Department Awards

The John Chi-Lin Wang Award for Academic Excellence is awarded each fall during the Department assembly to the third-year graduate student who best combines John's quest for excellence in research while making the department a better place. No application is necessary, and selection is made by the Department's professorial faculty. The selected candidate receives a $1,000 award. (The award is sometimes split when two or more candidates are equally deserving.)

Professor John C.-L. Wang joined the Department in 1994 and passed away on August 9, 1998, at the age of 38. Professor Wang contributed greatly to our department on a personal and a professional level. He took a special interest in undergraduate curriculum development, and his theoretical work paved the way for new discoveries in the field of high-energy astrophysics. For more information, Professor Wang's obituary is available online. Major donors for the Wang Award fund include Henry C.-Y. Wang, Helen P.-C. Wang, Jerry C.-L. Wang, and Athena L.-Y. Wang.

Award Winners

• 2024: Brian Davenport & Siddhant Solanki
• 2023: Ell Bogat
• 2022: Jordan Ealy
• 2020: Joe DeMartini
• 2019: Harrison Agrusa
• 2018: Weizhe Liu
• 2017: Kyle Sheppard
• 2016: Pradip Gatkine
• 2015: Tzu-Yu Hung
• 2014: Qian Wang
• 2013: Ron Ballouz & Krista Smith
• 2012: Thomas Shimizu
• 2011: Jessica Donaldson
• 2010: Shaye Storm
• 2009: Hannah Krug & Michael McDonald
• 2008: Edmund Hodges-Kluck
• 2007: Daniel Jontof-Hutter
• 2006: Lisa Wei
• 2005: Catherine McGleam & Lisa Winter
• 2004: Laura Brenneman
• 2003: Zoe Leinhardt
• 2002: Ke Zhang
• 2001: Jianyang Li
• 2000: Yuxuan Yang
• 1999: Woong-Tae Kim

The Andrew S. Wilson Prize for Excellence in Research is awarded in early fall to a graduate student nearing completion of the Ph.D. dissertation who demonstrates the high standards for research and scholarship exemplified by Professor Andrew S. Wilson. The student must be applying for jobs in astronomy during the upcoming academic year and must be advised by a member of the Department of Astronomy. (He/she may be based in another department, however.) Selection is made by the Department faculty based on research quality. To apply, please submit your CV and a statement of your dissertation research (two pages maximum) to the graduate director. The deadline is the same as the final day of the qualifying exam, which is typically in mid-August. The selected candidate receives a $500 award.

Professor Andrew S. Wilson joined the Department in 1977 and passed away on May 24, 2008, at the age of 61. His scientific work on active galactic nuclei spanned the entire electromagnetic spectrum from the radio to the X-rays. For more information, Professor Wilson's obituary is available online. Major donors for the Wilson Prize fund include Mrs. Kaija A. Wilson, Professor Wilson's widow, and Dr. Martin N. Wilson, Professor Wilson's brother.

Prize Winners

• 2024: Joe V. DeMartini
• 2023: Alex Dittmann
• 2022: Milena Crnogorčević
• 2021: Weizhe Liu
• 2020: Rebecca Levy
• 2019: Pradip Gatkine
• 2018: No Award
• 2017: J. Drew Hogg
• 2016: Krista Smith
• 2015: Maxime Rizzo & Thomas Shimizu
• 2014: Rodrigo Herrera Camus
• 2013: Kari Helgason
• 2012: Hannah Krug
• 2011: Hao Gong
• 2010: Edmund Hodges-Kluck
• 2009: Stacy Teng

The Philip E. Angerhofer Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award is awarded each fall during the Department Assembly to the graduate student with the best overall performance as a Teaching Assistant during the preceding academic year. No application is necessary; selection is made by a committee drawn from the Department's teaching faculty. The selected candidate receives a $250 award.

Philip E. Angerhofer joined the Department as a graduate student in 1974. He worked with Professor Mukul Kundu on supernova remnants and received his Ph.D. in 1980. He took a position at the U.S. Naval Observatory but passed away in 1986 at the age of 35. Upon his death, the Department instituted the Angerhofer TA Award in his honor. Major contributors to the award's funding include the Department of Astronomy and Professor Donat Wentzel.

