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    Graduate Fellowship Award Recipients

    Each year the Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium awards a number of undergraduate scholarships and graduate fellowships to the best and brightest college and university students from WSGC affiliate member institutions. The WSGC fellowship awards are based on academic performance, space and aerospace-related promise and the submission of a specific research proposal. The fellowships funds help defer the costs of the student's research. WSGC is pleased to announce and congratulate the following students on their WSGC Graduate Fellowships:

    2009-2010

    Lisa Anderson

    Lisa Anderson-Antle
    UW-Milwaukee
    Research Title: Simulated Weightlessness and Radiation in Bone Health
    Synopsis: Space is a hazardous environment with the potential to challenge the long-term health of astronauts. As weightlessness may impact the influence of radiation on long-term tissue regeneration, it is important to understand the underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms so that effective interventions can be found. Our long-term goals are to determine the mechanisms of tissue degeneration and to develop effective countermeasures for musculoskeletal disuse. Studies using both physiological and molecular approaches will be used to achieve our objectives. This research is relevant to clinical conditions of physical inactivity and immobilization.

    Emily Barrentiner
    UW-Madison
    Research Title: The Development of a Transition Edge Hot-Electron Microbolometer
    Synopsis: Future NASA missions to probe the Cosmic Microwave Background polarization will need sensitive detectors provided by arrays of 1000s of bolometers. My project will develop a Transition-Edge Hot-Electron Microbolometer to fill this need.

    Blakesley Burkhart
    UW-Madison
    Research Title: The Quest for Understanding Interstellar Turbulence: New Ways of Analyzing Data
    Synopsis: Astronomers have long wanted to characterize sonic and Alfven Mach numbers in the ISM as well as measure the spectrum of turbulent velocities in order to test theoretical models. In response to this, I propose to conduct a study using new density and velocity diagnostic tools that will increase the information yield provided by column densities and emission and absorption lines. For my analysis of velocity spectrum, I will use the Velocity Channel Analysis (VCA) and the Velocity Coordinate Spectrum (VCS) to measure the turbulent velocity spectra. The anticipated outcome of this project using both density and velocity tools will be the localization of the places of energy injection and dissipation in various phases of the Milky Way, insight into the energetic connection between the warm and cold gas, characterization of magnetic and sonic Mach numbers, as well as clarification of the nature of the compressible turbulent cascade.

    Amanda Gault
    UW-Madison
    Research Title: Observing with the Millimeter-wave Bolometric Interfrerometer
    Synopsis: The Millimeter-wave Bolometric Interferometer, a test-bed for technology for the Einstein Inflation Probe, will begin observing this year. These observations and characterizations of the instrument will continue through 2009.

    Aaron Geller
    UW-Madison
    Research Title: The Progeny of Stellar Dynamics and Stellar Evolution
    Synopsis: Through detailed integration of forefront observations and theory, the proposed NGC 188 N-body simulation will greatly advance our understanding of the interplay of the fundamental fields of stellar evolution and stellar dynamics.

    Jordan Gerth

    Jordan Gerth
    UW-Madison
    Research Title: Applying MODIS Atmosphere Observations to Numerical Weather Prediction Simulations
    Synopsis: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) operate a series of polarorbiting satellites which are used to make atmospheric measurements. These space-based observations have been shown useful in improving numerical weather prediction simulations. This work proposes using the Weather Research and Forecast (WRF) Model with initial conditions modified by data from two NASA satellites equipped with a MODerate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) to assess the impact of space-based data on mesoscale weather simulations (occurring on a horizontal grid of 20-kilometer spacing or less) over regional sectors. A particularly notable region is the Great Lakes, where the marine-modified atmosphere plays a significant role in the weather of coastal communities. The end goal is to show improved temperature and moisture forecasts and provide this data to the National Weather Service (NWS) in real-time.


    Diana Husmann

    Diana Husmann
    UW-Madison
    Research Title: Time Lab between Solar PV Efficiency Breakthroughs and Mass-Production in Public and Private Research
    Synopsis: CSynopsis: Comparing solar PV efficiency breakthroughs coming from public and private labs to determine which breakthroughs have been commercialized the most quickly and suggest better commercialization methods.

    Ryan Keenan

    Ryan Keenanr> UW-Madison
    Research Title: Galaxy Evolution Study
    Synopsis: This project is an astronomy collaboration involving the use of telescopes in the United States and in Chile to study the spectra of a large sample of galaxies for the purpose of constraining galaxy evolution through major mergers.

