0 Assigned ID: 3400 ----- Attempting Submission 1 (Fri Mar 25 18:38:02 GMT 2022) ----- Hubble Space Telescope observations have enabled, for the first time, homogeneous measurements of the star formation histories for most dwarf galaxies in the Local Group (LG) based on resolved stellar populations. In order to fully utilize these measurements to further inform our understanding of the onset of galaxy formation and of dwarf galaxy formation in a full cosmological context, we propose to develop a semi-empirical model that self-consistently matches observed star formation histories of LG galaxies to the assembly history of their dark matter halos over cosmic history. Our approach builds upon the success of the UniverseMachine model, and will implement components for reionization and environmental quenching within multi-resolution simulation suites that enable self-consistent modeling of the full range of masses and redshifts relevant for dwarf galaxies. Our proposed work will provide a constrained distribution of plausible halo assembly histories for each observed LG dwarf galaxy, connect LG measurements to the growing sample of similar galaxies in the Local Volume (~100 Mpc), and enable robust constraints on the onset and progress of galaxy formation in the smallest galaxies in the Universe. All data products including the model itself, dark matter halo assembly histories, and galaxy star formation histories will be made publicly available to the broader astronomy community. Prof. Risa Wechsler has been a leader in galaxy formation, large-scale structure, and our understanding of the cosmological context of the Milky Way, and has led development of models for the galaxy-halo connection and empirical models of galaxy formation. She has extensive experience in theoretical interpretation of HST data, including CANDELS and a number of HST theory proposals; she is also the Co-PI of the SAGA survey. Mr. Yunchong Wang is a graduate student working with Prof. Wechsler, and will have his primary focus on the proposed work. Co-I Peter Behroozi is the lead developer of the UniverseMachine model for galaxy evolution. Co-I Yao-Yuan Mao is the leader for the current stage of the SAGA survey and an expert in simulations, halo formation, and the galaxy-halo connection. Co-I Ethan Nadler is an expert on the galaxy-halo connection in the dwarf galaxy regime and its implications for dark matter models, and is leading the production of MW-like simulations that will be used for this work. Co-I Dan Weisz has pioneered observations of resolved stellar populations in the Local Group, and will contribute to the interpretation of these data. Galaxies 0 Regular false false false true false false SUPPORTED