Award Winners

• 2024-2025: Jordan Ealy and Shaniya Jarrett
• 2023-2024: Yash Gursahani
• 2022-2023: Johnny Seebeck & Arjun Savel
• 2021-2022: Serena Cronin & Emma Mirizio
• 2020-2021: Jordan Ealy & Katya Leidig
• 2019-2020: Teal & Rebecca Levy
• 2018-2019: Joseph DeMartini
• 2017-2018: Julian Marohnic
• 2016-2017: Carrie Holt & Elizabeth Tarantino
• 2015-2016: Virginia Cunningham & Sara Frederick
• 2014-2015: Dana Louie & Amy Steele
• 2013-2014: Myra Stone
• 2012-2013: Drew Hogg
• 2011-2012: Krista Smith
• 2010-2011: Kory Kreimeyer
• 2009-2010: Alex McCormick
• 2008-2009: Shaye Storm
• 2007-2008: Sidharth Kumar
• 2006-2007: Megan DeCesar & Michael Gill
• 2005-2006: Jane Gilhooly
• 2004-2005: Ashley Zauderer
• 2003-2004: Meredith McCarthy
• 2002-2003: Vanessa Lauburg
• 2001-2002: Matthew Knight
• 2000-2001: Matthew Knight
• 1999-2000: Donna Pierce
• 1998-1999: Nikolaus H. Volgenau
• 1997-1998: Kartik J. Sheth
• 1996-1997: Kristen A. Miller
• 1995-1996: Sara E. Donaldson
• 1994-1995: C. Keith Watt
• 1993-1994: Michele Thornley
• 1992-1993: Philip A. Esterle
• 1991-1992: Rachel A. Gibbons
• 1990-1991: Tamara T. Helfer
• 1989-1990: Joseph P. McMullin
• 1988-1989: Kimberly A. Weaver
• 1987-1988: Peter W. Giovanoni

Gregor and Donat Wentzel Scholarships provide support to help recruit and retain outstanding students in the Department of Astronomy. No application is needed; selection is usually made by the Graduate Entrance Committee from the most promising applicants for graduate study. Awards vary but typically range from $1,000 to $5,000.

The Gregor Wentzel Scholarship was established at the University in 1998 by Professor Donat Wentzel and Maria Wentzel to recognize Professor Wentzel's father, Gregor Wentzel (1898-1978), a renowned physicist who made major contributions to the development of quantum mechanics as well as X-ray spectroscopy, meson theory, and quantum electrodynamics.

Professor Donat Wentzel passed away on February 20, 2013, at the age of 78. He was a superb scientist and educator, and a great friend of the Department of Astronomy. He was well known for his work on plasma physics in the Sun and ISM, for his excellence as an educator, and for his public service to astronomy, for which he received the AAS Van Biesbroeck Prize in 2003. He was also a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences. His obituary was carried by the Washington Post. Subsequently, the scholarship was renamed the Gregor and Donat Wentzel Scholarship.

Scholarship Recipients (partial list)

• Shaniya Jarrett (2024)
• Kiana Whitfield (2022)
• Arjun Savel (2020)
• Benjamin Hord (2018)
• Amy Steele (2017)
• Laura Lenkić (2016)
• Krista Smith
• Thomas Shimizu
• Kory R. Kreimeyer
• John I. Capone
• Michael A. Gill

The Postdoctoral Scientist Prize for Excellence was established by the Department of Astronomy to honor outstanding postdoctoral scholars. Eligible candidates include both traditional 2-3 year postdocs and recipients of fellowships such as Hubble, Einstein, CTC, etc. Selection is made in May by a committee drawn from the department's diverse membership, and the winner is announced at the department's End of the Year Celebration. The selected candidate receives a $500 award.

Prize Winners

• 2025/26: Harsha Gurram and Robert Stein
• 2024/25: Hayley Beltz
• 2023/24: Matthew Nixon
• 2022/23: Igor Andrioni
• 2021/22: Shmuel Bialy
• 2020/21: Maitraiyee Tiwari
• 2019/20: Matej Malik & Erez Michaely
• 2018/19: Geoffrey Ryan
• 2017/18: Nathaniel Roth
• 2016/17: Erin Kara
• 2015/16: Laura Blecha & Marcio Melendez
• 2012/13: Silvia Protopapa

The Early Career Research Scientist Prize for Excellence was established by the Department of Astronomy to honor outstanding early-career scholars. To be eligible, candidates must currently hold the rank of Assistant Research Scientist/Professor/Engineer and must have worked in the department for two or more years. (Winners are not eligible again for consideration until six years have passed.) Selection is made in May by a committee drawn from the department's diverse membership, and the winner is announced at the department's End of the Year Celebration. The selected candidate receives a $500 award.

Prize Winners

• 2025/26: Haoming Liang
• 2023/24: Zorawar Wadiasingh
• 2018/19: Tracy Huard
• 2017/18: Eleonora Troja
• 2016/17: Valeria Cottini
• 2015/16: Silvia Protopapa
• 2013/14: Francesco Tombesi
• 2012/13: Michael S. Kelley

The Distinguished Research Scientist Prize was established by the Department of Astronomy to honor outstanding established scholars. To be eligible, candidates must currently hold the rank of Associate or Senior Research Scientist/Professor/Engineer and must have worked in the department for two or more years. (Winners are not eligible again for consideration until six years have passed.) Selection is made in May by a committee drawn from the department's diverse membership, and the winner is announced at the department's End of the Year Celebration. The selected candidate receives a $500 award.