    Benjamin Lackey
    UW-Milwaukee
    Research Title: Extracting Equation of State Parameters from Neutron-Star Observations
    Synopsis: The neutron-star equation of state can be highly constrained with current observations and expected future electromagnetic and gravitational wave observations of compact binary systems. Both analytical and numerical work will be done to determine how these observations can be most accurately mapped onto the equation of state. The results can be used to determine the configuration of advanced gravitational wave detectors that will maximize their sensitivity to equation of state parameters encoded in the waveforms.

    Claus Moberg

    Claus Moberg
    UW-Madison
    Research Title: A Satellite- and Modeling-Based Source Apportionment Analysis of Tropospheric Ozone Pollution Over the Western United States
    Synopsis: This project uses satellite- and ground-based observations of atmospheric variables to constrain a regional model of atmospheric chemistry over the Western United States. The goal of the project is to better determine the relative importance of stratospheric ozone contributions to ground-level concentrations of ozone pollution.


    Jordan Muss

    Jordan Muss
    UW-Madison
    Research Title: Measurement of Three-Dimensional Canopy Structure Using Discrete Lidar Data
    Synopsis: Forest canopy structure will be measured using discrete lidar data and methods typically reserved for waveform data. A new technique will be developed that describes 3-D clumping of canopy elements.

    Laura Trouille
    UW-Madison
    Research Title: X-Ray and Optical Spectral Properties of Active Galactic Nuclei
    Synopsis: I explore the X-ray and optical spectral properties of a highly spectroscopically complete sample of Chandra Active Galactic Nuclei in order to better understand the interaction between the ionizing flux and the surrounding material.

    Jonathan Van Dyke

    Jonathan Van Dyke
    Medical College of WI
    Research Title: Understanding Stretch-Induced Subcellular Signals Responsible for Countering Muscle Atrophy
    Synopsis: This research is designed to characterize the stretch-induced interaction between two subcellular signaling factors, p38 MAPK and MEF2, and their role in preventing loss muscle wasting in unloaded skeletal muscle.



    2008-2009

    Claudia Cyganowski
    University of Wisconsin-Madison
    Research Title: On a Bubble’s Edge: Molecular Gas and Triggered Star Formation
    Synopsis: The GLIMPSE survey shows that small, infrared-bright dust bubbles produced by massive stars pervade the Galactic Plane.  Cyganowski will investigate whether the expansion of these bubbles triggers star formation in surrounding molecular gas.

    Valerie Bennington
    University of Wisconsin-Madison
    Research Title: Understanding Lake Superior Biogeochemistry
    Synopsis: I will create an ecosystem model appropriate for Lake Superior’s food web, nutrient limitations, and carbon chemistry.  I will couple this ecosystem model to the MIT general circulation model, adapted to Lake Superior’s bathymetry, to determine the annual flux of carbon between the lake and the atmosphere.  I will determine the importance of biological productivity on the lake’s annual flux, and I will quantify how physical climate variability affects productivity and the resulting carbon flux.  Such analysis will enable researchers to estimate the future carbon fluxes of Lake Superior in varying climate scenarios.  Lake Superior is oligotrophic and future land use may alter the supply of phosphorous to the lake.  I will determine whether changes in the macronutrient budget of Lake Superior could have an effect on its carbon exchange.  From all of these experiments, the importance of biological production to variability in the lake flux will be determined.  If biological production is a first-order control of lake flux variability, satellite-derived estimates of lake chlorophyll can be used to estimate changes in the lake flux.

    Yakira Braden
    University of Wisconsin-Madison
    Research Title: Parameter Calibration and Computer Simulations for Complex Physical Systems
    Synopsis: Today, companies across the world are constantly in search of innovative ideas that can reduce their cost of production and operation and increase their profits. Many industries aim to simulate a model of their physical system of interest as opposed to producing and testing the actual system. The proposed research of system identification, often referred to as parameter calibration, yields itself as an appealing and applicable cost effective solution that satisfies this goal. When applying parameter calibration in conjunction with computer simulation of complex physical systems, the model of this physical system is constructed in a simulation program called ADAMS and model parameters are calibrated in order to produce results that closely match the field data gathered from the physical system. ADAMS is a motion simulation solution for analyzing the complex behavior of mechanical assemblies. Parameter calibration will be a useful modeling tool in the aerospace industry, as far as system manufacturing is concerned, because it provides one with the insight needed to make an accurate estimation of the cost of production including man power, cost of materials, amount of materials needed, and construction completion time. Foreseeable design and construction problems can also identified.

