Dr. Camille Avestruz, Assistant Professor of Physics, has been named a 2025 Cottrell Scholar by the Research Corporation for Science Advancement (RCSA). This prestigious award recognizes early-career scientists who excel in both research and teaching. Dr. Avestruz is among 16 outstanding teacher-scholars in chemistry, physics, and astronomy from 16 different institutions to be awarded this title.

RCSA Senior Program Director Silvia Ronco explains this year’s scholars, saying, “As teacher-scholars who started their first tenure-track appointments during the pandemic, they have shown remarkable resilience, creativity, and dedication to student learning. We are proud to welcome them to the Cottrell Scholar community.”

Dr. Avestruz was recognized for her research project, Modeling Giants in our Universe: Galaxy Clusters as Probes of Cosmology. Galaxy clusters are the giants of our universe, made up of hundreds to thousands of galaxies. The number count and distribution of galaxy clusters over time trace the history and content of our universe, otherwise known as cosmology. Scientists can detect and measure galaxy clusters using light from the night sky across the electromagnetic spectrum – this includes light in wavelengths of the microwave and X-rays. To interpret these measurements in the era of big data, they need fast modeling techniques and inference methodologies.

In this project, Avestruz’s group (i) leverages new methods to construct physically motivated statistical connections between the underlying matter content of galaxy clusters and what we can see in the night sky, and (ii) incorporates machine learning approaches to speed up inference for galaxy cluster cosmology. Her education plan for this award focuses on the development and integration of computer coding skills in the introductory physics laboratory sequence for a broad range of undergraduates in the physical sciences.

Students will gain fluency with Python coding through task-based learning applied to a combination of laboratory and simulated data. Tasks center on the three main stages of any data analysis procedure: data generation/input/output, data wrangling and pattern extraction, and data visualization. By introducing early scaffolded Python skill development, she aims to increase access, community, knowledge integration, and post-graduate career options for our undergraduates.

More information:
Dr. Camille Avestruz
2025 Cottrell Scholars