Prize Winners

• 2025/26: Peter Teuben
• 2024/25: Lori Feaga
• 2023/24: Cecilia Chirenti, Dennis Chornay
• 2022/23: Ian Richardson
• 2021/22: Mike Kelley
• 2019/20: Tilak Hewagama
• 2018/19: Matthew Knight, Tony Farnham
• 2017/18: Elizabeth Ferrara
• 2016/17: Ludmilla Kolokolova
• 2015/16: Gennady Milikh
• 2013/14: Marc Pound
• 2012/13: Mark Wolfire

The Distinguished Faculty Teaching Prize was established by the Department of Astronomy to honor outstanding faculty educators. All faculty ranks are eligible; candidates must have worked in the department for two or more years. (Winners are not eligible again for consideration until six years have passed.) Selection is made in May by a committee drawn from the department's diverse membership, and the winner is announced at the department's End of the Year Celebration. The selected candidate receives a $500 award.

Prize Winners

• 2025/26: Megan Weiner Mansfield
• 2023/24: Chris Reynolds
• 2022/23: Cole Miller
• 2021/22: Chris Hunt & Eliza Kempton
• 2020/21: Benedikt Diemer
• 2017/18: Massimo Ricotti
• 2016/17: Cole Miller
• 2015/16: Derek Richardson
• 2013/14: Melissa Hayes-Gehrke
• 2012/13: Andrew Harris

The Professional Staff Prize for Excellence honors outstanding administrative and technical staff in the Department of Astronomy. Staff working in academic, business, facility administration IT, observatory (e.g. CARMA, Metzerott, etc), and NASA mission support/engineering are eligible. Up to two winners may be selected each year. (Winners are not eligible again for consideration until three years have passed.) Selection is made in May by a committee drawn from the department's diverse membership, and the winner is announced at the department's End of the Year Celebration. The selected candidate receives a $500 award.

Prize Winners

• 2025/26: Brian Huynh, Benjamin Sharkey
• 2024/25: Natalie Rowe, Emily Callahan
• 2023/24: Lauren Miles, Elizabeth Warner

Technical Professional Staff Prize for Excellence

• 2022/23: Anne Raugh
• 2021/22: Adeline Gicquel-Brodtke
• 2020/21: Mark Wolfire
• 2019/20: Kevin Rauch
• 2018/19: Alyssa Pagan
• 2017/18: Tilden Barnes
• 2016/17: Peter Teuben
• 2015/16: Mark Wolfire
• 2013/14: William Sebok
• 2012/13: Anne Raugh
• 2012/13: Elizabeth Warner ("Research Associate and Faculty Research Assistant Prize")

Administrative Professional Staff Prize for Excellence

• 2022/23: Mona Susanto
• 2021/22: Erica Harrison
• 2020/21: Olivia Dent & John Cullinan
• 2019/20: David Holdridge
• 2018/19: MaryAnn Phillips
• 2017/18: Dorinda Kimbrell
• 2016/17: Susan Lehr & Adrienne Newman
• 2015/16: Natalie Rowe
• 2013/14: Y. Mona Susanto
• 2012/13: Barbara Hansborough

The Excellence in Mentoring Prize was established by the Department of Astronomy to honor outstanding mentors. All members of the department are eligible; candidates must have worked in the department for two or more years. (Winners are not eligible again for consideration until six years have passed.) Selection is made in May by a committee drawn from the department's diverse membership, and the winner is announced at the department's End of the Year Celebration. The selected candidate receives a $500 award.

Prize Winners

• 2024/25: Calvin Osinga
• 2023/24: Tad Komacek
• 2022/23: Massimo Ricotti
• 2021/22: M. Coleman Miller
• 2020/21: Eliza Kempton
• 2019/20: Rebecca Levy
• 2018/19: Derek Richardson
• 2016/17: L. Drake Deming & Elizabeth Warner
• 2015/16: Grace Deming
• 2013/14: A. Surjalal Sharma

The Departmental Service and Inclusion Award was established by the Department of Astronomy to honor those who have made exceptional contributions to the department through their service, DEI activities, and/or outreach efforts. All members of the department are eligible; candidates must have worked in the department for two or more years. (Winners are not eligible again for consideration until six years have passed.) Selection is made in May by a committee drawn from the department's diverse membership, and the winner is announced at the department's End of the Year Celebration. The selected candidate receives a $500 award.

Prize Winners

• 2025/26: Matthew Lastovka
• 2024/25: Katya Ledig and Arjun Savel
• 2023/24: Jordan Ealy
• 2022/23: Erica Hammerstein & Serena Cronin, Isiah Holt, and Ramsey Karim
• 2021/22: Milena Crnogorčević

No application is necessary; selection is made by a committee drawn from the Department's teaching faculty. Awarded each fall during the Department Assembly to the undergraduate student with the best overall performance as a Teaching Assistant during the preceding academic year.  The selected candidate receives a $150 award.

Award Winners

• 2024-2025: Grant Chapman
• 2023-2024: Wenxi Wu
• 2022-2023: Orion Guiffreda
• 2021-2022: Lacey Allee-Press
• 2020-2021: Audrey Grace Mellott
• 2019-2020: Raechel Blume
• 2018-2019: Eric Yates
• 2017-2018: Anna Engle
• 2016-2017: Matthew Varakian