GRAD-MAP Students, Mentors ‘Learn From Each Other’

When a group of University of Maryland graduate students founded GRAD-MAP in 2013, they hoped the summer program would “change the status quo in physics and astronomy” by providing more students with access to research opportunities. Skye Joegriner, Jin Young Kim, Ridmi Madarasinghe, Alanis Alvarado Gierbolini, Joanna Chimalilo and Mojisola Akinwande GRAD-MAP summer scholars Skye Joegriner, Jin Young Kim, Ridmi Madarasinghe, Alanis Alvarado Gierbolini, Joanna Chimalilo and Mojisola Akinwande pose for a photo. Image credit: Mark Sherwood. Skye Joegriner, Jin Young Kim, Ridmi Madarasinghe, Alanis Alvarado Gierbolini, Joanna Chimalilo and Mojisola Akinwande GRAD-MAP summer scholars Skye Joegriner, Jin Young Kim, Ridmi Madarasinghe, Alanis Alvarado Gierbolini, Joanna Chimalilo and Mojisola Akinwande pose for a photo. Image credit: Mark Sherwood.

GRAD-MAP’s summer scholars are undergraduate students at U.S. community colleges and educational institutions where internships in scientific fields might not be offered. Over the course of nine weeks, the scholars conduct research under the guidance of UMD mentors, culminating in a research symposium where they present their findings.

While the program is designed to teach technical skills and show students what a Ph.D. program or research career could look like, GRAD-MAP’s mentors—UMD graduate students, postdocs and faculty members—say the program is mutually beneficial. Some mentors leverage GRAD-MAP to launch ambitious new research projects, while others welcome the opportunity to grow as teachers and project leads.

“One of the best parts of GRAD-MAP is how much we learn from each other,” said Mark Ugalino, a UMD astronomy Ph.D. student and GRAD-MAP mentor and co-lead. “The summer scholars get a real feel for research and life as scientists, while we as graduate leads and mentors gain hands-on experience in managing projects and guiding a team. Our collaboration fosters growth on both sides, which is the heart of GRAD-MAP’s success.”

Read below to see what two mentor-scholar pairs learned from the 2025 GRAD-MAP summer program, which is supported by UMD’s astronomy and physics departments. 

Alanis Alvarado Gierbolini, Alberto Bolatto, Serena Cronin and Keaton Donaghue

As a computer science and engineering student at the University of Puerto Rico, Alanis Alvarado Gierbolini entered the GRAD-MAP program with a firm grasp of coding.

“A lot of the students come in with very little coding,” said Serena Cronin, an astronomy Ph.D. student and Alvarado Gierbolini’s co-mentor. “Alanis is the exception. She’s better at coding than I am.” 

Those technical skills came in handy when Alvarado Gierbolini joined an ambitious new project led by UMD Astronomy Professor Alberto Bolatto, Cronin and Keaton Donaghue, an astronomy Ph.D. student and GRAD-MAP co-mentor. The research team applied a new algorithm to James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) imagery to understand the physics that gives rise to shapes in the interstellar medium—the cosmic soup of gas and dust between stars.

By running this algorithm, the research team ended up with a series of fractal dimensions: numbers and potentially patterns that could shed light on the complex shapes that appear in space and the processes, such as star formation, that made them that way.

Alvarado Gierbolini applied this novel method to 70 nearby galaxies and said that the process—which involved debugging and rewriting code—taught her how to overcome obstacles and manage her time more efficiently. While she initially felt timid around faculty members and graduate students, she left the program feeling more confident about academia and her place in it.

“You come here, you see grad students and you think they're these extraordinary beings with an unattainable level of smartness,” Alvarado Gierbolini said, “but then you talk to them and the professors and realize, ‘Wow, that could be me someday.’”

The summer scholars don’t just leave the program with new technical skills. Donaghue noted that they also develop a better sense of whether a future in research is right for them.

“The key takeaway for students is to find that they are capable of succeeding in academia as a professional career,” Donaghue said, “or on the flip side, that it’s OK if they discover it isn’t the right path.”

