Star formation drives cosmic assembly from Gpc scales — the growth of galaxies and the reionization of the Universe — to micron scales — the creation of metals and dust grains. To understand how early gas-rich galaxies in the first Gyr evolve into the complex, stellar-mass-dominated systems after the cosmic peak of activity, we must trace and characterize the fuel, product, and byproducts of star formation: molecular gas, stars, and dust.
Much of this assembly occurs within rare, extreme galaxies that formed early in cosmic history. They are massive, are often bursting with star formation or have recently retired from a starburst phase, and are luminous in some wavelength regime. They assemble rapidly and undergo huge transformations all within the first billion or so years of the Universe. How did these galaxies get so bright? How did they form and grow so early? Does the existence of these “bright and early” galaxies suggest that the Universe is a morning person?
To answer these questions, I observe multiple baryonic components of these “bright and early” massive galaxies using instruments spanning wavelength regimes, from submillimeter arrays to classic optical telescopes.
Check out my papers below.
See all my publications on ADS or just my first-authored, refereed papers