Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz Explained

Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz is a professor of astrophysics, astronomy, and earth sciences at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Early life and education

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

Career

Ramirez-Ruiz holds the Vera Rubin Presidential Chair in Physics and Astronomy at the University of California, Santa Cruz.^[1] He was a postdoctoral fellow at the Institute for Advanced Study. He was inducted to  the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2020 and the Mexican Academy of Sciences in 2010.^{[2] [3] [4]}   In 2021, he was awarded the Dwight Nicholson Medal for Outreach by the American Physical Society.

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.^{[5] [6]} The philosophy of the Lamat Institute is based on the promotion of mentorship and critical analyses of society.  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.^[7]

As a theoretical astrophysicist, Ramirez-Ruiz studies violent astrophysical processes relating to the growth of substances on neutron stars and black holes.^[8] He established a framework for organizing and analyzing new data from astronomical instruments, such as telescopes and surveys. Ramirez-Ruiz's work also includes the use of computer models that simulate the death of stars.  His work has contributed to larger efforts relating to the universe's origin.

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