Research

Research Interests: Cosmology -- Galaxy Formation, Dwarf Galaxies in Hydrodynamic Simulations -- HI mass and gas kinematics; weak lensing signal.

Broadly, I am interested in how dark matter and baryonic physics influence each other in the formation of galaxies. Dwarf galaxies are the perfect laboratories to explore this due to their low masses! My advisor is Dr. Alyson Brooks. Currently I'm exploring the Baryonic Tully Fisher relationship in our simulated dwarfs (using pynbody with the Marvellous Merian and Marvel Suites). I am also part of the Merian Survey theory team, in which I study the HI gas kinematics and weak lensing shear amplitudes (using halotools) from our simulated dwarfs.

Past projects:

(2021-2023) Statistical bias in the Hubble constant due to the radial profile degeneracy with mock strong gravitational lenses (using pygravlens).
Advisor: Dr. Chuck Keeton, Rutgers University

(2018-2020) Used the Expanded Long Wavelength Array (ELWA) to observe off-pulse emission from PSR B0950+08. We found that based on the off-pulse emission's shape and spectral index (using AIPS), it is likely from a pulsar wind nebula.
Advisor: Dr. Greg Taylor, University of New Mexico


Publications

Here's a list of my publications on ADS, and here are some of my selected publications:

  1. "Statistical bias in the Hubble constant and mass power law slope with galaxy-scale mock lenses" D. Ruan , C. Keeton, 2023, arXiV
  2. "Discovery of a pulsar wind nebula around B0950 + 08 with the ELWA" D. Ruan , G. B. Taylor, J. Dowell, K. Stovall, F. K. Schinzel, P. B. Demorest, 2020, MNRAS, arXiv:2005.03303

Education/Institutions

(2020-present) Rutgers University, Ph.D. program in Dept of Physics and Astronomy
(2018) National Radio Astronomy Observatory, REU student
(2016-2020) University of New Mexico, B.S. in Astrophysics

About Me - Dilys Ruan

Second-generation Chinese-American || she/her || my name is pronounced like "D"+"Elise". I was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I'm a coffee and tea enthusiast. Lately, crochet has been my favorite hobby!

In my opinion, the most important thing that academic communities should do (beyond research) is work towards equitable and accessible education. That is my goal as I navigate throughout my career. I'm an organizer in the Minorities in Physics and Astronomy (MiPA) group, an AAUP-AFT Rutgers union department representative, and co-president of the Rutgers Physics and Astronomy Graduate Student Organization (RPAGSO). I also highly value active learning in my teaching pedagogy.

Random things I'd like to share.

Toph

This is my pet turtle, Toph. She's a very sassy red-eared slider.

Groundhogs at Rutgers

At Rutgers, Busch campus is known for its many wildlife sightings of deer, hawks, and (notoriously) geese, but groundhogs too!

2023 Annular Eclipse

What are the chances that an annular eclipse happens at the same time as NM's hot air balloon fiesta?! I took these photos with my phone and solar glasses over the lens, and surprisingly they came out okay!

Deserts are cool

If you're ever in Albuquerque, NM, look east and you'll see the Sandia Mountains!