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Since its birth roughly 60 years ago, the field of nuclear astrophysics has strived to provide a comprehensive description of element synthesis in the Universe. While some of the astrophysical processes responsible for stellar nucleosynthesis are well understood, others remained elusive for decades. One of the major open questions in the field centered on the production of elements heavier than iron. An important breakthrough happened in 2017 when gravitational wave and electromagnetic observatories around the world and in space detected for the first time the merging of two neutron stars and the subsequent production of heavy elements. The puzzle, however, is far from solved. Interpreting the observations requires understanding the nuclear processes that drive these events. My work focuses on the measurement of critical nuclear properties needed to explain neutron-star mergers and other astrophysical observations. In this article, I discuss recent experiments performed at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory at Michigan State University, as well as new initiatives and plans to undertake work at the next-generation rare isotope facility, the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams. 

The past few years have brought a reckoning to the United States, as awareness of our country’s injustices dramatically increased, elevating international movements for equity. Although the road to equity remains long, the United States delegation was inspired to highlight a few women's stories showcasing their success in physics as well as their struggles. We aim to elevate their accomplishments, knowing we cannot possibly highlight all the amazing stories, to further validate and support women’s importance in physics. Physicists are presented in three main categories: (1) Legacy: Women in physics who have made their mark (no longer active, retired, or deceased); (2) Active: Women who are making their mark now (already established in the field, mid-career to senior); and (3) Emerging: Women who are primed to make their mark in the future (current students and postdocs or early career).