Montana State University announced on Apr. 20 that Hang Yu, an assistant professor in the Department of Physics, has received the National Science Foundation’s CAREER award to support a five-year study of binary neutron stars. The $400,000 grant will allow Yu to develop more accurate theoretical models to interpret gravitational wave signals produced by these dense stellar objects.
The recognition highlights Montana State University’s ongoing commitment to research and academic excellence. The institution leads in research funding within the state with annual expenditures exceeding $288 million, according to the official website. As Montana’s land-grant university, it focuses on research, education and community outreach aimed at addressing key challenges and enhancing lives and the environment, as reported by its official website.
Yu said his project aims “to provide to the community…the most accurate gravitational wave waveform model for neutron stars that can really be used to test neutron star physics to accuracy.” He explained that existing models do not fully account for hydrodynamical effects inside binary neutron stars—a gap his work seeks to address through advanced calculations compared against numerical relativity simulations.
John Neumeier, head of MSU’s physics department, said: “The CAREER program is NSF’s most prestigious. It funds the early-career development of the nation’s best young researchers and those who show the most promise to serve as academic role models in research and education.” Neumeier added: “We see this already in Hang Yu…His research culminates in long, detailed research publications that will educate scientists well into the future. He attracts excellent students into our Ph.D. program and has contributed greatly to our teaching mission, even creating a new…course in quantum computing.”
Yu noted that while current detectors are not sensitive enough for certain measurements, next-generation instruments such as Cosmic Explorer will enable more precise tests of his predictions with support from NSF funding. His study is expected to impact strong gravity science, theoretical astrophysics and nuclear physics due to neutron stars’ extreme densities—higher than any atoms studied on Earth.
The CAREER award will also fund two graduate students’ work alongside an outreach initiative with GEAR UP schools across Montana focused on teacher training and STEM lesson plan development.
Montana State University enrolls about 17,165 students split evenly between residents and nonresidents according to its official website; it ranks among the top 5 percent of global universities per the Center for World University Rankings. As Montana’s land-grant institution serving both state communities and beyond through volunteer efforts and outreach initiatives according to its official website—the university continues expanding its influence.