UNM Physics and Astronomy Celebrates Hat Trick of NSF CAREER Awards

Strategic Insights -

The University of New Mexico's Department of Physics and Astronomy scored a rare scientific hat trick this summer as three faculty members received the National Science Foundation's prestigious CAREER award. Diana Dragomir, Francis-Yan Cyr-Racine, and Tonmoy Chakraborty were recognized for pioneering research spanning exoplanets, the origins of the universe, and next-generation biological imaging. The CAREER award is one of NSF's most competitive grants, supporting early-career faculty who demonstrate the potential to lead both cutting-edge research and innovative education.

Key Takeaways:

  • Diana Dragomir, Assistant Professor, received a CAREER award for her research on the connections between giant planets and terrestrial planets orbiting other stars, with a focus on education and incorporating exoplanet research into an undergraduate course.
  • Francis-Yan Cyr-Racine, Associate Professor, was awarded a CAREER grant for a project using machine-learning tools to study the unseen forces shaping the cosmos, including dark matter and dark energy, and examining how astronomical observations and laboratory-based experiments complement one another in understanding cosmic evolution.
  • Tonmoy Chakraborty, Assistant Professor, received a $1.25 million CAREER grant to develop advanced microscopy systems that allow fast, high-resolution, label-free imaging of large biological samples, with a focus on re-engineering pupil-matched remote focusing (pmRF) optics.
  • The broader impacts of Chakraborty's project include a summer training program, an interdisciplinary microscopy course, and UNM Physics Day, a regional research event for undergraduates.
  • The three CAREER awards highlight the strength and momentum of UNM's Department of Physics and Astronomy, representing a new generation of researchers whose work connects students with transformative science.

Statistics:

  • 3: The number of faculty members from the University of New Mexico's Department of Physics and Astronomy who received NSF CAREER awards in a single summer.
  • $1.25 million: The amount of the CAREER grant awarded to Tonmoy Chakraborty for his project on advanced microscopy systems.
  • 3 years: The timeframe of the CAREER grant, which supports early-career faculty who demonstrate the potential to lead both cutting-edge research and innovative education.

Sources:

  • University of New Mexico news release, August 21
  • News.unm.edu/news/unm-physics-and-astronomy-celebrates-hat-trick-of-nsf-career-awards (no date or timestamp)