UC Professor awarded $122,000 by National Science Foundation to understand gas circulation through galaxies

Utica Community
Utica Stories
UC Professor awarded $122,000 by National Science Foundation to understand gas circulation through galaxies

Joseph Ribaudo, associate professor of physics, was awarded a $121,942 National Science Foundation grant for support of his research project, “RUI: The Circumgalactic Medium in the Local Universe.”

Ribaudo’s research, which he began during his graduate study at the University of Notre Dame, seeks to understand the physical mechanisms responsible for the circulation of gas through galaxies, using data from the world’s most advanced telescopes, including the Hubble Space Telescope. Ribaudo says six undergraduate physics students will assist him in the analysis, and will be paid for their work as part of the NSF grant.

“It’s remarkable that, as undergrads, our students will have the opportunity to do this type of high-impact research supported by the NSF,” says Ribaudo, who explained that the grant funding will also support the students’ travel to national conferences. “UC physics students will have the experience of being real scientists before graduation.”