معرفی
Laura Lopez is an Associate Professor in the Department of Astronomy at Ohio State University, where she has been a faculty member since 2015. Her research focuses on supernovae (SNe), gamma-ray bursts, and the interstellar medium (ISM), with an emphasis on bridging observational data and theoretical models. She employs multiwavelength observations (radio to gamma-ray) to study stellar birth and death processes, particularly how supernova remnants reveal explosion geometries and how stellar feedback impacts star-forming regions.
Education:
- Ph.D. in Astronomy & Astrophysics (2011), University of California, Santa Cruz
- M.S. in Astronomy & Astrophysics (2007), University of California, Santa Cruz
- B.S. in Physics (2004), Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Research Interests:
Lopez investigates supernova remnants' morphological signatures to distinguish between core-collapse and Type Ia explosions, and maps pressures from stellar feedback (radiation, winds, shocks) in regions like 30 Doradus. Her work also addresses galactic winds in starburst galaxies (e.g., M82) using X-ray and infrared observations. She leads the PHANGS multiwavelength galaxy survey, emphasizing star formation and feedback across the electromagnetic spectrum.
Awards & Honors:
- 2022 AAS High-Energy Astrophysics Division Early Career Prize
- 2016 Annie Jump Cannon Award
- Cottrell Scholar (2019), NASA Group Achievement Award (2019)
- Multiple fellowships (Hubble, Einstein, Kavli)
Advocacy & Outreach:
Lopez co-chairs the AAS Committee on the Status of Minorities in Astronomy and co-leads the OSU Astronomy Diversity Committee. She expanded the Physics Masters-to-PhD Bridge Program to astronomy and advocates for STEM diversity through initiatives like BlackinAstro.
Key Projects:
- PHANGS (Panchromatic Hubble Andromeda Treasury Survey)
- Advanced X-ray Imaging Satellite (AXIS) mission concept
- JWST observations of starburst galaxies
