Student Research Highlights at the Flagstaff Astronomy Symposium
Mia Powell
Emerging Scientists from Embry‑Riddle Present Research at the Flagstaff Astronomy Symposium.
Dr. Noel Richardson, assistant professor of Physics and Astronomy at Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, recently took seven students to the Flagstaff Astronomy Symposium. Three of Richardson’s students participated in an impressive array of research presentations, showcasing their innovative work and contributing significantly to the symposium discussions about the field of astronomy.
The students’ presentations and engaging questions for other presenters showed their knowledge, dedication and passion for their respective research areas, impressing subject matter experts attending the symposium.
Expert faculty research partners and meaningful relationships with mentors are just two ways that Embry‑Riddle provides exceptional guidance and education in such specialized fields. These students attribute much of their success and inspiration to their mentors: Richardson and Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy Dr. Pragati Pradhan.
Research Presentations
Taylor Brown
We met Taylor Brown (’25) previously when she told us about a day in her life at Embry‑Riddle Prescott. Taylor is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Space Physics with minors in Mathematics and Humanities. She expects to graduate this May — a culmination of years of dedicated study and exploration into the scientific realms. Taylor sees physics as a pivotal field that addresses these profound inquiries.
Brown presented her senior thesis project research on the massive binary star system Eta Carinae. Her research involves analyzing seven years of data from the BRITE-Constellation mission and modeling tidal forces to understand the system’s fundamental parameters and investigate the hypothesis that tidal forces cause variability.
Katie Casciotti
We’re familiar with Katie Casciotti (’25) of our Embry‑Riddle Prescott Campus as the team lead of a peer-mentoring astronomy group called the Prescott Observing Team for the Analysis of Telescopically Obtained Echelle Spectra (POTATOES). She plans to graduate this May with a Bachelor of Science in Astronomy with minors in Computer Science and Mathematics.
Casciotti presented her research on X-ray emissions from colliding-wind binaries at the Flagstaff Astronomy Symposium. “Presenting my work at Flagstaff was a great experience. It gave me a chance to present to a new type of audience — professionals in my field with little experience in my topic,” she said. “This was a neat change from my previous presentations, presenting for students with no experience at Embry‑Riddle or for the experts at the American Astronomical Society (AAS), whose papers I’m actively citing.”
Anthony Fabrega
Meet Anthony Fabrega (’25), a Bachelor of Science in Astronomy student set to graduate from Embry‑Riddle Prescott this fall. He found his love for astronomy while pursuing his associate's degree at another school. As his interest in astronomy grew, he transferred to Embry‑Riddle to pursue a more specialized education.
Fabrega's research focuses on Wolf-Rayet (WR) wind-eclipsing binaries. He analyzes these systems using a Python-based Markov chain Monte Carlo coding pipeline to gain insights into WR mass loss, wind structure and inclinations. His presentation at the symposium highlighted the complexity of these systems and the valuable information they provide about stellar evolution.
Conclusion
Presenting at the Flagstaff Astronomy Symposium provided a platform for these talented students to share their work and receive feedback from experts in the field. Their presentations demonstrated their expertise and underscored the robust academic guidance and diverse research opportunities available at Embry‑Riddle. Our best wishes and congratulations go to Taylor Brown, Katie Casciotti and Anthony Fabrega.