Ridmi Madarasinghe and Ankita Bera

 As a postdoctoral associate in UMD’s Department of Astronomy, Ankita Bera typically works on projects with longer timelines. Once she learned about GRAD-MAP, she realized it was the perfect opportunity for a short-term research project she had been wanting to start.

"GRAD-MAP is an excellent program to leverage if you have smaller project ideas, and it benefits both mentors and students," Bera said. "Students gain valuable, hands-on research experience, while we, as mentors, benefit from fresh perspectives and new insights along the way."

Over the summer, Bera mentored Ridmi Madarasinghe, who recently earned an associate’s degree from Montgomery College and will attend UMD this fall as an aerospace engineering major. Together, they used JWST data and advanced computational techniques to better understand reionization, an astrophysical process in which radiation from the first stars and galaxies—roughly 200 to 400 million years after the Big Bang—stripped electrons from hydrogen atoms. This transformed the universe from an opaque, neutral state to the transparent cosmos we observe today. 

With a goal of piecing together a timeline of when and how reionization occurred, Madarasinghe learned and applied two parameter inference techniques to a model of reionization, one of which incorporates machine learning methods.

Madarasinghe said GRAD-MAP’s programming not only taught her useful skills but also exposed her to research paths she had never considered. A research lunch chat featuring alum Alyssa Pagan (B.S. ’16, astronomy), who brings JWST images to light as a science visuals developer, was especially eye-opening.

“Being able to hear about the job she is doing and how she got to that position—and hearing it firsthand—was not an experience I would have gotten otherwise,” Madarasinghe said. “Careers like those seem so far off and out of reach, but now they seem a lot more attainable.”

Madarasinghe and Bera plan to continue working together in the fall and hope to publish their results in a journal. For Madarasinghe, she’s excited to see where these experiences will lead her at UMD and beyond.

“This is my first internship, and I feel really lucky to have gotten this experience with GRAD-MAP,” Madarasinghe said. “I also did not expect to have the opportunity to continue this research after the program ends, which is very exciting and opens up a lot of different paths for me.”

Original story: https://cmns.umd.edu/news-events/news/grad-map-students-mentors-learn-each-other

Vedika Khemani to Give Prange Prize Lecture Nov. 18

Vedika Khemani of Stanford University has been Vedika Khemani (credit: Stanford University)Vedika Khemani (credit: Stanford University)named the recipient of the Richard E. Prange Prize and Lectureship in Condensed Matter Theory and Related Areas for 2025.  She will speak on Tues., Nov. 18 at 3:30 p.m. in room 1410 of the John S. Toll Physics Building. Refreshments will be served at 3:00 p.m. 

The Prange Prize, established by the UMD Department of Physics and Condensed Matter Theory Center (CMTC), honors the late Professor Richard E. Prange, whose distinguished professorial career at Maryland spanned four decades (1961-2000). The Prange Prize is made possible by a gift from Dr. Prange's wife, Dr. Madeleine Joullié, a professor of chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania. 

Richard E. PrangeRichard E. PrangeDr. Prange was a member of the Maryland condensed matter theory group for more than 40 years and was an affiliate of CMTC with its inception in 2002. He edited a highly-respected book on the quantum Hall effect and made important theoretical contributions to the subject. His interests extended into all aspects of theoretical physics, and continued after his retirement, recalled Sankar Das Sarma, who holds the Richard E. Prange Chair in Physics at UMD and is also a Distinguished University Professor and director of the CMTC.

While earning his Ph.D. at the University of Chicago under Nobelist Yoichiro Nambu, Prange also worked with Murray Gell-Mann and Marvin Goldberger. 

