Undergraduate Department Awards

Click ‘Expand All’ the view the accomplishments and awards by our Astronomy undergraduate majors.

Peter Livingston Scholars Program

This cohort is comprised of eight outstanding scholars who will be working under the guidance of department mentors on a range of innovative research projects. The scholars represent a broad spectrum of research interests, from exploring the building blocks of interstellar chemistry to uncovering the secrets of radio AGN signals. Their work promises to advance our understanding of the universe and will undoubtedly enrich our department’s academic environment.

• Ryan Bakko is in his fourth and final year of his Astronomy-Physics undergraduate degree. As a Peter Livingston Scholar, Ryan will work with Dr. Trey Wenger in an investigation of Galactic HII regions. He hopes to continue exploring science and, one day, make a significant impact in the world of astronomy.
• Adam Distler majored in Mathematics and Astronomy-Physics as an undergraduate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He now works as a post-baccalaureate researcher, in the domains of exoplanet science and dynamics. As a Peter Livingston Scholar, Adam will be working with Prof. Melinda Soares-Furtado on a young, newly-discovered moving group that is home to two planets. He plans to attend graduate school next year in astronomy/physics and hopes to grow as an astrophysicist and scientist!
• Will Jarvis is a post-baccalaureate researcher at the University of Wisconsin–Madison who received his B.S. in Astronomy/Physics in 2024. As a Peter Livingston Scholar, he will work with Dr. Eric Hooper to analyze both complex astrophysical simulations and radio telescope observations to understand how black holes blast plasma into their host galaxies and how this plasma impacts star formation. He recently won the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship and will begin his Ph.D. in Astrophysics at the University of Massachusetts–Amherst this Fall.
• Kashika Mahajan is a sophomore majoring in Computer Science and Mathematics. She is deeply interested in interdisciplinary research, particularly in areas where she can apply her technical skills to gain further insight. As a Peter Livingston Scholar, Kashika will investigate star clusters in Gaia survey data with Prof. Elena D’Onghia and Dr. Trey Wenger. In the future, she hopes to channel this passion by pursuing a PhD in Computer Science.
• Leah Napiwocki is a senior majoring in astronomy-physics and physics with certificates in mathematics and data science. As a Peter Livingston Scholar, Leah will investigate the impact that AGN have on their host galaxies with her mentor Dr. Marsha Wolf. She aspires to continue to study this relationship as well as the impact of AGN on their surrounding environment in graduate school and throughout her future career.
• Ashley Peter is a sophomore majoring in Astronomy-Physics. As a Peter Livingston Scholar, Ashley will work with Prof. Susanna Widicus Weaver, investigating terrestrially unstable molecules for spectroscopic characterization using (sub)millimeter spectroscopy. The goal is to aid the observation of prebiotic molecules in the interstellar medium. She hopes to graduate from UW and secure a job in the industry, particularly with the Air Force or Navy.
• Nicholas Tallon is a sophomore majoring in astronomy, physics, and math. As a Peter Livingston Scholar, Nicholas will work with Dr. Abygail Waggoner studying the evolution of gas during planet formation. He plans to continue his research on planet formation in graduate school and beyond.
• Nathaniel Tanglin is a junior undergraduate student and researcher studying Astronomy-Physics (B.S.) and Science Communications (Cert.) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Nathaniel wants to conduct professional research and obtain a professorship; he is especially interested in planetary habitability, cosmology, quantum mechanics, and particle physics. Nathaniel also wants to communicate science to the public, either through writing, public speaking, or other media. As a Peter Livingston Scholar, Nathaniel will work with Prof. Juliette Becker on planet habitability. Nathaniel enjoys sports, indoor rock climbing, running, cooking, doing things with people, and contemplating the deep questions of life. On a deeper level, Nathaniel’s identity is grounded in his Christian faith.