    Megan Christenson
    University of Wisconsin-Madison
    Research Title: Using Land Use Change as Predictor of Disease Emergence
    Synopsis: Explore the hypothesis by conducting interviews in a community in Brazil where a Chagas disease outbreak has occurred in order to obtain data about the disease transmission and shifts in land use (i.e., deforestation).

    Amanda Gault
    University of Wisconsin-Madison
    Research Title: Observing with the Millimeter-wave Bolometric Interfrerometer
    Synopsis: The Millimeter-wave Bolometric Interferometer, a test-bed for technology for the Einstein Inflation Probe, will begin observing this year. These observations and characterizations of the instrument will continue through 2009.

    Matthew Glenz
    University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
    Research Title: Proposal to Research Cosmic Neutrinos and Spectrum of Early Universe Fluctuations
    Synopsis: Determine spectrum of early universe inflaton fluctuations in a way that does not depend
    on regularization of the quantized fluctuation in curved spacetime; continue research into
    cosmic neutrinos.

    Kelley Hess
    University of Wisconsin-Madison
    Research Title: Environmental Impacts on the Evolution of Galaxy Groups in the Coma-A1367 Supercluster
    Synopsis: Investigate the HI content of galaxy groups and their member galaxies surrounding the Coma-A1367 Supercluster. Within this large volume of the Universe, galaxy groups reside in a large range of environments. The goal of this study is to quantify the evolution of galaxies and their cold gas in groups, as a function of the local density.  This study will utilize the wealth of data acquired through the Arecibo Legacy Fast ALFA Survey.

    Evan Alec Johnson
    University of Wisconsin-Madison
    Research Title: Multiscale Algorithm for Onset of Fast Magnetic Reconnection
    Synopsis: An adaptive multiscale method will be developed to efficiently model the onset of fast reconnection.

    Justin Madsen
    University of Wisconsin-Madison
    Research Title: Validation of Novel Rigid Body Frictional Contact Algorithms Using Tracked Vehicle Simulation: A Stepping Stone for Billion Body Dynamics
    Synopsis: Computer modeling and simulation of mechanical systems with many rigid body frictional contacts is currently limited due to inefficient formulation. A time-stepping method which describes frictional impacts and contacts as unilateral constraints and solves the resulting linear complementarity problem on the velocity-impulse level with a novel fixed-point iteration process has recently been introduced. Research will be done to determine the accuracy of this new formulation by running a series of simulations on a hydraulic excavator model.

    Michael Morrissey
    Marquette University
    Research Title: Examination of Granular Surface Impact via Particle Vision Velocimetry
    Synopsis: The objective of this research project is to better understand the dynamics associated with the impact of loose granular material.  This is an important phenomenon to study when exploring different bodies in our universe.  Using these different projectiles as a simple probe, NASA would be able to launch an object at any surface in space and observe the crater formation and the debris that ejects from the crater to better understand the geology within.  When an object impacts a granular surface, a shock wave forms below, meanwhile, the ejecta, initially below the surface, rises and lands on top of the surface.   When this crater and debris is studied, one can better determine the geological makeup of the planet and possibly the existence of water, a key component of sustained human space exploration.  Experimental simulations will illustrate a metal sphere accelerating through a surface of sand, which will be recorded by a high speed camera.  The images will then be post-processed by PIV software to better understand the shock wave preceding the sphere, as well as the ejecta accelerating upwards.  Preliminary experiments indicate this technique is viable.

    Harrison Skye
    University of Wisconsin-Madison
    Research Title: Modeling and Experimentation with a Cascaded Mixed Gas Joule-Thomons Cryocooler for Aerospace Applications
    Synopsis: Cryocoolers are a common critical component for space flight missions that provide cooling for liquid propellant storage, infrared detector arrays, and a variety of other applications.  Multiple stage Mixed Gas Joule-Thomson (MGJT) cryocoolers divide the large temperature range that must be spanned in most applications into two smaller temperature spans are each addressed more using a more compact system.  The system offers high reliability and excellent vibration and electrical resistance because the compressors operate at warm temperatures and are decoupled from the load heat exchanger.  The system operates in a continuous flow loop and is therefore the working fluid is readily transported to integrate to distant or spatially large loads.  This paper describes a project that will use a numerical model of a MGJT cycle to select optimal gas mixtures in order to provide a maximal amount of refrigeration given hardware constraints including compressor and heat exchanger size.  An experimental test facility will be constructed to measure key temperatures, pressures, flow rates, and thermal loads which characterize the performance of the system.  The experimental performance results will be incorporated into the numerical model to select an optimal mixture for the specific system studied here.  Experimental measurements will be used to verify the increase in available refrigeration and to refine the predictive capabilities of the model.


