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Dr. Gregory Feiden, a University of North Georgia (Â鶹ÊÓƵ) professor of astronomy, and his research group have spent the past few years trying to understand stars and how they spin. Their efforts recently received a boost as the National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded Feiden a three-year $227,500 grant to pursue their work.

All stars spin and most change their spin as they age — just like humans, stars get slower as they get older. However, stars appear to take a pause mid-life and get older without slowing their spin. It’s not understood why this happens.

That is, until Feiden explored an idea with Lydia Miller, a 2024 Â鶹ÊÓƵ graduate, and , a New Hampshire high school student who spent a summer at Â鶹ÊÓƵ. Now, the NSF grant will allow the group to advance their ideas with a new generation of students.

Feiden, who also serves as director of Â鶹ÊÓƵ's Astronomical Observatory, said the grant will allow him to hire two research students each summer for the next three years. Together with him, the students will work to understand what is happening inside stars to cause them to go through their stellar version of a mid-life crisis, after which they will get to present their work at national astronomy meetings.

Having mentored over 30 research students, Feiden has witnessed the momentum and opportunity created when students engaged with their first authentic research project. Many go on to earn Faculty Undergraduate Summer Engagement (FUSE) opportunities at Â鶹ÊÓƵ, NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates at research universities, and win nationally competitive scholarships, like the Goldwater Scholarship.

"It's a transformative moment as a scientist, the first time you get paid to use your brain," Feiden said. "Students grow their career and do exciting, cutting-edge science."

Miller had the opportunity to present her research on stellar rotation at the international conference, the Georgia Regional Astronomy Meeting and Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s Annual Research Conference. She was also invited to present her work to the public at Agnes Scott College. Miller is grateful the research will continue with current and future students.

"Now they get to work on the project and go even further with that. I'm very excited for them," Miller said.

Feiden is also excited for "Astronomy on Wheels," a new outreach program supported by the NSF grant. It will allow him and a team of astronomy students to travel with a miniature version of the Â鶹ÊÓƵ Planetarium to local schools and events.

"It's another resource to enhance STEM education in the community and for Â鶹ÊÓƵ to have an impact in the region," Feiden said. "This will also give Â鶹ÊÓƵ students a unique chance to share their passion for astronomy and inspire young kids to pursue STEM."