Eileen Gonzales facts for kids

Eileen Gonzales is an American astrophysicist. This means she is a scientist who studies space and the universe. She works at Cornell University. Her main research is about planets outside our solar system, called exoplanets. She also studies objects called brown dwarfs, which are like failed stars. Eileen helped start and organize a group called #BlackInPhysics. This group celebrates Black physicists and shares their amazing work.

Becoming a Scientist: Eileen's Journey

Eileen Gonzales grew up in Virginia Beach, Virginia. She loved learning about space. She went to Michigan State University to study astrophysics. This field combines physics and astronomy.

After that, she earned her Master's degree in Physics. She studied at San Francisco State University. Later, she continued her studies at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. She earned several degrees there, including her PhD in 2020. For her PhD, she studied the atmospheres of low-mass stars and brown dwarves.

Exploring Space: Eileen's Research

Today, Eileen Gonzales is a special researcher at Cornell University. She is a 51 Pegasi b Fellow. Her work involves combining two types of astronomy. One is observational astronomy, which uses telescopes to look at space. The other is theoretical astrophysics, which uses math and computers to understand how things work in space.

Eileen uses these skills to study the atmospheres of exoplanets. These are planets orbiting stars other than our Sun. She especially works on brown dwarfs. Brown dwarfs are objects bigger than planets but smaller than stars. They are sometimes called "failed stars." Eileen uses what she learns about brown dwarf clouds to study the atmospheres of other large space objects. This includes giant planets like gas giant exoplanets. She also visits and works at the American Museum of Natural History.

Sharing Science: Outreach and Advocacy

Eileen Gonzales is very passionate about sharing science. She wants more people to learn about space. While she was studying for her PhD, she worked at the American Museum of Natural History. There, she taught astronomy to high school students. She also helped guide them in their own science projects.

Eileen is also a main organizer for #BlackInPhysics Week. She worked with Charles D. Brown II and Jessica Esquivel to start this event. The goal was to give more recognition to Black physicists. It also celebrated their important contributions to science. This campaign was inspired by other similar events, like Black Birders Week. Many big science groups supported #BlackInPhysics. These included Nature Physics and the American Institute of Physics.

1. BlackInPhysics also works to build a supportive community for Black physicists. It helps people understand the challenges they face. It also makes sure that more Black role models in science are seen and celebrated.