    2007-2008

    Ella Braden
    University of Wisconsin-Madison
    Research Title: The Young Open Cluster M35 as a Probe of Stellar Dynamics and Binary Populations
    Synopsis: In order to improve current understanding of stars and stellar evolution, Braden will analyze the binary frequency, mass-segregation, stars showing anomalous spectra and eclipsing binaries in the young open cluster M35.

    Claudia Cyganowski
    University of Wisconsin-Madison
    Research Title: On a Bubble’s Edge: Molecular Gas and Triggered Star Formation
    Synopsis: The GLIMPSE survey shows that small, infrared-bright dust bubbles produced by massive stars pervade the Galactic Plane.  Cyganowski will investigate whether the expansion of these bubbles triggers star formation in surrounding molecular gas.

    Emily Freeland
    University of Wisconsin-Madison
    Research Title: Bent-Double Radio Sources as Probes of the Intragroup Medium
    Synopsis: The vast majority of galaxies, including the Milky Way, reside in loose groups which are small dynamical systems typically containing a handful of large galaxies and a large number of smaller ones.  Groups probably contain a significant fraction of the total baryonic mass in the local universe in their intragroup medium (IGM).  Aside from a handful of X-ray observations almost nothing is known about the IGM in these systems.  This is a continuation of a thesis project consisting of radio and optical observations that will allow Freeland to measure the density of the IGM to an unprecedented degree.

    Amanda Gault
    University of Wisconsin-Madison
    Research Title: Microwave Instrumentation and the Millimeter-wave Bolometric Interferometer
    Synopsis: Advanced microwave phase modulators will provide lock-in detection of small CMB signals.  These are being tested for use in the Millimeter-wave Bolometric Interferometer, a test-bed for technology for the Einstein Inflation Probe.

    Matthew Glenz
    University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
    Research Title: Proposal to Research a New Modeling of Inflation and High Energy Neutrino Detections to Probe Distant Universe
    Synopsis: Develop new method of modeling inflation to explore the history of the universe and examine neutrino interaction signatures to be used as probes of physics in the distant universe.

     

    Kelley Hess
    University of Wisconsin-Madison
    Research Title: Gas Evolution in Galaxy Groups as a Function of Environment
    Synopsis: The properties of gas in and around galaxies trace the evolutionary history of large-scale structures over the lifetime of the universe.  The most interesting and least well studied of these structures are groups: collections of a handful of massive galaxies and large numbers of small galaxies.  Close to 70 percent of all galaxies are believed to reside in such groups, and therefore they are a key evolutionary link between individual galaxies and the massive clusters.  Hess will identify a sample of galaxy groups detected in the Arecibo Legacy Fast ALFA (ALFALFA) survey, and use the observations to study the characteristics of the cold neutral gas that lies within the late-type galaxies.  Meanwhile, X-ray observations identify active galactic nuclei (AGN), and trace the hot gas that lies in the intragroup medium.  By examining and quantifying the properties of gas in a sample of groups, Hess hopes to understand the impact of AGN on groups, and how the groups evolve as a function of environment.

     

    Evan Alec Johnson
    University of Wisconsin-Madison
    Research Title: Relaxation Algorithm for Two-Fluid Space Plasmas
    Synopsis: A relaxation method will be developed to switch naturally and adaptively between two-fluid and one-fluid plasma models.

    Tobias Keidl
    University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
    Research Title: On Finding Fields and Self-Force in a Gauge Appropriate to Separable Wave Equations
    Synopsis: Keidl will look at a binary black hole system composed of a supermassive black hole orbited by a stellar sized black hole and will examine the motion and radiation emitted by this system to calculate a waveform suitable for use by LISA.

