Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz

Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz is a professor of astronomy and astrophysics at the University of California, Santa Cruz. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

Early life and education

Ramirez-Ruiz was born and raised in Mexico City. ^{[2] [3]} Ramirez-Ruiz completed his undergraduate studies in physics at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. ^[2] He completed his doctoral studies at the University of Cambridge. ^[2]

Career

Ramirez-Ruiz holds the Vera Rubin Presidential Chair in Physics and Astronomy at the University of California, Santa Cruz. ^[2] He was a NASA Chandra and Bahcall Fellow at the Institute for Advanced Study. ^[2] He was inducted to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2020 and the Mexican Academy of Sciences in 2010. ^{[1] [4] [5]} In 2019, he received the HEAD Mid-Career Prize from the American Astronomical Society. In 2021, he was awarded the Dwight Nicholson Medal for Outreach by the American Physical Society. ^[2] Ramirez-Ruiz is also the Niels Bohr professor at University of Copenhagen. ^[6]

Ramirez-Ruiz founded the Lamat Institute at the University of California, Santa Cruz in 2009 to provide research opportunities in STEM for undergraduates who want to transfer to four-year universities and attend graduate school. ^{[3] [7]} The philosophy of the Lamat Institute is based on the promotion of effective mentorship and critical research project design. ^[7]  In February 2022, Ramirez-Ruiz received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring for creating the Lamat Institute and expanding research programs in STEM. ^{[3] [8]}

As a theoretical astrophysicist, Ramirez-Ruiz studies violent astrophysical processes relating to the growth of substances on neutron stars and black holes. ^{[2] [4] [9]} He established a framework for organizing and analyzing new data from astronomical instruments, such as telescopes and surveys. ^[4] Ramirez-Ruiz's work also includes the use of computer models that simulate the death of stars. ^{[2] [4] [9]}   His work has contributed to larger efforts relating to the universe's origin. ^{[2] [9]}

Selected publications

• Kasen, D., Metzger, B., Barnes, J., Quataert, E., and Ramirez-Ruiz, E., "Origin of the heavy elements in binary neutron-star mergers from a gravitational- wave event." Nature, 551(7678):80–84, Oct 2017. doi: 10.1038/nature24453.
• Guillochon, J. and Ramirez-Ruiz, E., “Hydrodynamical Simulations to Determine the Feeding Rate of Black Holes by the Tidal Disruption of Stars: The Importance of the Impact Parameter and Stellar Structure” The Astrophysical Journal, 767(1):25, Mar 2013. doi: 10.1088/ 0004-637x/767/1/25.
• Gehrels, N., Ramirez-Ruiz, E., and Fox, D., "Gamma ray bursts in the iswift/i era. Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics, 47(1): 567–617, Sep 2009. doi: 10.1146/annurev.astro.46. 060407.145147.
• Roberts, L. F., Kasen, D., Lee, W. H., and Ramirez-Ruiz, E., "Electromagnetic Transients Powered by Nuclear Decay in the Tidal Tails of Coalescing Compact Binaries". The Astrophysical Journal, 736(1):L21, jul 2011. doi: 10.1088/2041-8205/ 736/1/l21.

References

1. "Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz". American Academy of Arts & Sciences. 2023-10-10. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
2. "Faculty Directory". www.astro.ucsc.edu. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
3. "UCSC astronomer Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz is a star teacher and mentor". Lookout Local Santa Cruz. 2022-04-14. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
4. Stephens, Tim. "Astronomer Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz named to Mexican Academy of Sciences". UC Santa Cruz News. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
5. "Admisión de Nuevos Miembros 2010". www.amc.mx. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
6. Ramirez-Ruiz, Enrico. "Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz | Speaker | TED". www.ted.com. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
7. "Lamat Institute – Stellar opportunities for early career scientists". lamat.science.ucsc.edu. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
8. "Celebrating UC changemakers: Meet 10 Latino leaders creating a more equitable future for us all". University of California. 2023-09-19. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
9. "Prize Recipient". www.aps.org. Retrieved 2023-11-03.