An NJU undergraduate students' team has identified two late-T dwarfs at kiloparsec distances using JWST (James Webb Space Telescope) UNCOVER data. The findings were recently published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society under the title “Two late-T dwarfs at kiloparsec distances revealed by JWST UNCOVER survey.”
AI-generated artistic concept of a distant cold brown dwarf star
The study was primarily carried out by Li Dongheng during his undergraduate studies at the School of Astronomy and Space Science, Nanjing University. His academic advisor, Associate Professor Zhang Zenghua, served as the corresponding author of the paper. Two other undergraduate students from the university's astronomy program, Peng Haohui and Zhou Siyan, also made important contributions to the research. The study additionally benefited from valuable suggestions provided by Dr. Maria-Cruz Gálvez-Ortiz of the Centro de Astrobiología in Spain and Professor Hugh Jones of the University of Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom.
Benefiting from Nanjing University's distinctive talent cultivation system, it is not the first time for undergraduates to publish researches as first authors in leading international journals. From their sophomore to senior years, students can engage in research projects under the guidance of different faculty members based on their academic interests. Sophomores start to participate in undergraduate innovation programs, juniors in early-stage research projects, and seniors complete their thesis research. Through involvement in these research initiatives, students gradually develop expertise in specific subfields, cultivate scientific thinking, and gain a deeper understanding of fundamental research methodologies—laying a solid foundation for future independent research.
Source: Two late-T dwarfs at kiloparsec distances revealed by JWST UNCOVER survey | Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society | Oxford Academic