    Amanda Kepley
    University of Wisconsin-Madison
    Research Title: Magnetic Fields in Irregular Galaxies
    Synopsis: Kepley will investigate the magnetic field structure of irregular galaxies using observations at radio wavelengths in order to understand how large-scale fields are generated in these galaxies.

     

    Ryan Taylor
    University of Wisconsin-Madison
    Research Title: Computational Fluid Dynamic Modeling of Pulse-Tube Refrigerators
    Synopsis: Taylor will carry out fundamental work that will enable the deployment of high efficiency pulse-tube refrigerators (PTRs) for aerospace applications by developing an experimentally-verified and powerful CFD model that can be applied to the design of efficient pulse tubes.  The specific objective of the work is the development of computational fluid dynamic (CFD) models of pulse tube/flow transition behavior using the commercial software FLUENT.  These CFD models will be experimentally-validated using data taken at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Boulder, CO.  The experimentally-validated model will be used to generate design charts which will enable a pulse-tube designer the ability to use the most optimal pulse-tube design for a given set of operational parameters to maximize system efficiency.

     

    Jonathan Van Dyke
    Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
    Research Title: Searching for a Muscle Atrophy Countermeasure in Over-Wintering Black Bears
    Synopsis: Van Dyke will study the mechanism bears use to maintain muscle mass during hibernation and resist the negative effects of reduced weight bearing activity.  This may be applied in humans to preserve skeletal muscle in microgravity.


    2006-2007

    Emily Barrentine
    University of Wisconsin-Madison
    Research Title: Development of a Transition-Edge Hot-Electron Microbolometer
    Synopsis: Future missions to probe the Cosmic Microwave Background polarization will need sensitive detectors provided by arrays of 1000s of bolometers. My project will develop a Transition-Edge Hot-Electron Microbolometer to fill this need.

    Kathryn Devine
    University of Wisconsin-Madison
    Research Title: Infra-Red Dark Clouds - Internal Conditions and Link to Massive Star Formation
    Synopsis: I will investigate the relationship between infrared dark clouds and high mass star formation to establish whether IRDCs are similar to low-mass pre-protostellar cores and the IRDC fraction exhibiting star formation.

    Emily Freeland
    University of Wisconsin-Madison
    Research Title: The Environments of Bent-Double Radio Galaxies
    Synopsis: Attempts to measure the baryon content of the local universe have as yet been unsuccessful in accounting for greater than one third of the baryon density seen at high redshifts. Hydrodynamical simulations predict that 30-40% of the baryons in the local universe reside in a warm-hot intergalactic medium (WHIM). This WHIM may account for a large component of baryonic matter in groups of galaxies. One method of probing the density of a warm intragroup medium is examining its impact on the jets of radio galaxies. These jets have an impact on their surrounding environment. Radio halos and relics have been detected in clusters of galaxies but their origin is unknown. Previous searches for this diffuse non-thermal radio emission have concentrated on clusters and little is known about this emission in groups of galaxies. Recent searches of 327 MHz radio catalogs have reported three groups of galaxies which have radio luminosities similar to clusters and do not follow the cluster LR - LX relation. I propose to use low frequency (610 and 235 MHz) radio continuum observations, optical spectroscopy and imaging, and previous optical and radio catalogs to study the environments of a large sample of bent-double radio sources in galaxy groups.

    Amanda Gault
    University of Wisconsin-Madison
    Research Title: Microwave Instrumentation and the Millimeter-wave Bolometric Interferometer for Studying CMB Polarization
    Synopsis: Advanced microwave phase modulators will provide lock-in detection of small CMB signals. These are being tested for use in the Millimeter-wave Bolometric Interferometer, a test-bed for technology for the Einstein Inflation Probe.

    Aaron Geller
    University of Wisconsin-Madison
    Research Title: New Astrophysics from Old Open Clusters
    Synopsis: I propose to make high-resolution radial-velocity measurements to determine membership and binary star orbits for WOCS clusters. These data will serve as a testing ground for a complete theory of stellar evolution and dynamics.

    Karen Tabetha Hole
    University of Wisconsin-Madison
    Research Title: Supernova Asymmetry through Spectropolarimetric Modeling and Observation
    Synopsis: An investigation of supernova explosions using spectropolarimetric observations and simulations to constrain progenitors and explosion mechanisms for both Type Ia and core-collapse supernovae.

