UofL Students Share Astronomy Research on National Stage

This winter, University of Louisville students took their research to one of the biggest stages in astronomy: the American Astronomical Society (AAS) meeting in Phoenix. 

The conference brings together thousands of astronomers from around the world to share discoveries, hear from leading experts and connect with organizations like NASA and the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Thanks to support from NASA and the NSF, several undergraduate and graduate students were able to present their original research. Many of the students were funded through the NSF-supported Exploration of Astronomy by Kentucky Students (OAKS) program, which helps open doors for aspiring scientists across the state.

Over four packed days, students explored exhibits from major observatories and aerospace companies, attended cutting-edge research talks and connected with potential graduate school mentors — all while presenting work they developed right here at UofL.

Student Research Highlights:

• Trevor Butrum presented a project that uses citizen science to classify galaxies, including an interactive platform he developed and tested with other astronomers at the meeting.
• Kyle Cook shared research connected to NASA’s proposed Habitable Worlds Observatory, a next-generation flagship space telescope, and participated in discussions about its future design.
• Asaalah Muhammad presented her research on dwarf galaxies and how astronomers measure their mass.
• Alexia Palao shared findings from her collaboration with Cook on how the amount of gas in disk galaxies relates to whether they contain a central bar structure.
• Tim Hardin presented work on an astronomical catalog he developed with Cook and Dr. Haberzettl.
• Bryn Connelly showcased results from her collaboration with Dr. Dirk Grupe of Northern Kentucky University, studying the behavior of a supermassive black hole in a distant galaxy.

Instead of traditional paper posters, students presented their work on large digital displays — and many competed for the prestigious Chambliss Award, which recognizes outstanding student poster presentations. Months of preparation went into their projects, with students finalizing their research materials before the winter break.

For these students, the AAS meeting was more than a conference — it was a chance to join the global scientific community and see firsthand how their work contributes to our understanding of the universe.