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Wake Forest Physics graduate student Pablo Ruales and senior physics student Isabelle Coughlin presented their research at the North Carolina Astronomers’ Meeting (NCAM) at Guilford Technical Community College on October 3, 2026. Both work in Alejandro Cárdenas-Avendaño’s research group.

Ruales presented “Bayesian Evidence for Inspiraling Hotspot Motion in the Galactic Center,” sharing his latest work on black-hole polarization.

Coughlin presented “Testing Thin-Disk Assumptions in Black Hole X-ray Reflection Spectroscopy,” drawing on her research on thick accretion disks.

Pablo Ruales stands beside a projected slide titled “Bayesian Evidence for Inspiraling Hotspot Motion in the Galactic Center” at NCAM 2026. The slide includes a bright ring around a black hole and a Wake Forest University logo.
Pablo Ruales presents at NCAM 2026.
Isabelle Coughlin stands at a GTCC lectern beside a projected slide titled “Testing Thin-Disk Assumptions in Black Hole X-ray Reflection Spectroscopy” at NCAM 2026. The slide includes a galaxy image and a Wake Forest logo.
Isabelle Coughlin presents at NCAM 2026.

Photos supplied by Alejandro Cárdenas-Avendaño.

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