Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association’s National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates Interns Present Summer Astronomy Research Projects

July 26, 2023

NANTUCKET, MA - Please join us in person at the Maria Mitchell Association’s Research Center, 4 Vestal Street, or online via Zoom, on Wednesday, August 9, 6pm – 7:30pm, for a very special presentation of this summer’s astronomy research. The MMA’s National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (NSF-REU) interns will present their research on everything from exploding stars to supermassive black holes and galaxies in the early Universe.


The MMA’s Maria Mitchell Observatory operates the NSF-REU program each summer and has done so for decades. The program, funded by a generous grant from the National Science Foundation, allows the MMA to bring six top undergraduate students to the MMA each summer who are selected out of a pool of approximately 300 applicants from around the United States. The NSF-REU interns come to Nantucket for ten to twelve weeks during the summer to participate in astrophysics research projects. While on Nantucket, the NSF-REU interns also participate in the outreach efforts of the Astronomy Department, primarily by hosting public Open Nights at the Loines Observatory.


This summer’s NSF-REU interns and their research presentations are:


Sherelyn Alejandro (CUNY Hunter College): Bringing the Time Domain Revolution to Spectroscopy


Lailyn Borum (University of Michigan): Using the Chandra X-ray Observatory to Observe Nearby Supermassive Black Holes


MacKenzie Dean (University of Colorado, Boulder): The Hidden Hearts of AGN Galaxies


Eldon Fobbs (Texas Tech University): Constraining the Evolution of Galaxy Metallicity Across Cosmic Time


Jonathan Kho (Michigan State University): Studying Core-Collapse Supernovae and Their Environments Using Numerical Simulation


Madison Reich (Trinity University): Discovering Hidden Black Holes More than Halfway Across the Universe.


The Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association (MMA), founded in 1902, is a recognized leader in inspiring and training the next generation of astronomers and scientists. Since the Astronomy Department’s inception, hundreds of undergraduate students, the great majority of them women, have discovered the joy of doing astronomical research surrounded by the natural beauty and dark skies of Nantucket Island. Many have gone on to successful careers as astronomers at leading universities, observatories, and other organizations. In fact, it is estimated that one of every twenty American women PhDs in astronomy today acquired their first research experience at the MMA’s Maria Mitchell Observatory. The organization’s success in STEM education was recognized in 2009 with the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring from President Obama for its half-century long program of mentoring student research in astronomy.



Over the years, several MMA NSF-REU interns have won the prestigious Chambliss Astronomy Achievement Student Award, including in each of the past five American Astronomical Society winter meetings, a testament to the quality of the MMA’s astronomy internship program. Approximately 90% of MMA astronomy interns have gone on to astrophysics Ph.D. programs. 


The Maria Mitchell Association was founded in 1902 to preserve the legacy of Nantucket native astronomer, naturalist, librarian, and educator, Maria Mitchell. After she discovered a comet in 1847, Mitchell’s international fame led to many achievements and awards, including an appointment as the first female professor of astronomy at Vassar College. Maria Mitchell believed in “learning by doing” and today that philosophy is reflected in the MMA’s mission statement, programs, research projects, and other activities. The Maria Mitchell Association operates two observatories, a natural science museum, an aquarium, a research center, and preserves the historic birthplace of Maria Mitchell. A wide variety of science and history-related programming is offered throughout the year for people of all ages.


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For Immediate Release

July 26, 2023

Contact: Grace Baisley

marketinginterns@mariamitchell.org

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