EDITOR’S NOTE: Every year, hundreds of undergraduates at the University of Delaware pursue research under the guidance of a faculty mentor. Such experiences provided by UD — a nationally recognized research university — can be life-changing, introducing young scholars to a new field, perhaps even the path to a future career, as they uncover new knowledge. These spotlights offer a glimpse into their world.

There are so many stars in the sky — and so much we don’t know about them.

Marisol Catalan Olais was fascinated by the night sky when she was growing up, and now — as a senior at the University of Delaware — she wants to make stars the focus of her doctoral studies.

Catalan Olais, a Wilmington, Delaware, resident and McNair Scholar, is majoring in physics with a concentration in astronomy and a minor in mathematics. Her research has focused on “Be” stars, under the guidance of Véronique Petit, associate professor of physics and astronomy.

Stars are categorized by their size, mass, color, temperature and luminosity (the amount of energy they generate).

Catalan Olais’ work has focused on “Be” stars, a subcategory of “B” stars. B stars are very hot, luminous and massive stars, having more than eight times the mass of the sun.

“Ultimately, my goal is to determine whether the magnetic field of a ‘Be’ star can be detected or if the stars are non-magnetic,” she said.

Q: Why did you want to pursue this — what intrigues you about the topic?

Catalan Olais: I've always liked astronomy and spent a lot of time looking up at the night sky and wondering about what's out there. As I grew older, I learned about astrophysics and it seemed to combine all of the things I loved, such as math and astronomy, into one field. In my first few months at UD, I learned about Professor Petit’s research group that analyzed massive stars, and I was automatically intrigued and wanted to learn more. I have been part of Professor Petit’s research group since June 2022, and I continue to uncover more information about massive stars and the tools used to analyze them.

Q: Why does research like this matter?

Catalan Olais: Approximately 10% of massive stars have a strong magnetic field, which includes high-mass stars such as B stars. However, after surveying about 100 Be stars — a subcategory of B stars — none appeared to be magnetic. My research focuses on determining the upper limits of the magnetic fields of Be stars that can go undetected by current means of observation and analysis. Answering this question will help determine if the previously surveyed Be stars are non-magnetic or if their magnetic fields are too weak to measure with current technology. Ultimately, answering these types of questions about the behavior of massive stars can contribute to uncovering the origins of magnetic fields in massive stars.

Q: What’s the coolest thing about being involved in this project? Have you had any surprising or especially memorable experiences?

Catalan Olais: One of the coolest things about being involved in this project is taking the information and knowledge I’ve gained and sharing the science of it with my friends, family and other students at UD. I’ve had the opportunity to present a poster at both the 2023 and 2024 Undergraduate Research and Service Scholar Celebratory Symposium and I enjoyed talking to other students about their research and sharing mine as well. Seeing my work on a research poster made me feel so proud of the work I’ve accomplished over the summer. I loved the questions I received about my research and seeing people interested in the work I’ve done as they approached my poster. I am more than glad to have been a part of the symposium both years as I was able to learn more effective ways to communicate my work to others, gain more confidence in my research abilities and build more connections with others across different fields of study.

One of my most memorable experiences was when Professor Petit’s research group had the opportunity to visit and tour the Goddard Space Flight Center located in Greenbelt, Maryland. I networked with some NASA employees and heard about their research at NASA. I loved the atmosphere of the different facilities and seeing the employees working on their day-to-day tasks. This trip resonated with me since I explored more career opportunities in physics apart from academia and reminded myself why I chose to pursue physics.

Q: Is there anything you've discovered about yourself and your career goals as you've worked on the project?

Catalan Olais: As a first-generation college student, I felt nervous about attending UD because I had zero guidance on what I should be doing as a college student. I knew I liked learning physics; however, I did not know how to get experience outside the classroom or what I wanted to do after graduation. I wasn’t even aware that an undergraduate student could do research within their departments until my second semester in college. While participating in research at UD with Professor Petit, I gained confidence in my work and have completed tasks that once felt impossible. I feel myself growing as a student and a researcher as I continue to learn. After graduation, I hope to attend graduate school to obtain a Ph.D. in astrophysics and continue doing research in similar fields. 

Q: What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Catalan Olais: In my free time, I enjoy playing tennis, spending time with friends and family, and reading books across many genres. My favorite book series is currently “A Noodle Shop Mystery” by Vivien Chien. The books are very light reads and they are always a good break from my busy schedule.