Graduate Research Fellows 2026

I am a fifth-year Physics PhD student at the University of Arizona. My research is housed within the James C. Wyant College of Optical Sciences where I design and construct novel semiconductor laser systems. Previously, my systems have been utilized for laser absorption spectroscopy of laser-produced plasmas, providing original information on atomic and molecular dynamics to strengthen our national nuclear security. With support from the NASA Space Grant, my research will now find an exciting new application. 

The precise synchronization of a spacecraft’s navigation systems is essential to meet the increasing demands set by modern space exploration missions. Spacecraft currently rely on timing signals from Earth-based clocks, a dependence which introduces delays to the synchronization process as the information propagates through space. To overcome this limitation, I will leverage the unique advantages of the semiconductor laser platform to build a spacecraft-deployable optical atomic clock. This device will represent a significant milestone in achieving instantaneous and autonomous navigation in spacecraft as NASA works toward, for instance, a human mission to Mars. 

In addition to this upcoming research, I look forward to developing my outreach and scientific communication skills through participation in the Space Grant program. During my fellowship tenure, I will bring an interactive and demonstrative lesson to local K-12 schools that discusses the history and science of timekeeping, from pendulums to optical atomic clocks. Through this project, I aim to inspire within students a curiosity and appreciation for STEM and facilitate their pursuit of a scientific career.

Patrick is a second-year Ph.D. student in the Biomedical Engineering Department working with Dr. Shang Song’s Integrated BioDesign Laboratory to utilize simple chemical reactions to study diseases of the nervous system. His research has been directed towards developing methods of 3D printing conductive fibers that match the diameters of the nerves in the human body, with the goal of advancing research on treatments for nervous system diseases and injury. 

Prior to working with Dr. Song and her team, Patrick earned bachelor’s degrees in Chemistry and Biochemistry from California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo. Throughout the course of his undergraduate studies, Patrick designed and implemented several teaching experiments in the Organic Chemistry Department. This experience sparked his interest in curriculum development, scientific communication, and community outreach. 

As a NASA Space Grant Fellow, he will be a Graduate Teaching Assistant for the Bioprinting of Functional Tissues course. This laboratory course provides students with the ability to hone a broad collection of skills required for a career in tissue engineering, including cell culture, imaging, organoid formation, and bioprinting. Committed to inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers, Patrick is passionate about making science accessible to any individual on the planet, regardless of their background knowledge. Outside of the lab and classroom, Patrick enjoys hiking, playing music, cooking, and trying new things.

I am a fourth-year PhD student in the Department of Astronomy and Steward Observatory working with Prof. Nathan Smith. My research focuses on understanding the late-stage evolution of massive stars and their eventual deaths as supernova explosions. Massive stars and supernovae are fundamental to astrophysics: they drive galaxy evolution, synthesize elements essential for life, and play a key role in shaping our understanding of the universe. To study them, I use a suite of world-class ground-based telescopes in Arizona and around the world, including the MMT, Large Binocular Telescope, and Gemini Observatory, to obtain optical and near-infrared observations. I then analyze how their brightness evolves over time and combine these data with numerical simulations to infer their physical properties such as mass, radius, and chemical composition. As a Space Grant Fellow, I am excited to continue conducting cutting-edge research while serving as an instructor for the University of Arizona Sky School. I plan to build on its place-based approach and expand the newly developed curriculum focused on astrobiology to help K-12 students form meaningful connections with the night sky.

I am a master’s student in Biosystems Engineering, where my research focuses on controlled environment agriculture (CEA) and bioregenerative life support systems (BLSS) for space exploration. I earned my Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from Georgia Tech, and I am now combining my aerospace background with plant science to study how crop production systems can support long-duration human spaceflight.

At the University of Arizona, I am studying nutrient solution management in recirculating aeroponic systems in a vertical farm. Aeroponics is promising for long-duration space missions, but nutrient imbalances can develop over time as crops take up ions at different rates. My research aims to better understand how crop selection and replenishment strategies affect nutrient stability and plant growth.

My interest in space agriculture is deeply shaped by my experience interning in Sierra Leone, where I saw how food insecurity and water scarcity affect communities on Earth. That experience helped me connect my love for space exploration with my desire to contribute to solutions that improve lives. I hope to use CEA to support future missions to the Moon and Mars and to improve food production in communities with limited agricultural resources.

As part of my Space Grant Fellowship, I look forward to developing outreach activities that introduce young female students to space agriculture and provide them with a tangible link between biology and the stars. My goal is to help students see how science and engineering can be used to explore new worlds and to care for this one.

I am a third-year Ph.D. student in the UA Lunar and Planetary Laboratory developing high-resolution spectroscopy instrumentation with Prof. Walt Harris. Alongside an incredible team, we are currently developing a sounding rocket payload called the Spatial Heterodyne Interferometric Molecular Cloud Observer (SHIMCO), which will launch into Earth’s upper atmosphere in mid-2027 to observe far-ultraviolet fluorescence in molecular clouds. Using the high-resolution spectrograph onboard, we can directly measure the clouds’ (1) chemical age and (2) global evolutionary state, which together inform us about the lifecycles of molecular clouds. I am also broadly interested in mission development, and take great pride in mentoring students through research projects of their own.

Arizona’s juvenile recidivism rate currently stands at nearly 50% within 24 months of release. Although the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 guarantees all incarcerated youth access to education, STEM subjects are rarely included in curricula, and consequently, leave large swaths of students lacking career aspirations and feelings of purpose upon release. During my Space Grant Fellowship, I will continue to develop the Other Worlds program alongside graduate student Kayla Smith, which introduces an astrobiology-based curriculum aimed at engaging incarcerated youth across STEM disciplines, providing an exciting opportunity for students to explore the origins of life and the potential for life beyond Earth. By doing so, Other Worlds aims to help reduce recidivism for Pima County youth and provide students with tools needed to navigate the STEM education system upon release.

I am a PhD candidate in Mathematics at the University of Arizona, where my research focuses on p-adic analysis, L-functions, and cohomological methods for studying point-counting problems over finite fields. I am especially interested in discovering connections that transform difficult mathematical problems into more approachable forms.

Alongside my research, I have taught courses ranging from college algebra and precalculus to Calculus I, II, and III. My teaching emphasizes geometric intuition, real-world applications, and helping students see mathematics as a practical way to understand the world. I have also participated in evidence-based teaching research and STEM outreach. Through the NASA Space Grant program, I hope to help students connect classroom learning with scientific discovery and see themselves as future contributors to STEM.

My long-term goal is to become a university professor who contributes to mathematical research while mentoring the next generation of students. Outside of mathematics, I enjoy watching basketball, hiking, and astrophotography, especially spending time in nature and photographing the night sky away from city lights.