Hayley Beltz, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Kansas, has earned the highly competitive NASA Hubble Prize Fellowship.
Beltz, of St. Joseph, Michigan, came to KU in January. She was chosen for her research proposal to analyze the magnetic field of exoplanets, or planets beyond our solar system, according to a KU news release, and she’s the first Jayhawk to earn the award in its 36-year history.
“Learning about these other planets helps us understand the whole range of planet formation that can happen in our galaxy,” Beltz said in the release. “And learning about magnetic fields is particularly important because magnetic fields are really important for earth and its life.”
The fellowship will support Beltz’s research for the next three years, and it will “enable her to use data collected from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope to further her computer modeling of exoplanetary magnetic fields and their role in shaping planetary atmospheres,” according to the release.
“I’m excited to bring it to KU and continue my next couple of years here,” she said in the release. “I’ll get to focus on my science and really explore the things that are most interesting to me, which I feel really lucky to do.”
Ian Crossfield, Beltz’s adviser and associate professor of physics and astronomy at KU, said the fellowship spoke highly of Beltz’s work as a researcher as well as the quality of work being done throughout the department.
“We’re over the moon here at KU astronomy about Hayley’s award, and we’re excited to see what she does with it next,” Crossfield said in the release.
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