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Evolving to the end states of stellar evolution, Professor Fong’s team uses radio and optical observations to study and model relativistic explosions called gamma-ray bursts and their host galaxy environments, probing star formation from the local neighborhood to the high-redshift Universe. Professor Margutti’s group uses multi-wavelength observations to study the last chapter of the stellar story including gamma-ray bursts, the most luminous supernovae, and new classes of enigmatic transients. Professor Tchekhovskoy uses state-of-the-art simulations to study the formation of relativistic jets in core-collapse gamma ready busts.

Stars can also be used as essential probes of the Universe. Professor Meyer’s team utilizes the Hubble Space Telescope and ground-based observatories to study stellar optical and ultraviolet spectroscopy in order to understand the composition, structure, and physical conditions of intervening clouds in the Milky Way Galaxy.  Professor Yusef-Zadeh studies signatures of star formation near the supermassive black hole at the Galactic center using observations radio, sub-mm, near-IR and X-ray wavelengths.

At the youngest stages, Professor Lithwick’s group studies the evolution of protoplanetary disks that are found around young stars, including how they form and dissipate, and how they interact with the planets that are born within them through theoretical investigations.  Professor Faucher-Giguère’s group models star formation and stellar feedback, including by supernovae explosions, in the context of galaxy evolution. On the observational side Professor Novak’s group uses stratospheric telescopes and high elevation mountain-top observatories to observe the birth of stars and planets, with a particular focus on magnetic effects.