Research Interest
Theoretical Astrophysics: tides in stars, stellar/binary evolution, asteroseismology.
Work email: sunmeng_at_nao.cas.cn
Publications
Please find my publications here.
Work
2025.12 ~ now -- Scientist/Professor, the National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences (NAOC), Beijing, China
2025.1 ~ 2025.12 -- Associate Scientist/Professor, NAOC, Beijing, China
2021.9 ~ 2024.12 -- Postdoc, CIERA Fellow, CIERA, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
Main collaborator: Vicky Kalogera
2018.9 ~ 2021.8 -- Postdoc, Department of Astronomy, University of Wisconsin Madison (UW Madison), WI, USA
Main collaborator: Rich Townsend and Bob Mathieu
2026.6 ~ 2027.6 -- Visiting Researcher, Clare Hall; Academic Visitor, Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge
2025.1 ~ now -- Visiting Scholar, Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics, Northwestern University
Education
2012.8 ~ 2018.6 -- Ph.D in Astronomy, Department of Astronomy, University of Virginia (UVa), VA, USA
Ph.D Thesis: Pulsating White Dwarfs and Orbital Decay in Binaries
Adivsor: Phil Arras
2008.9 ~ 2012.6 -- B.S. in Physics, National Key Fundamental Courses of Physics (an Elite class, in Chinese基地班), Wuyuzhang Honorary College, College of Physics, Sichuan University, Sichuan, China
Undergraduate Thesis: Scaling of the Transverse Kinetic Energy Distributions for Strange Particles in RHIC and LHC Region (Outstanding Undergraduate Thesis Award)
Advisor: Lilin Zhu
Computer Skills
Fortran, Python, MESA (Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics, an open-source stellar evolution code; 10+ years user/science advisor), GYRE (an open-source stellar oscillations code; developer), POSYDON (POpulation SYnthesis with Detailed binary-evolution simulatiONs, a next-generation single and binary-star population synthesis code based on MESA models; developer), MATLAB, Photoshop, IRAF
Teaching Experiences
Invited Lecturer/(Senior) Teaching Assistant for several MESA Schools (2026 in Wyoming, USA; 2025 in Leuven, Belgium; 2024 in Sydney, Australia)
Invited Lecturer for 1st POSYDON School (SkAI, Chicago, USA)
Invited Lectures: Stellar Physics, 2025 Fall Semester Grad Course, Tsinghua University; Advanced Astronomy, 2024 Spring Semester Grad Course, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS)
Teaching Assistant at the University of Virginia (Undergrad Course: Sky and Solar System, Astronomical Observation, Alien Worlds; Grad Course: Astronomical Techniques)
Teaching Assistant at Sichuan University (Solid State Physics)
Approved Observational Proposal and Observing Experience
Space-based proposals: Co-I on approved HST Cycle 30 and Cycle 28 programs on post-mass-transfer binaries, blue lurkers, and the stability of mass transfer in open clusters, totaling 27 HST orbits; Co-I on a TESS GI Cycle 4 program on planetary archaeology around evolved stars.
Ground-based proposals: Co-I on NOAO/WIYN proposals using HYDRA and NEID spectroscopy to study binary populations and alternative stellar-evolution pathways in open clusters.
Observing experience: WIYN 3.5m/HYDRA spectroscopy, 20 nights total between 2018 and 2021.
Professional Development
2025 Aspen Center for Physics Summer Program, June - July 2025 (Simons Foundation Supported);
2022 Binary Program at KITP, UC Santa Barbara, March - April 2022 (KITP Program Supported)
MESA Summer School, UC Santa Barbara, August 2014.
Advising Experience
Grad Student: Weiyi Chen (UCAS), Yucong Weng (UCAS);
Undergrads: Jian Hu (XTU), Jierou Zhou (XTU), Linlang Ding (XTU), Kevin Xia (Northwestern), Sasha Levina (Northwestern REU), David Szymulewski (UW Madison);
High School: Lydia Leung (Yew Chung International School).
