Mirley de Mesquita Coelho Nunes

PhD Student, starting Spring 2026

I am a PhD student at UDP, working with Evelyn Johnston on analyzing the dynamics experienced by  the stellar populations and the interstellar medium in the system formed by NGC 1316 and NGC 1317. Using data from SDSS-V Local Volume Mapper (LVM) and  Multi-Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE), this research aims to understand how and whether interaction occurs between these galaxies.

Projects

During my undergraduate studies in Physics, I worked in stellar astrophysics, specifically on distance measurement methods in astronomy and their applications in science education. In my master’s program, I focused on extragalactic astrophysics, investigating how photoionization occurs in early type galaxies at low redshift.

Currently, for my PhD at UDP, I have been characterizing the NGC 1316+1317 system using data from the SDSS-V Local Volume Mapper (LVM) survey, mapping the stellar and gaseous kinematics of the two galaxies, with the aim of determining the degree of misalignment of the gaseous disk relative to the stars and assessing how, or if, the neighboring galaxy NGC 1317 can help explain their irregular structure.

Highlights

Student at The Vatican Observatory Summer School in 2025. Exploring the universe with JWST, the first three years.

Extracurricular activities

As a typical Brazilian, I enjoy staying active and keeping my body moving. My main hobbies are capoeira (a Brazilian martial art in which I hold a green and yellow belt) and skateboarding. I also enjoy hiking, cycling, and occasionally playing soccer and volleyball. Beyond sports, I’m a fan of online games, board games, and of course music and art, which is always part of my day. 

Contact me

mirleymesquita [at] gmail.com