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Kelle Cruz

Contact Information:

Fellowship Status:

Kelle Cruz

NSF Fellowship Research Program:

Measuring the Luminosity and Mass Functions of Low-Mass Stars and Brown Dwarfs

Research Interests:

My scientific research interest is to find the links between stars, brown dwarfs, and planets. Currently, my focus is on studying the physical properties of low-mass stars and brown dwarfs. This includes determining their spectral energy distribution, calculating their space motions, measuring the luminosity function, and deriving the mass function. In the future, I plan to search for the lowest-mass brown dwarfs with the Spitzer Space Telescope.

Education and Outreach Interests:

I am using the American Museum of Natural History’s vast access to the K-12 community to increase awareness of gender and diversity issues in the sciences with the goal of increasing the attraction and retention of girls and underrepresented minorities in the sciences. This effort includes modifying existing museum programs to specifically target girls and leading professional development workshops for high school teachers on diversity issues. In addition, I am supervising the research projects of high school students and undergraduates.