Laura V
- Research Program Mentor
PhD at Vanderbilt University
Expertise
stellar astrophysics; stellar flares; time series data; photometry
Bio
Laura Vega is an astrophysicist who studies powerful explosions called stellar flares using data from NASA missions like TESS, NICER, and Swift. She combines information from different telescopes to understand how red dwarf stars behave and how their bursts of energy can affect nearby planets. Outside of research, Laura enjoys music, family celebrations, and creative community projects that keep her connected to her roots. Fun fact: she used to be a mariachi trumpet player, worked as a Stage Manager in her high school theatre department, and performed in her marching band’s color guard. These experiences continue to inspire her love for the arts and her passion for supporting students from all backgrounds.Project ideas
How Strong Are Stellar Flares? Comparing Red Dwarf Flares to Solar Flares
In this project, a student will explore how powerful star explosions—called stellar flares—can be on small stars known as red dwarfs, and then compare them to the flares we see on our own Sun. I can help guide the student in understanding what flares are, why stars have them, and how scientists measure their strength. Using simple examples or beginner-friendly data, the student will estimate how big a red dwarf flare would be if it happened on the Sun (for example, “this one might be as strong as an X5 solar flare”). Over the course of our ten meetings, the student will learn how to read basic light curves (brightness vs. time plots), do easy calculations or comparisons, and look up helpful information from NASA websites and educational astronomy resources. By the end, the student could create a mini research report, a presentation, or a set of simple graphs explaining what they discovered in a fun, clear way.