Student Awards

Grant Remmen won the 2011 Edmund G. Franklin Scholarship. Originally from Detroit Lakes, MN, Remmen plans to pursue a PhD in theoretical astrophysics. He is currently working with Dr. Kris Davidson on mapping emission lines near Eta Carinae using new Hubble data. In 2011, Remmen researched with Dr. Kinwah Wu at University College London on general relativistic 3-body spin-orbit coupling. Previous research includes black hole distortion, under Dr. Robert Gehrz, and a new estimate of Galactic dark matter, under Dr. Thomas Walsh. Remmen has received the AAS Chambliss Astronomy Achievement Award.

Ryo Namba won the 2011 Hoff Lu Fellowship. He is originally from Okayama, Japan. His research advisor is Marco Peloso, and his research area is particle cosmology. He plans to use the scholarship to do his project over the summer.

Te Yu Chen won the 2011 Allen M. Goldman Fellowship. He is originally from Taiwan. His research adviser is Prof. Paul Crowell in experimental condensed matter physics (Spin dynamics in ferromagnets).
He plans to use the scholarship for dissertation research during the summer.

Andrew Emerick was awarded an Edmond G. Franklin Scholarship. He is originally from Dearborn, Michigan. Dr. Rudnick is his research advisor in the area of large scale structure, namely the physics of galaxy clusters in the radio and x-ray spectrum. In addition to large scale structure, he is interested in dark matter, gravitational waves and general relativity, and high energy particle physics research.
He intends to use the scholarship to pay for tuition.

Cristian Gaidau received a 2011 Edmond G. Franklin Scholarship. He is originally from Chisinau, Republic of Moldova. He is studying theoretical particle physics, quantum field theory and mathematical physics. This summer he will be working in the field of experimental neutrino physics under Prof. Kenneth Heller for the NOvA collaboration. He plans to use the scholarship to cover tuition expenses.

Anthony Kremin has received a 2011 Edmond G. Franklin Scholarship. He is originally from Rogers, Minnesota. He is studying gravitational waves, cosmology, and particle physics. He works with Vuk Mandic on Gravitational Wave Research dealing with the analysis of a simulated LIGO event. He is also involved in research with Marvin Marshak dealing with the analysis of neutrino data from the MINOS detector located in the Soudan Mine in Northern Minnesota. He plans to use the award to help pay for tuition.

Anthony Hatke received a 2011 Aneesur Rahman Award. He is originally from La Crosse, Wisconsin. Anthony's advisor is Michael Zudov in the area of nonequilibrium magnetotransport in high mobility structures.
He plans to use his award for computing power and moving expenses.

Mitchell Ambrose won a 2011 Edmond G. Franklin Award. He is originally from Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota. His research interests are in cosmology and in the intersection of physics and philosophy. He has a strong interest in teaching physics and plans to use the scholarship to help pay for the cost of my education.

Peter Koroteev won the 2011 Anatoly Larkin Fellowship. He is originally from Tula, Russia. Arkady Vainshtein is his adviser in the area of supersymmetric quantum field theories and string theory.

Zijun Chen won the 2011 Edmond G. Franklin Scholarship. He is originally from Roseville, Minnesota. He is doing research in condensed matter physics under advisor E. D. Dahlberg. He plans to use the scholarship to help cover living expenses and graduate school applications.

Matthew Epland has received the 2011 Jeffrey Basford Scholarship for He is originally from Oakdale, Minnesota. Epland has been working with Professor Cushman's Cryogenic Dark Matter Search group on Gopher, a HPGe Gamma detector used to screen future detector building materials. He plans on continuing to study dark matter or particle physics in graduate school. Matthew plans on using the award to help pay for next year's tuition.

Jonathan Morris received the 2011 Edmond G. Franklin Scholarship. He is originally from Saint Louis, Missouri. He is currently studying gene expression networks and protein diffusion, in order to quantitatively characterize the output of transcription-translation reactions. His advisor is Vincent Noireaux. He plans to use the scholarship to cover tuition and living expenses during the academic year.

Erik Aver won a 2011 Outstanding TA Award. His hometown is Libby, Montana He does research with Keith Olive on the primordial helium abundance, which falls under Cosmology, Big Bang Nucleosynthesis specifically. My award was in recognition of teaching assistant duties, and I plan to use it to purchase a new laptop for research.

Derek Lee received a 2011 Outstanding TA Award. He is originally from White Bear Lake, Minnesota. He is studying high energy theory in astrophysics and cosmology under Tom Walsh. He plans to use the award to expand his physics library (a never ending project!)

Robert Peterson won the 2011 Hagstrum Award. He is originally from Duluth, Minnesota. Peterson worked for Shaul Hanany doing electrical and mechanical design of components for the EBEX experiment. He will be attending graduate school at the University of Colorado at Boulder, where he plans to study experimental quantum optics.He plans to use the scholarship money for moving to Boulder this summer.

