Nicholas P
- Research Program Mentor
MS at Rice University
Expertise
Physics, Astrophysics, Stellar Astrophysics: specifically stellar evolution, interior structures of stars, stellar pulsations
Bio
Hello! I am a recent Master's graduate from Rice University and am currently applying for my PhD in astrophysics. My research passion lies in understanding the inner workings of stars—how they are structured, how they evolve over time, and how their pulsations reveal insights into their interiors. Besides this, I am knowledgeable in many areas of physics and astronomy. Outside of research, I enjoy exploring new places and connecting with people from different cultures. I spend time reading about science, astrophysics, and technology, and I find peace in nature through hiking and outdoor walks. I am passionate about inspiring and teaching the next generation of scientists and am eager meet you and help you reach your full potential!Project ideas
Stellar Architects: Modeling the Life Cycles of Stars
Have you ever wondered about how astronomers study the life cycles of stars? In this project, you will learn how properties of the star (like its size, mass, chemical makeup) affect how a star ages and behaves with time. Using the stellar evolution code on this website (https://docs.mesastar.org/en/latest/#), you have a whole laboratory for creating all kinds of stars that exist in our universe. You will define the initial characteristics of your stars (e.g., mass, chemical makeup) and then use the code to simulate their evolution over millions or billions of years. You can then experiment by creating different stellar models—for example, by varying the initial mass or the chemical makeup—and compare how these changes affect their brightness, temperature, size, and ultimate fate. This involves analyzing the rich data output from the code to plot evolutionary tracks and understand the underlying physics, which you will accomplish using either the Python, R, or Julia programming languages, depending on your background and interest. All of this information and data about how different stellar properties dictate their evolutionary pathways and final states will be synthesized in a research paper. That will be your opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge and develop skills that researchers use to convey their own findings.