    Peter Hyland
    University of Wisconsin-Madison
    Research Title: Exploring the Earliest Times with the Millimeter-wave Bolometric Interferometer
    Synopsis: The Millimeter-wave Bolometric Interferometer is an experiment which utilizes two mature technologies to measure the polarized component of the CMB and provide a window on the earliest times and highest energy scales in the universe.

    Evan A Johnson
    University of Wisconsin-Madison
    Research Title: Adaptive Heterogenous Multiscale Methods for Space Plasmas
    Synopsis: Adaptive domain decomposition methods will be developed to adaptively switch between numerical methods for kinetic and fluid models of plasmas to achieve optimal efficiency and physical correctness.

    Tobias Keidl
    University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
    Research Title: Gravitational Radiation for a Two Black Hole Binary System
    Synopsis: In this proposal, we look at a binary black hole system composed of a supermassive black hole orbited by a small stellar sized black hole. We will examine the detailed motion and radiation emitted by this system to provide a template for LISA.

    Benjamin Longmier
    University of Wisconsin-Madison
    Research Title: Electric Propulsion Using a Neutralizing Non-Ambipolar Electron Source
    Synopsis: Non-Ambipolar Electron Sources have the potential to increase the lifetime of state-of-the-art Hall and Ion thrusters for spacecraft missions throughout the solar system. This research aims to do this using an rf plasma source.

    Matthew Povich
    University of Wisconsin-Madison
    Research Title: Taking the Pulse of the Milky Way
    Synopsis: I propose to estimate the star-formation rate of the Milky Way utilizing the GLIMPSE survey combined with various supplementary datasets. A Spitzer Legacy Science Program, GLIMPSE utilizes the unique capabilities of the Infrared Array Camera on board the Spitzer Space Telescope to look through heavy obscuration in the Galactic disk and observe young stars in the infrared that are rendered invisible at optical wavelengths by extinction. The GLIMPSE point-source catalog and archive contain the infrared colors and spectral energy distributions for several tens of millions of sources, a significant fraction of which are young stellar objects. This provides a means of directly characterizing the stellar content of numerous star formation regions. Previous estimates of the Galactic star-formation rate have relied upon indirect methods of detecting O stars and extrapolating across the initial mass function to lower-mass stars. My research will combine the population statistics across the Galactic disk and ultimately lead to a refinement or revision of the birthrate.

    Harrison Skye
    University of Wisconsin-Madison
    Research Title: Rectified Continuous Flow Loop for the Thermal Management of Large Structures
    Synopsis: Distributed loads are frequently encountered in large deployable structures used in space applications such as optical mirrors, actively cooled sunshades, and on focal plane electronics. An innovative mechanism for providing distributed cooling is via an oscillatory cryocooler such as a pulse-tube that is integrated with a fluid rectification system consisting of check-valves and buffer volumes in order to extract a small amount of continuous flow. This continuous flow allows relatively large loads to be accepted over a long distance with a small temperature difference and has advantages relative to vibration and electrical isolation. Also, it is possible to provide rapid and precise temperature control via modulation of the flow rate. The same working fluid, helium, can be used throughout the entire system, reducing complexity and simplifying the contamination control process.


    2005-2006 Graduate Fellowship Award Recipients

    Borg, Lori
    UW-Madison
    Major/Title:  Atmospheric and Oceanic Science

    Chomiuk, Laura
    UW-Madison
    Major/Title:  Astronomy

    Cyganowski, Claudia
    UW-Madison
    Major/Title:  Astronomy

    Devine, Kathryn
    UW-Madison
    Major/Title:  Astronomy

    Freeland, Emily
    UW-Madison
    Major/Title:  Astronomy

    Gault, Amanda
    UW-Madison
    Major/Title:  Physics

    Hamann, Joseph
    UW-Madison
    Major/Title:  Materials Science & Engineering

    Hole, Karen
    UW-Madison
    Major/Title:  Astronomy

    Howard, Matthew
    UW-Madison
    Major/Title:  Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences

    Hyland, Peter
    UW-Madison
    Major/Title:  Physics

    Keidl, Tobias
    UW-Milwaukee
    Major/Title:  Physics

    Kulie, Mark
    UW-Madison
    Major/Title:  Atmospheric Science

    Longmier, Benjamin
    UW-Madison
    Major/Title:  Engineering Physics

    Trouille, Laura
    UW-Madison
    Major/Title:  Astronomy

    Westfall, Kyle
    UW-Madison
    Major/Title:  Astronomy


    2004-2005 Graduate Fellowship Award Recipients

    Borg, Lori A.
    University of Massachusetts at Amherst
    Research:  Aerosols, Clouds, and Precipitation Monitoring over the Great Lakes
    Synopsis:  Recent studies highlight the implications of human activities on climate in the Great Lakes region. The proposed project will address one aspect of human activities by monitoring the impact of pollution on the clouds and aerosols.

