# Collaborative Research: A Panchromatic View of Normal Galaxies in the Early Universe

> **NSF 01002223DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT** · CAL POLY HUMBOLDT SPONSORED PROGRAMS FOUNDATION (CA) · $196,751

## Abstract

A tool to identify “normal” galaxies at high redshifts (large distances), not biased by their brightness, is the presence of Damped Lyman-alpha systems (DLAs) in spectra of background light sources. Studying DLAs is essential to further our understanding of galaxy evolution in the early Universe, but little is known about the galaxies associated with DLAs and the relation between them and those identified by other methods. This project will use the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) to directly image DLA galaxies and aims to answer fundamental questions of galaxy formation. The project will also include a “Bridge” program (post-bachelors degree/pre-graduate school) to attract and retain talented students from traditionally underrepresented groups, with a goal of increasing their participation in STEM fields. 

The team has leveraged the power of ALMA to directly image HI-selected galaxies identified by DLAs. This project aims to answer fundamental questions of galaxy formation including: What are the luminosities, star formation rates, gas masses, and stellar masses of normal galaxies at high redshifts? What is the incidence of rotating disks and mergers? Do absorption-selection and emission-selection yield the same population of galaxies? The project also leverages the JVLA, NOEMA, VLT, GTC, and Keck observatories to dissect the galaxy population from the far-UV to radio wavelengths, accessing ionized gas, neutral gas, stellar, and dust diagnostics. The Maria Mitchell O

## Key facts

- **NSF award ID:** 2534994
- **Awardee organization:** CAL POLY HUMBOLDT SPONSORED PROGRAMS FOUNDATION (CA)
- **SAM.gov UEI:** K1S8M8RU4FK7
- **PI:** Regina Jorgenson
- **Primary program:** 01002223DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
- **All programs:** OBSERVATIONAL ASTRONOMY
- **Estimated total:** $196,751
- **Funds obligated:** $99,024
- **Transaction type:** Continuing Grant
- **Period:** 09/01/2025 → 09/30/2027

## Primary source

NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2534994

## Citation

> US National Science Foundation, Award 2534994, Collaborative Research: A Panchromatic View of Normal Galaxies in the Early Universe. Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-08 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nsf/2534994. Licensed CC0.

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