Khemani, who earned her Ph.D. at Princeton University in 2016 and accepted an appointment as a Junior Fellow with the Harvard Society of Fellows, has received a Sloan Fellowship, a Packard Fellowship, the George E. Valley Jr. Prize of the American Physical Society, the Breakthrough New Horizons in Physics Prize and the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers. She serves on the Executive Committee of Q-FARM the Stanford Quantum Science and Engineering Initiative and is a member of Stanford’s Leinweber Institute of Theoretical Physics. She is well-known for her work on non-equilibrium quantum dynamics.  Khemani has made seminal contributions to many topics in quantum physics, including many-body localization, time crystals, driven quantum systems, and quantum entanglement. 

Khemani joins a prestigious list of Prange Prize recipients: Philip W. Anderson, Walter Kohn, Daniel Tsui, Andre Geim, David Gross, Klaus von Klitzing, Frank Wilczek, Juan Maldacena, Charles Kane and Pablo Jarillo-Herrero.

In addition to the Tuesday lecture, will deliver the Joint Quantum Institute Seminar on Monday, Nov. 17 at 11 a.m. in room 2400 of the Atlantic Building. 

 

 

UMD Appoints Renowned Physicist to Lead Quantum Research and Education

The University of Maryland has named Gretchen Campbell, an internationally recognized researcher and national leader in advancing the field of quantum science, as associate vice president for quantum research and education, effective July 13, 2025.

In this newly established position, Campbell will collaborate with faculty, students and campus partners to further UMD's prominence in quantum science and technology. Her position will focus on shaping UMD’s strategic vision for quantum research; advancing Gov. Wes Moore’s vision for transforming the state and region into the global Capital of Quantum; expanding quantum curricula for K-12 through graduate programs; and forging strategic partnerships that position Maryland at the forefront of quantum research, education and innovation.Gretchen CampbellGretchen Campbell

"Dr. Campbell brings an exceptional combination of scientific expertise, national leadership and deep experience in building partnerships across academia, government and industry," said Senior Vice President and Provost Jennifer King Rice. "Her leadership will be instrumental in advancing Maryland’s bold vision for quantum research and education, and strengthening our position as a global hub for quantum innovation."

Campbell’s appointment comes on the heels of two recent major developments that helped solidify UMD as a global leader in quantum science and technology: the launch of the $1 billion “Capital of Quantum” initiative announced by Gov. Moore and the establishment of the Capital Quantum Benchmarking Hub to be located at the university’s Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security. These initiatives reinforce UMD's status as a world leader in quantum, building on more than 35 years of pioneering research, key collaborations and a commitment to education and economic development.

“The University of Maryland boasts a remarkable legacy in leading quantum exploration, and now is the pivotal moment to amplify our role in this rapidly expanding field and cultivate a quantum-ready workforce,” said Vice President for Research Patrick O’Shea. “With Dr. Campbell at the helm, I am absolutely confident that we will not only achieve our ambitious goals but also soar to new heights.”

Campbell assumes this new role in the Division of Research following a detail assignment to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), where she most recently served as assistant director for quantum information science and director of the National Quantum Coordination Office. In that position, she coordinated federal quantum efforts across government, industry and academia and co-chaired the National Quantum Initiative Advisory Committee, providing insight and recommendations to the President, Congress and the National Science and Technology Council.

In addition to her work with OSTP, Campbell held multiple leadership roles at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), where she led the Laser Cooling and Trapping Group in the Quantum Measurement Division. From 2016 to 2025, she was co-director of the Joint Quantum Institute, a partnership between UMD, NIST and the Laboratory for Physical Sciences, and she has been an adjunct professor in UMD's Department of Physics since 2009.

“I’ve been fortunate to be part of Maryland’s quantum community for many years,” Campbell said. “Stepping into this new role, I’m excited to help build on that foundation and continue advancing our leadership alongside our outstanding faculty, students and partners.”

A pioneering experimental physicist, Campbell’s research includes work on Bose-Einstein condensates, ultra-precise atomic clocks and the creation of the first atomtronic circuits. She is a Fellow of the American Physical Society and the recipient of numerous honors, including the Presidential Early Career Award in Science and Engineering, the Arthur Flemming Award that honors outstanding federal employees, the Maria Goeppert Mayer Award from the American Physical Society and the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics’ Young Scientist Prize.