Recent Conferences/Workshops:
2026: Workshop on Stellar and Planetary Physics (Shanghai, China); Cluster-Asteroseismology Synergies in the Era of Space Missions (Beijing, China, serve as SOC member);
2025: Star Cluster Meeting (Dali, Yunnan, China); Astronomy for Open Science Conference (Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China); 56th DDA Meeting (Atlanta, GA, USA); CCA Stable Mass Transfer 2.0 Workshop (New York City, NY, USA); Cosmic Change Agents: Massive Stars in the Early Universe (Aspen, CO, USA); Earth 2.0 Science Meeting (Shanghai, China); Binary Stars in New Era (Lijiang, Yunnan, China);
2024: Shen-Kuo Meeting (Wuhan, Hubei, China); CCA Stable Mass Transfer Workshop (New York City, NY, USA); MESA down under School (Sydney, Australia); Cool Stars 22 (San Diego, CA, USA); ERES IX Symposium (Ithaca, NY, USA);
2023: POSYDON Collaboration Meeting (Gainesville, FL, USA); Aspen Center for Physics Winter Program 'Exoplanet Systems and Stellar Life Cycles' (Aspen, CO, USA); APS April Meeting (Minneapolis, MN, USA); MODEST-23 (Evanston, IL, USA);
2022: KITP Binary Conference (Santa Barbara, CA, USA).
Invited/Selected Talks:
Invited Talk: Workshop on Stellar and Planetary Physics (TDLI, Mar 2026), The Earth 2.0 (ET) Space Mission Science Meeting (Shanghai, Aug 2025), Asymptotics in Astrophysics RIKEN iTHEMS workshop (75-min, Feb 2025);
Invited Review Talk: Stable Mass Transfer 2.0 Workshop (Flatiron Institute, May 2025), Stable Mass Transfer Workshop (Flatiron Institute, Mar 2024);
Invited Colloquium: Zhejiang University (Apr 2025), Shanghai Astronomical Observatory of China (Mar 2025), Univ. of Wisconsin Madison (Nov 2023);
Stellar Tides (Tides in Binaries/Exoplanet System, GYRE-tides etc): Univ. of Virginia (2026), Northwestern University (2026), Yunnan Astronomical Observatories (2025), NAOC (2023), Beijing Normal Univ. (2023), Tsinghua Univ. (2023), KIAA-PKU (2023),Northwestern University (2023), American Museum of Natural History (2021, remote), CU Boulder (2021, remote), 237th AAS Meeting (2021, remote), Univ of Wisconsin Milwaukee (2019), Univ. of Nevada, Las Vegas (2018);
Next-generation Binary Star Models: Xiamen Univ. (2025), Univ. of Michigan (2024), Indiana Univ. Bloomington (2024), Univ. of Virginia (2024), Hebrew Univ. of Jerusalem (2024, remote), TDLI of Shanghai JiaoTong Univ. (2024);
Wind Roche-lobe Overflow in Binaries: APS April Meeting (2023, DAP Travel Grant); MODEST-23 (2023);
Stellar Spin Down with Magnetic Braking: Star Cluster Meeting (2025); Northwestern Univ. (2023);
Blue Stragglers: NOAO (2020, remote), Flatiron Institute (CCA, 2020, remote), Princeton (IAS, 2020, remote), AAS 236th Meeting (2020, remote);
Pulsating White Dwarfs: Univ. of Wisconsin Madison Colloquium (2018), KIAA-PKU (2016), Beijing Normal Univ. (2016);
MESA Guide Related: Beijing Normal Univ. (2026), NAOC (2025), Northwestern Univ. (2024), KIAA-PKU (2016).
Outreach Publications (in Chinese)
Sun, Meng, “The Invisible Hand in Shaping Binary Star Orbits”, Amateur Astronomer, Part 1 in Mar 2026, Part 2 in May 2026;
Sun, Meng, “The Hidden Mystery on Orion’s Shoulder”, Amateur Astronomer, Oct 2025;
Sun, Meng, “From Amateur to Professional, From Reader to Author: 20 Years as a Loyal Fan”, invited article for the 520th issue, Amateur Astronomer, Aug 2024;
Sun, Meng, “What is a Stellar Astrophysicist Thinking While Watching 'The Wandering Earth 2’”, Amateur Astronomer, Mar 2023;
Sun, Meng and Huang, Chenliang, “Travelogue of Major Observatories in Southwest America (Part 3-5)”. Amateur Astronomer, Jan 2015, Dec 2014, Aug 2014;
Sun, Meng, “Travelogue of Major Observatories in Southwest America (Part 1-2)”. Amateur Astronomer, May 2014, Mar 2014;
Sun, Meng, “A New Classification Method for SOHO Comets”, 2010, Natural Sciences and Museums. Vol. 5, 77-90;
Sun, Meng, “A subclass of Kreutz sungrazers was discovered”, 2006, Amateur Astronomer Monthly Magazine Supplement, 18.