News: Students

2022

A slime mold turns your smartwatch into a living Tamagotchi

November 10, 2022

A wrist and hand sporting an experimental device called at Slime Mold Smart Watch, with a close up of living slime housed in the watch.

What if your ‘90’s Tamagotchi pet wasn’t digital? What if your devices were really alive, at least a little bit, and you had to care for them in order for them to work? These are the questions grad student Jasmine Lu and Assoc. Prof. Pedro Lopes of UChicago Computer Science set out to answer with their Slime Mold Smart Watch.


Pranav Gokhale, PhD’20, among Crain’s Chicago Business 40 Under 40 for 2022

November 7, 2022

Pranav Gokhale

Pranav Gokhale, PhD‘20 Computer Science, was among Crain’s Chicago Business 40 Under 40 for 2022. Prof. Fred Chong comments on his success in co-leading their quantum startup, Super.tech. 


Meet computational and applied mathematics student, Phillip Lo

November 1, 2022

Phillip Lo

Phillip Lo grew up near Worcester, MA, and did his undergraduate degree at UChicago (AB’19). Currently a fourth-year student in the Computational and Applied Math PhD program, he is in his eighth year on campus, making him “a UChicago lifer.” In his research, he uses physically-informed machine learning methods to study the magnetic structure of the atmosphere of our sun.


PSD in the news - October 2022

October 26, 2022

PSD against a white and turquoise background

This month PSD researchers were featured for their efforts to test an unhackable internet, develop metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) to transform cancer treatments, and design and build the next generation telescope called CMB-S4.


UChicago research tests whether robots or humans are better game partners

October 25, 2022

Participants played with either (a) a robot game guide or (b) a human game guide in a series of games and puzzles.

Students Ting-Han Lin and Spencer Ng together with Asst. Prof. Sarah Sebo, Dept. of Computer Science, presented research inspired by interactive amusement park animatronics and escape rooms to test people’s preferences for human versus robot game guides.


Student uses NASA data to reveal new details on planets in other solar systems

October 24, 2022

The Kepler telescope

A study by undergraduate student Jared Siegel, UChicago ’22, will be published by The Astrophysical Journal and sets upper limits on the masses of 50 exoplanets. He conducted his research with Asst. Prof. Leslie Rogers, Dept. of Astronomy and Astrophysics.


Meet astronomy and astrophysics student, Dhayaa Anbajagane

October 17, 2022

Dhayaa Anbajagane

Dhayaa Anbajagane was raised in the coastal city of Madras in India. He earned a bachelor’s in physics at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He has spent two years as a graduate student in the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics where he uses observations made by large telescopes to study the initial state of the Universe and its subsequent evolution into what we see on the sky today. 
 


Astronomy and astrophysics grad student recognized with Out to Innovate Award for LGBTQ+ activism

October 11, 2022

Samantha Usman

Samantha Usman, a graduate student in the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, has been announced as a winner of the 2022 Out to Innovate Scholarships, in recognition of her LGBTQ+ activism and research contributions to LIGO.


PSD in the News - September 2022

October 3, 2022

PSD against a white and turquoise background

This month PSD researchers have been featured for their efforts to explain half-rock, half-water exoplanets around small stars, build a wheel that can crawl along varying terrain, and comment on climate science related to Hurricane Ian.


President Alivisatos and Provost Lee: Start of Autumn Quarter ‘an exciting time with unlimited opportunities’

September 27, 2022

Ka Yee C Lee and Paul Alivisatos

University leaders welcome UChicago community back to campus for new academic year.


University of Chicago hosts first South Side Science Festival

September 20, 2022

A child in a spinning chair holds a rotating bike wheel to demo angular momentum

The all-day, all ages event highlighted the importance of STEM education, careers in science and understanding how science impacts daily life. The festival was created to connect South Side community members with science education resources.


Meet computer science student, Tianle Liu

September 14, 2022

Tianle Liu

Tianle Liu was born and raised in Beijing, China, and first came to UChicago as a physics and mathematics double major in The College. This will be her fifth year on campus! She is currently pursuing a master’s in computer science. As part of the EPiQC education team, she works with Professor Diana Franklin to create engaging and accessible quantum computing education materials.


Scientists prepare to send a balloon to search for ‘messengers from outer space’

August 23, 2022

Two scientists review a partially assembled fluorescence telescope

NASA has awarded $4.3 million for the final phase of construction and flight of the Extreme Universe Space Observatory on a Super Pressure Balloon (EUSO-SPB2) experiment led by Prof. Angela Olinto, Dept. of Astronomy and Astrophysics. Sending a scientific balloon to 110,000 feet above Earth will enable a search for tiny, ultra-high-energy cosmic ray particles and neutrinos.


Fellowship helps College student launch career in aerospace industry

August 22, 2022

Audrey Scott

Third-year Audrey Scott is one of 51 undergrads to earn a competitive Brooke Owens Fellowship. Read about her summer research at Ball Aerospace in Boulder, CO.


Here’s why Earth just had its shortest day on record

August 22, 2022

Earth from space

Geophysical sciences graduate student, Sasha Warren, writes in Scientific American how wind, ice, and rock may have combined to give our planet its shortest day.