Kristen B. Wingfield McQuinn
Assistant Professor
Physics and Astronomy
Rutgers University
kristen.mcquinn [at] rutgers.edu
THE FRONTIER OF LOW-MASS GALAXIES
Observational studies of low-mass galaxies are now reaching to smaller mass scales that are approaching the limits of structure formation. Upcoming surveys of both the nearby universe and at a high-redshfit will offer incredible opportunities for discoveries in this unexplored galaxy population. In parallel, hydrodynamical simulations are reaching high enough resolution to study comparably low-mass galaxies in detail.
My science interests are focused on the formation and history of these low-mass galaxies, and what such galaxies can tell us about the history of the universe. Much of my work focuses on systems in the local universe; because of their proximity, nearby galaxies give us a detailed window into their history, acting like archeological time capsules. Not only do they allow us to probe different epochs of the cosmic time - including the earliest epochs of evolution - but they also allow us to study individual processes such as the formation of stars, the evolution of chemical elements, and the impact of star formation on the gas and structure of a galaxy.
NASA's new flagship telesclope: JWST! I am leading a number of science programs on this amazing new telescope! Click on JWST tab above for details.
Check it out: Work from my research group was recently written up a popular science article