# Chemical Abundances of Halo Stars in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey V

> **NSF 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT** · University of Chicago (IL) · $532,327

## Abstract

This project explores the origins of our Milky Way galaxy by identifying and analyzing stars in its “stellar halo”, which is composed of remnants of small dwarf galaxies that were torn apart by the Milky Way’s gravity long ago. A team of scientists at the University of Chicago will use data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) to study the chemical fingerprints of these stars. The goal is to reconstruct the Milky Way’s early assembly and search for signatures of the first supernovae in the universe. Undergraduate students will carry out significant portions of this research as part of an astronomy field course at the University of Chicago. The project also includes a collaboration with a non-R1 institution to engage students in studying pulsating halo stars. Educational materials from both efforts will be publicly shared through the SDSS Education and Public Outreach platform.

The halo stars will be selected from the SDSS-V halo star survey, which uses low-resolution spectroscopy of photometrically metal-poor stars to measure iron and alpha-element abundances. Most halo stars come from a few massive accretion events, which are already well-characterized. This project instead focuses on the frontier of lower-mass accreted galaxies, traced by low-alpha, metal-poor stars (LAMPS). Approximately 400–500 LAMPS will be followed up with high-resolution optical spectroscopy, enabling the measurement of abundances for 20+ elements per star. These data will support studies of r-p

## Key facts

- **NSF award ID:** 2510795
- **Awardee organization:** University of Chicago (IL)
- **SAM.gov UEI:** ZUE9HKT2CLC9
- **PI:** Alexander P Ji
- **Primary program:** 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
- **All programs:** OBSERVATIONAL ASTRONOMY
- **Estimated total:** $532,327
- **Funds obligated:** $532,327
- **Transaction type:** Standard Grant
- **Period:** 09/01/2025 → 08/31/2028

## Primary source

NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2510795

## Citation

> US National Science Foundation, Award 2510795, Chemical Abundances of Halo Stars in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey V. Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-08 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nsf/2510795. Licensed CC0.

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