N-Body Simulation

This year in physics class, we are all doing an advanced, year-long research project on a subject of our choice, guided by a physics professor. The subject I have chosen is Astronomy, and because I'm the only person in class who can code I am most likely going to do it on n-body simulations of galaxies. However, my google searching only yielded information and videos on how to do the simulations, and not what can be achieved or researched using them.

If anyone here knows\learns astronomy, I would appreciate some suggestions of academic-level researches that can be done using such simulations. The only subject I currently have, given as an example by the professor guiding me, is researching why is the core of galaxies sometimes elliptic and sometimes circular, and which state comes first.

Also, if you know any sites that contain useful information regarding this subject, you are welcomed to post them here.

I think the best option here is to read on actual research projects and articles that use the n-body simulation tech. The obvious place to play bookworm is the library, but for online academic databases, you'll probably have to slug through registration and signup forms.

Some uses I can think of off the top of my head:
--Age of the galaxy. Aside from shape, color of the galaxy may be addressed. Distance plays a factor.
--Related to galaxy age, determine what and where would be the best chance to find life-bearing planets once we develop FTL transportation.
--Studying galaxy formations such as Rip Tides.