galaxy formation and evolution / reionization
In general terms, my research spans from the processes of galaxy formation to phenomenological models of the universe. Currently I focus on two areas: JWST observations of the early phases of galactic evolution, and machine learning techniques for inferring galactic properties. I am a core member of the JWST ultra-deep Cycle 1 Treasury survey UNCOVER, where I lead the spectrophotometric modeling together with Prof. Leja.
My Ph.D. thesis centers on the escape of ionizing radiation and galactic outflows (slides from my AAS dissertation talk). The former concerns the processes in early galaxies that enable a substantial fraction of their Lyman-continuum radiation to escape the dense interstellar medium, driving the cosmic reionization. The latter is on the physical processes governing starburst-driven outflows, which are often invoked as the principal feedback mechanism in models of galaxy formation and evolution.
I have also collaborated on projects on early universe cosmology, such as understanding large-angle anomalies in the Cosmic Microwave Background and developing analysis pipelines for the Cosmology Large Angular Scale Surveyor.
• Media coverage of lead-author works:
Trio of early galaxies test our ideas of cosmic evolution; Sky & Telescope
Too many stars, too fast?; AAS NOVA research highlights
(see also the PSU release; Space.com, The Independent, ...)
JWST discovery of the second- and fourth-most distant galaxies; PSU release (Space.com, Newsweek, Daily Mail, ...)
JWST uncovers new details in Pandora’s Cluster; NASA/STScI/PSU release
[SII] deficiency and the leakage of ionizing radiation; AAS journal author series
Tracing gas flows out of star-forming galaxies; AAS NOVA research highlights
• Expert comments for:
BBC,
New Scientist,
Sky & Telescope.
• Selected other media coverage:
NASA telescopes discover record-breaking black hole; NASA release (CNN, ...)
Massive early galaxies defy prior understanding of the universe; NASA/Nature/ANU/PSU release (CNN, the Guardian, NPR, ...)
11 papers (as of 05/2024; click here to view in ADS)
Img: composite image of a "little red dot", at spec-z=8.35, exhibiting the earliest signature of old stars in the young universe.; Wang et al 2024.
55 in total (as of 05/2024; click here to view in ADS)
Img: cutout of one of the most distant galaxies ever observed, at spec-z = 12.4; Wang et al 2023.