College of Staten Island graduate Eric Ludwig is making waves in the world of astrophysics with a newly published paper in the Astrophysical Journal, one of the field’s most respected publications. Ludwig, who earned his degree at CSI before pursuing advanced research, is the lead author of a study exploring how galaxies evolve after explosive bursts of star formation.

While the details of the research are highly technical, the significance is clear: the work helps scientists better understand how galaxies like our own Milky Way grow, change, and ultimately stop forming stars. By comparing observations of real galaxies with cutting-edge computer simulations, Ludwig and his team shed new light on the processes that shape the universe.

“I’ve long been fascinated by galaxy evolution, particularly the dramatic transitions galaxies undergo in relatively short timescales,” Ludwig explained. “Post-starburst galaxies are especially intriguing because they give us a snapshot of galaxies in the middle of transformation, from active star formation to quiescence. The motivation for this project came from wanting to connect detailed observations from SDSS-IV MaNGA (a digital survey or map of the galaxies) with cosmological simulations like TNG50 (simulations of galaxy evolution). By comparing the two directly, we can probe both the physical processes responsible for quenching and the reliability of simulations in reproducing these rare but important phases of galaxy evolution.”

The paper also highlights a special CSI connection. One of Ludwig’s co-authors is Dr. Charles Liu, a Professor of Astrophysics at the College of Staten Island and a leading voice in the field. Their collaboration underscores the powerful role that CSI faculty continue to play in guiding students who go on to make groundbreaking contributions.

“Our study showed that simulated analogs of post-starburst galaxies in TNG50 share striking similarities with those observed in MaNGA, particularly in their star-formation histories and chemical enrichment. We found evidence that mergers play a central role in driving the intense bursts of star formation and subsequent rapid quenching. Moreover, the enrichment signatures we uncovered suggest that these galaxies experience accelerated chemical evolution compared to typical star-forming systems, which has important implications for how we interpret metallicity as a tracer of galaxy history,” Ludwig explained. “Finally, we identified clear signs of active galactic nuclei (AGN) feedback playing a role in shutting down star formation, reinforcing the idea that feedback mechanisms are crucial to galaxy evolution. In short, our results strengthen the bridge between observations and simulations, giving us more confidence in using simulations to interpret the life cycles of galaxies.”

For Ludwig, the achievement carries a personal dimension as well. His journey into astrophysics began at the College of Staten Island, where faculty mentors—including Dr. Liu—helped nurture his early curiosity about the universe.

“CSI was pivotal in shaping my trajectory as a researcher,” he began. “When I first started college, I was a Computer Science major, but I took a calculus-based astronomy course with Charles Liu. His teaching style and enthusiasm for astrophysics were incredibly inspiring. It opened my eyes to the possibility of combining my quantitative background with deep questions about the universe. From there, I fully committed to physics and astronomy, pursuing undergraduate research opportunities that gave me the skills and confidence to apply to graduate programs. Without that early experience and mentorship at CSI, I might never have shifted my path toward astrophysics.”

The publication is a milestone not only for Ludwig, but also for the College of Staten Island, whose alumni and faculty are working at the cutting edge of discovery. As the paper gains attention in the astronomy community, it underscores how research that begins in a Staten Island classroom can ultimately help unlock the mysteries of the universe.

Ludwig graduated from CSI in 2022 with a BS in Physics and is currently pursuing his PhD at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where he studies quantum dark matter, with a particular focus on ultralight (or fuzzy) dark matter models and their astrophysical consequences. Looking ahead, his goal is to continue doing research at the intersection of theory, computation, and astrophysics, ideally in a setting where he can both push forward our understanding of fundamental physics and mentor the next generation of scientists.