Congratulations Class of 2024!
Ojo Akinwale
... is graduating with a bachelor's degree in Astronomy with a minor in Spanish Language, Culture, and Professional Contexts. He received the following awards and honors:
- lead peer mentor of the First-Year Innovation and Research Experience SPD Physics Group
- selected to participate in JHU Astroscholars program twice
He will complete an internship at the Naval Research Lab in the Optical Physics Department.
Maureen Clark
... is graduating with a bachelor's degree in Astronomy with High Honors with a double major in Physics
She is currently applying for post-baccalaureate research positions relating to the interstellar medium for 2024-2025 and plans to apply to grad school in astronomy.
Merliss George
... is graduating with a bachelor's degree in Computer Science and bachelor's degree in Astronomy.
Nicholas Gobs
... is graduating with a bachelor's degree in Physics with a double major in Astronomy with Honors.
Aidan Goldenberg-Hart
... is graduating with a bachelor's degree in Government and Politics and bachelor's degree in Astronomy, cum laude. He received the following awards and honors:
- Banneker/Key Scholar
- Honors Citation in Honors Humanities Program
He will be going to MIT for a master's in Technology and Policy, specializing in Space Policy.
Caio Goolsby
... is graduating with bachelor's degree in Government and Politics with a double major in History and bachelor's degree in Astronomy, cum laude. He received the following awards and honors:
- Banneker/Key Scholar
- Dean's List
- OMSE College Success Scholar Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement
- Phi Beta Kappa
During the summer, he will continue an internship at NASA Headquarters; in fall, begin Master's of Astrophysics at University of Manchester.
Lilly Greeno
... is graduating with a bachelor's degree in Astronomy with a double major in Physics. She received the following awards and honors:
- Maryland Space Grant Scholarship
- Angelo Bardasis Physics Major Scholarship
She is searching for positions in data analytics.
Emily Harkleroad
... is graduating with a bachelor's degree in Astronomy with a minor in Planetary Sciences. She received the following awards and honors:
- Dean's List
She will be working in a post-baccalaureate research position with Prof. Drake Deming on NEID spectrometer data.
Austin Humphreys
... is graduating with a bachelor's degree in Physics with a minor in Mathematics and bachelor's degree in Astronomy. He received the following awards and honors:
- Banneker/Key Scholar
- Dean's List
- Gemstones Honors Citation
This summer, he will complete an internship with the NSF's NOIRLab on White Dwarfs and exoasteroids, applying for post-baccalaureate research positions, and applying to grad school for astronomy.
Hena Imran
... is graduating with a bachelor's degree in Astronomy.
She is searching for a job in administration.
Veronica Kunzle
... is graduating with a bachelor's degree in Astronomy with a double major in Physics.
She is searching for research positions in meteorology and astronomy.
Madeline Lessard
... is graduating with a bachelor's degree in Astronomy with High Honors and bachelor's degree in Physics, cum laude. She received the following awards and honors:
- Banneker/Key Scholar
- University Honors Citation
She will work as a post-baccalaureate researcher with Prof. Eliza Kempton for 2024-2025 and apply to grad school for astronomy.
Aaron Marsh
... is graduating with a bachelor's degree in Astronomy. He received the following awards and honors:
- College Park Scholars Honors Citation: Science, Discovery, and the Universe
He will be a Junior Financial Analyst at Tristate Financial Advisors.
Nathalia Martinez Garcia
... is graduating with a bachelor's degree in Astronomy.
Over the summer, she will be continuing research in UMD Physics Education Research and plans to apply for grad school in Astronomy.
Owen McWilliams
... is graduating with a bachelor's degree in Astronomy; returning to complete a bachelor's degree in Physics and a bachelor's degree in Music. He received the following awards and honors:
- Dean's List
For the summer, he will be traveling to Kenya to pursue a passion for music-making and to make some money.
Noah Nail
... is graduating with a bachelor's degree in Physics with a double major in Astronomy.
He is searching for jobs in electrical systems or control systems.
Jayna Petrella
... is graduating with a bachelor's degree in Physics with a double major in Astronomy. She received the following awards and honors:
- Dean's List
She is searching for jobs in data science and analysis.
Sebastian Rivera-Munoz
... is graduating with a bachelor's degree in Astronomy with a double major in Physics.
In the fall, he will begin a Master's in Astronomy, possibly at the University of Milano-Bicocca (Italy).
Steven Shockley
... is graduating with a bachelor's degree in Astronomy with High Honors and bachelor's degree in Physics, cum laude. He received the following awards and honors:
- Dean's List
- Presidential Scholarship
- Gemstones Honors Citation
Starting in the fall, he will be a Reactor Scientist at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Cole Smith
... is graduating with a bachelor's degree in Physics with a double major in Astronomy with High Honors. He received the following awards and honors:
- Dean's List
- University Honors Citation
- Burger's Program Summer Scholarship
He will be attending UMD Astronomy for graduate school in the fall.
Samantha Stesch
... is graduating with a bachelor's degree in Physics with a double major in Astronomy.
Claire Wisniewska
... is graduating with a bachelor's degree in Physics with a double major in Astronomy.
She is searching for public sector jobs in data science.
Tobi Hammond
... graduated with a bachelor's degree in Astronomy with High Honors with a minor in Planetary Sciences. They received the following awards and honors:
- Maryland Space Grant Scholarship
They will be attending Purdue University for grad school in Planetary Sciences.
Elan Moskowitz
... graduated with a bachelor's degree in Physics with a double major in Astronomy.
Justin Williams
... graduated with a bachelor's degree in Astronomy.
He is searching for STEM analysis positions, preferably in the federal government.
Photos & Videos
- 2024 ASTR Commencement Breakfast (Photos by E Warner)
- CMNS Undergrad Ceremony Photos taken by our CMNS photographer - you are welcome to download and share these (and tag @umdscience on social!)
- CMNS Ceremony Video
PhDs since last Spring!
Teal
"Photochemistry of Exoplanet Atmospheres: Modelling Alien Chemistry Accurately and Self-Consistently."
Hartley, Blake
"Simulating Bursty and Continuous Reionization Using GPU Computing."
Holt, Carrie
"A Song of Fire & Ice: Evolutionary Properties of Hot & Cold Small Bodies."
Villanueva, Vicente
"Analyzing the Star Formation Efficiency and Physical Conditions of the Molecular Gas in Nearby Galaxies."
Hord, Ben
"The Shadows of Would-Be Gods: Finding Transiting Jovians, Terrestrials, and Everything in Between with TESS to Understand Hot Jupiter Formation and the Best JWST Targets."
Mundo, Sergio
"Investigating the X-Ray Temporal and Spectral Properties of Blazars and Beamed AGN in The Swift-Bat Hard X-Ray Survey."
Marohnic, Julian
"Mechanical Evolution of Small Solar System Bodies."
Karim, Ramsey
"Interactions Between Massive Stellar Feedback and Interstellar Gas in the Eagle Nebula."
Park, Jongwon
"The Formation of Metal-Free Population III Stars in X-Ray and Lyman-Werner Radiation Backgrounds."
Hammerstein, Erica
"Population Studies of Tidal Disruption Events and Their Hosts: Understanding Host Galaxy Preferences and the Origin of the Ultraviolet and Optical Emission."
Dittmann, Alex
"The Lives and Times of Stars and Black Holes in the Disks of Active Galactic Nuclei."
Photos & Videos
- 2024 Department of Astronomy EOY & Grad Celebration (Photos by E Warner)
- CMNS Grad Ceremony Photos taken by our CMNS photographer - you are welcome to download and share these (and tag @umdscience on social!)
- CMNS Ceremony Video