I'm Elvira Cruz-Cruz, an Astronomy PhD Candidate, Presidential Fellow, and NASA FINESST Fellow
at The Ohio State University.
"Our history does not determine our future, but it informs our path forward.
Perspective is a tool to navigate it."
I'm an Astronomy PhD candidate and NASA FINESST Fellow at The Ohio State University (Ohio State), working with advisors Christopher Kochanek and Laura Lopez on estimating progenitor masses of core-collapse supernova remnants, like the Crab Pulsar.
I recently was awarded the Presidential Fellowship at Ohio State for the final year of my dissertation.
I'm fascinated by single and binary massive star evolution, and by understanding how progenitor properties of core-collapse supernovae relate to their remnants — compact objects and nebulae — to unravel how massive stars evolve, explode, and shape their surroundings.
I'm also interested in the physics of explosive stellar death, and how binary interactions shape progenitor systems that leave behind compact objects which later merge to produce gravitational waves.
I took "reach for the stars" too seriously and made it my job. I'm daughter of Mexican immigrants who moved to the United States in hopes of giving their children more financial and educational opportunities. Because of their sacrifices, their life lessons, and my determination, I have the opportunity to do what I love: study the dying stars in our universe. I am a first-generation college graduate and will be the first in my family to earn a PhD. I strive to make astronomy more accessible to all communities, since my parents' humble beginnings did not have it.
I received my M.S. in Astronomy from Ohio State in November 2024 and my B.S. in Physics, specialized in Astrophysics, from the University of California, Irvine in 2021. Along the way I've worked on research projects that shaped my passion for understanding supernova remnants and their progenitors.
Prof. Christopher Kochanek — Professor of Astronomy. Chris is a leading expert in supernovae, transient physics, Galactic Astronomy; his insights have shaped my research direction and my understanding of supernovae, and supernovae remnants in our Galaxy.
Prof. Laura Lopez — Professor of Astronomy. Laura is an expert in supernova remnants and their multi-wavelength observations, high-energy astrophysics, and the ISM. Her expertise and guidance has been instrumental in developing my technical skills and scientific thinking to study supernovae remnants.
Stargazing • Outdoor adventures (camping & hiking) • Coffee walks • Playing tennis • Science communication • Always learning something new • jigsaw puzzles • building LEGO sets • crocheting
I also write poems and poetric journal entries on Substack.
Per Aspera Ad Astra — "Through Hardships to the Stars" — is more than a motto to me. It's my belief that challenges in science and life are opportunities for growth and discovery. Every difficult problem in astrophysics is a chance to deepen our understanding of the universe. I'm passionate about pushing the boundaries of what we know, conducting rigorous research, and supporting the next generation of astronomers.
Understanding Supernovae and Their Remnants
My doctoral research focuses on estimating progenitor masses of core-collapse supernova remnants using two complementary techniques, supported by a NASA FINESST fellowship. Understanding progenitor mass matters for testing models of massive star evolution, understanding how heavy elements are created and distributed (nucleosynthesis), interpreting the chemical composition of galaxies, and improving our understanding of stellar explosions.
Case Study — The Crab Pulsar: the Crab Nebula and Crab Pulsar are among the best-studied supernova remnants. The progenitor star's mass is still debated, making it an excellent laboratory for testing and refining our methods.
Progenitor Mass Estimation (Ongoing PhD Dissertation) — analyzing supernova remnants in our Galaxy and the LMC to constrain progenitor masses using well known techniques refined during my research.
Massive Star & Binary Evolution — how single and binary massive stars evolve, explode, and shape their surroundings.
Compact Object Formation — how binary interactions in progenitor systems influence the compact objects left behind, including systems that may later merge to produce gravitational waves.
Transient Phenomena — supernovae and tidal disruption events offer windows into extreme physics. I'm interested in their classification, physical mechanisms, and multi-messenger observations.
Key milestones so far
The Ohio State University Graduate School's most prestigious award, recognizing outstanding scholarly accomplishments and potential in graduate students entering the final phase of their dissertation research.
Competitive NASA SMD-funded fellowship supporting doctoral research on supernova progenitor mass estimation.
The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio. Advisors: Christopher Kochanek, Laura Lopez.
The Ohio State University
University of California, Irvine
Interested in discussing astronomy, research collaboration, and/or astronomy outreach?
Email: cruz-cruz.1@buckeyemail.osu.edu
Office: McPhearson Laboratory, Room 4009
Address: Dept. of Astronomy, The Ohio State University, 140 W. 18th Ave., Columbus, OH 43210, USA