    Crawford, Steven
    U. of Wisconsin--Madison
    Research:  ACS Imaging of Luminous Compact Blue Galaxies: Morphology and Structure
    Synopsis:  Despite their small size, Luminous Compact Blue Galaxies dominate the global star formation rate at intermediate redshifts and provide an important test of hierarchical structure formation scenarios.

    Dellenbusch, Kate
    University of Wisconsin - Madison
    Research:  Star Formation and its Trigger in Starburst Dwarf Galaxies
    Synopsis:  Dwarf galaxies are the most numerous type of galaxy in the universe. It is not clear whether an evolutionary connection exists between different dwarf morphological types, and what role star formation may play in this evolution.

    Freeland, Emily
    University of Wisconsin - Madison
    Research:  The Gas Content of Groups of Galaxies
    Synopsis:  Intermediate between isolated galaxies and rich clusters, groups of galaxies are the most ubiquitous dynamical systems in the universe. Nonetheless, very little is known about the structure and evolution of their gas content.

    Hamann, Joseph A.
    University of Wisconsin - Madison
    Research:  Synthesis & Stability of Amorphous Aluminum Alloys - Advancing Towards Bulk Processing Techniques

    Hole, Karen
    University of Wisconsin - Madison
    Research:  Magnetic Disk Locking and the Angular Momentum Problem in Young Stars
    Synopsis:  Magnetic disk locking is a leading theory to explain the difference between the observed rotation speeds of CTTSs and those predicted from conservation of angular momentum in a collapsing molecular cloud. Still, the theory is not yet able to explain the properties of observed CTTSs.

    Hyland, Peter
    University of Wisconsin - Madison
    Research:  A Search for Gravity Waves from the Big Bang using the Cosmic Microwave Background

    Keidl, Tobias S.
    University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
    Research:  Gravitational Radiation for a Two Black Hole Binary System
    Synopsis:  Understanding of the self force of a small black holes spiraling into a large black hole represents an important area of research. This research aims to compute the gravitational self force of such systems.

    Komp, William
    University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
    Research:  Accelerating the Universe with Vacuum Metamorphosis

    Norman, Ryan
    University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
    Research:  Kaon Transport for Space Radiation and the Continued Development of HZETRN
    Synopsis:  Space radiation and its effects on human life and sensitive equipment are of concern to a safe exploration of space. The radiation fields are modified in quality and quantity by intervening shielding materials. The production of kaons and other mesons are thought to account for some of these modifications.

    Tuchowski, Fern
    University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
    Research:  The Experimental Study and System Optimization of a Direct Methanol Fuel Cell
    Synopsis:  Direct methanol fuel cells promise to be convenient and efficient sources of energy that can be used in many environments, including space. This project proposes to modify the membrane of the DMFC and employ a fuel catalyst to improve its performance.

    Wehner, Elizabeth
    University of Wisconsin - Madison
    Research:  The Pre-Burst Nature of Starbursting Galaxies w/Evidence of Recent Merging
    Synopsis:  This project will explore the connection between "starburst" galaxies, those experiencing extreme star formation, and intergalactic collisions. Understanding this link will test two competing theories and provide valuable insight into how galaxies form and evolve.

    Westfall, Kyle
    University of Wisconsin - Madison
    Research:  Toward the Disk Mass-to-Light Ratio of Faint Galaxies
    Synopsis:  I propose to break the disk-halo degeneracy in the mass decomposition of galactic rotation curves in the interesting case of low-surface brightness (LSB) galaxies. The proposed work requires the continuation of the upgrade to the Bench Spectograph on the WIYN 3.5-meter telescope.