Campbell earned her Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and her undergraduate degree from Wellesley College.

Original story: https://umdrightnow.umd.edu/university-of-maryland-appoints-renowned-physicist-to-lead-quantum-research-and-education

UMD Physics Rated #19 in the World

The University of Maryland Department of Physics was ranked No. 19 globally in U.S. News & World Report’s list of 2025-26 Best Global Universities. Of U.S. campuses, only three public universities--and 10 overall--ranked higher in physics.

U.S. News & World Report’s list of 2025-26 Best Global UniversitiesU.S. News & World Report’s list of 2025-26 Best Global Universities

"This is a tribute to all of us working together," said department chair Steve Rolston. "Physics is a group effort, and I am very happy to be part of such a talented and hardworking team. I extend my thanks to everyone in our department."

The rankings—focused on academic and research reputations based on 13 factors such as citations, publications and conferences—placed the campus as a whole at No. 72 among 2,250 top universities from more than 100 countries.

UMD ranked No. 11 among U.S. public institutions—its highest ranking to date—and No. 29 overall in the nation.  In addition to the high rating given to physics, UMD improved from its 2024-25 rankings in several academic disciplines: agriculture sciences, arts and humanities, biotechnology and applied microbiology, chemical engineering, green and sustainable science and technology, meteorology and atmospheric sciences, neuroscience and nanotechnology, optics, social sciences and public health, and space science. It also advanced in the number of publications that are among top 10% cited and conference scores.

UMD programs in the Top 20 globally include:

  • Geoscience (No. 13)
  • Physics (No. 19)
  • Meteorology and atmospheric sciences (No. 17)
  • Space science (No. 22)

Programs in the Top 50 include:

  • Education and educational research (No. 38)
  • Green and sustainable science and technology (No. 39)
  • Energy and fuels (No. 46)
  • Computer science (No. 50)

 

Alumni Honored with NSF Fellowships

Physics graduates Jade LeSchack, Elaine Taylor and Jeffrey Wack have received prestigious National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowships, which recognize outstanding graduate students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

This year’s awardees from the University of Maryland’s College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences (CMNS) are:

  • Dean Calhoun, Ph.D. student in atmospheric and oceanic science
  • Zora Che, Ph.D. student in computer science
  • Yuran Ding, Ph.D. student in computer science
  • Ethan Heldtman (B.S. '24, atmospheric and oceanic science)
  • Jade LeSchack (B.S. '25, physics; B.S. '25, mathematics), University of Southern California
  • George Li (B.S. ’24, mathematics; B.S. ’24, computer science), Carnegie Mellon University
  • Maria Nikolaitchik (B.S. '24, atmospheric and oceanic science; B.S. '24, mathematics)
  • Tesia Shi (B.S. ’23, biological sciences; B.S. ’23, psychology)
  • Jonathan Starfeldt, Ph.D. student in atmospheric and oceanic science
  • Logan Stevens (B.S. '23, computer science, B.A. '23, theater), Ph.D. student in computer science at UMD
  • Elaine Taylor (B.S. '23, physics and astronomy), Stanford University
  • Jeffrey Wack (B.S. '22, physics; B.S. '22, mathematics), Caltech
  • Adam Yang, computer science major
  • Grant Yang (B.S. ’23, biological sciences), Harvard University
  • Mary Yilma (B.S. ’21, mathematics; B.S. ’21, economics), Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program helps ensure the quality, vitality, and strength of the United States' scientific and engineering workforce. The five-year fellowships provide three years of financial support, including an annual stipend of $37,000.

Since 1952, NSF has funded over 60,000 Graduate Research Fellowships out of more than 500,000 applicants. At least 42 fellows have gone on to become Nobel laureates, and more than 450 have become members of the National Academy of Sciences.

Original story: https://cmns.umd.edu/news-events/news/15-nsf-graduate-research-fellowships-2025