program not only for its holistic support and the opportunity to be part of a community that genuinely invests in participants' growth but also for the well-organized and enriching summer experience. I appreciated how much time and energy was invested in creating a full schedule of events and workshops designed to build our skills from the ground up. These workshops were conducted in a safe and supportive environment where we were encouraged to take risks, make mistakes, and learn from our experiences. This approach helped us grow and prepared us for the challenges of the outside world, regardless of the path we choose in astronomy or physics. The caring and supportive nature of everyone involved made the experience exceptionally positive.
Favorite Experience: Working alongside my advisor on a project that was entirely new to me but aligned perfectly with my interests. Delving into the evolution of supermassive black holes and galaxy formation was a dream come true, and the opportunity to explore this subject in depth was incredibly exciting. Beyond the research, I also thoroughly enjoyed growing new relationships with people across different areas of research and science at Caltech and Carnegie Observatories. Stepping foot in these historic sites where groundbreaking scientists once discussed similar ideas was a truly inspiring experience. Exploring Los Angeles was also a blast, especially attending a range of events in such a rich musical scene.
Isabelle Winnick - Pomona Colege
Research Program: This summer, I analyzed Thorium abundances in the atmospheres of planet-hosting, solar-type stars using high-resolution HARPS spectra. This radioactive element provides essential energy for heating on Earth and could theoretically sustain liquid oceans on worlds outside the Habitable Zone. By building atmospheric models, inferring exoplanet Thorium abundances from their stars, and comparing these abundances to other planetary characteristics, we can better constrain parameters for life.
Why CASSI? I wanted to join the CASSI Program to develop my abilities to conduct scientific inquiry in a supportive environment and better understand the kind of research I find fulfilling.
Favorite Experience: CASSI has an extraordinarily dedicated group of mentors that will ensure you succeed, regardless of research background. From your assigned research advisor to staff scientists and CASSI cohort, there is a strong emphasis on people and inclusivity at Carnegie.
Yi Wei (William) Yang - Caltech
Research Program: I worked with Dr. Kyle Kremer to model the formation of ultracompact binary black hole + white dwarf binaries within globular clusters by using state-of-the-art N-body simulations. Within the extremely dense environment of globular clusters, the formation of these binaries is dictated by dynamical interactions between various stellar objects. I have used these simulations to identify these interactions that would form these binary systems and then performed additional hydrodynamics simulations of these interactions to determine the orbital parameters of the resultant systems. Using this information, I made predictions on how many of these systems we expect to observe in the Milky Way, the luminosities of electromagnetic x-ray signal we expect to detect, and their gravitational wave signal potentially resolvable by the future space-based gravitational wave detector LISA.
Why CASSI? I was really interested in the project being offered by my mentor Kyle Kremer, and after learning about the variety of workshops and programming that would also be taking place in the CASSI program, I knew this was the program that I wanted to join.
Favorite Experience: I really enjoyed all of the programming in addition to the traditional research experience. The opportunity to engage with so many people outside of my particular area of astronomy and learn about their work was extremely fascinating and all of the professional development workshops was immensely useful in developing my skills as a scientist.