    2003-2004 Graduate Fellowship Award Recipients

    Baewer, David
    Medical College of WI
    Research:  Daily Stretching of Soleus Muscles

    Cook, Blake
    UW-Milwaukee
    Research:  Forced Induced Response on Axial Fan

    Crawford, Steven
    UW-Madison
    Research:  The Ultimate Fate of Luminous Compact Galaxies

    Hamann, Joseph
    UW-Madison
    Research:  Synthesis and Stability of Amorphous A1 Alloys

    Hole, Karen
    UW-Madison
    Research:  Investigation of Stellar Evolution

    Kepley, Amanda
    UW-Madison
    Research:  Extended HI in Local Group Dwarf Irregular WLM

    Komp, William
    UW-Milwaukee
    Research:  Vacuum Metamorphosis and the Accelerating Cosmos

    Madsen, Gregory
    UW-Madison
    Research:  Continuing a WHAM Study of the Heterogeneous Nature of the Worm

    Norman, Ryan
    UW-Milwaukee
    Research:  Pion Production Cross Sections and HZETRN

    Sams, Oliver
    Marquette
    Research:  Hybrid Rocket Engines

    Steffen, Aaron
    UW-Madison
    Research:  The Evolution of the X-ray Luminosity Function

    Wehner, Elizabeth
    UW-Madison
    Research:  The Pre-burst Nature of Star bursting Galaxies


    2002-2003 Graduate Fellowship Award Recipients

    Blattnig, Steve
    UW-Milwaukee
    Research:  MESTRN: a Meson-Muon Transport Code For Space Radiation

    Dake, Timothy
    Marquette
    Research:  Cooling of the Next Generation Micro-Chips in Aerospace Communications

    Glenn, Andrew
    UW-Madison
    Research:  Structure and Evolution of Brightest Cluster Ellipticals

    Hamann, Joseph
    UW-Madison
    Research:  Synthesis & Stability of Amorphous Al Alloys: Advancing Towards Bulk Processing Techniques

    Komp, William
    UW-Milwaukee
    Research:  Vacuum Dominated Cosmologies

    Madsen, Gregory
    UW-Madison
    Research:  A WHAM Study of the Heterogeneous Nature of the Warm Ionized Medium

    Sams, Oliver
    Marquette
    Research:  Computational Modeling of a Vortex Injection Liquid Rocket Engine

    Steffen, Aaron
    UW-Madison
    Research:  Measuring the Global Accretion History Of Active Galactic Nuclei

    Vyas, Anand
    Marquette
    Research:  Theoretical Characterization of Vortex Injection Core Flow in Rocket Combustion Chambers


    2001-2002 Graduate Fellowship Award Recipients

    Steve Blattnig
    University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
    Research:  Pion and Muon Transport for Space Radiation Applications

    Andrew Glenn
    University of Wisconsin-Madison
    Research:  Structure and Evolution of Brightest Cluster Ellipticals

    Joseph Hamann
    University of Wisconsin-Madison
    Research:  Synthesis & Stability of Amorphous Al Alloys: Advancing Towards Bulk Processing Techniques

    Nicole Homeier
    University of Wisconsin-Madison
    Research:  Near-Infrared Survey for Emission-Line Stars in the Inner Milky Way

    William Komp
    University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
    Research:  Vacuum Cold Dark Matter Dominated Epoch of FRW Cosmology

    Nathan Miller
    University of Wisconsin-Madison
    Research:  Using Chandra Line Profiles to Probe Hot-Star X-ray Sources

    Christopher Watson
    University of Wisconsin-Madison
    Research:  Magneto-turbulent Entrainment in Protostellar Outflows


    2000-2001 Graduate Fellowship Award Recipients

    Sean C. Ahern
    University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

    Christopher J. Conselice
    University of Wisconsin-Madison

    Dirk M. Fabian
    University of Wisconsin-Madison

    Daniel J. Pisano
    University of Wisconsin-Madison

    Christopher G. Watson
    University of Wisconsin-Madison


    1999-2000 Graduate Fellowship Award Recipients

    Sean C. Ahearn
    University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
    Research:  Particle Production in High Energy Cosmic Ray Interactions

    Susan Bellman
    University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
    Research:  Metallicity Survey of the Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy Draco

    Steve R. Blattnig
    University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
    Research:  Pion Transport for Space Radiation Applications

    Christopher J. Conselice
    University of Wisconsin-Madison
    Research:  Design Specifications for the Next Generation Space Telescope

    Jennifer L. Hoffman
    University of Wisconsin-Madison
    Research:  Curing Color-Blindness in Binary Star Numerical Models

    Daniel Pisano III
    University of Wisconsin-Madison
    Research:  Building Isolated Galaxies
    UW-Green Bay National Space Grant Foundation