LiDong Pan has won the 2011 Aneesur Rahman Award. He is originally from Shanghai, China. He did research with Prof. C. C. Huang in soft condensed matter, specialized in the study of phase transitions in liquid crystal materials.

Christopher Geach has won the 2011 Hagstrum Award. Geach is originally from Minneapolis. His research advisor is Shaul Hanany. He has been working in experimental cosmology, but plans to pursue theoretical particle physics. The award will go towards funding a bicycle trip to South America.

Simon Gebrehiwet won the 2010 Erwin Marquit and Doris Grieser Marquit Undergraduate Scholarship. Simon's main interests are quantum mechanics, SUSY, and string theory. I really enjoy learning the ideas and the work that have been done in these fields. I really appreciate what the scientists before have done and I am happy that I have the chance to learn this vast sea of physics.

Grant Remmen won the 2010 A.O.C. Nier Scholarship in Physics. He plans to pursue a Ph.D. in astrophysics. In 2010, Grant researched black hole distortion caused by motion relative to the cosmic microwave background, under the mentorship of Dr. Robert Gehrz. In 2009, Grant developed a new assessment of the dark matter distribution of the Milky Way Galaxy, under the mentorship of Dr. Thomas Walsh. He is originally from Detroit Lakes, Minnesota.

Bjorn Berntson won the J. Morris Blair Scholarship in Physics. He is originally from Eden Prairie, Minnesota, Bjorn's main research is in the Halley group involving mathematical and computational modeling of condensed matter systems. Bjorn plans to use the scholarship money toward tuition for the final year.

Zijun Chen won the J. Morris Blair scholarship in Physics. He is originally from Guangzhou, China. His main interest in research is Condensed Matter Physics. He plans to use his scholarship funds toward living expenses and tuition for the next two years.

Simon Gebrehiwet won the Erwin Marquit and Doris Grieser Marquit Undergraduate Scholarship. Originally from St.Paul, his main interests are quantum mechanics, SUSY, and string theory. He enjoys learning the ideas and work that has been done in these fields. He also appreciates what the scientists before have done and is happy that he has the chance to learn in this vast sea of physics.

Nathan Mirman won the Hagstrum Award. Originally from Edina, Minnesota, Nathan is interested in high energy physics and has worked with Professor Mans at the CMS group. He plans to use his award to help fund his graduate studies at Cornell.

Brian Moths won the Hagstrum Award in Physics. He is originally from New Berlin, Wisconsin, and his research interest is theoretical condensed matter physics. He also plans to use the scholarship money to buy books for graduate school.

Andrew Altobell won the Edmond G. Franklin Scholarship in Physics. Originally from Virginia, Minnesota (on the iron range), Andrew would eventually like to focus just on theory. He will use his scholarship money toward his fall 2010 tuition.

Brian Benton won the Edmond G. Franklin Scholarship in Physics. Originally from Maple Grove, Minnesota, Brian's main research interest is in nanotechnology and spintronics. He plans to use the scholarship money to pay for his tuition so he doesn't have to take a job during the semester and can focus on his UROP project and honors thesis.

Colin Clement won the Edmond G. Franklin Scholarship in Physics. Colin is originally from Greeley, Colorado, and later attended Apple Valley High School in Apple Valley, Minnesota. His main research interest right now is condensed matter physics. He plans to use the scholarship to pay for tuition costs.

Simon Gebrehiwet won the Edmond G. Franklin Scholarship in Physics. Originally from St.Paul, his main interests are quantum mechanics, SUSY, and string theory. He enjoys learning the ideas and work that has been done in these fields. He also appreciates what the scientists before have done and is happy that he has the chance to learn in this vast sea of physics.

Laura Kinnischtzke won the Edmond G. Franklin Scholarship in Physics. Originally from Mankato, Minnesota, Laura is currently performing research in condensed matter, but would also like to learn more about optics. She plans to use her scholarship money for tuition in the upcoming 2010-2011 school year.

Molly Krogstad won the Edmond G. Franklin Scholarship in Physics. Originally from Maple Grove, Minnesota. Molly's research interests are still broad, but she's particularly interested in atomic, molecular, and optical physics. She also plans to use the scholarship money to cover the cost of her tuition.

Sam Schreiner won the Edmond G. Franklin Scholarship in Physics. Originally from Lino Lakes, Minnesota, Sam's main research interest is Heliophysics. Sam is also planning to use the award funds toward tuition and rent for next year.

Chengjian Wu won the Edmond G. Franklin Scholarship in Physics. Originally from Wenzhou, China, Chengjian's main research interest is in astroparticle physics and high energy physics. Chengjian plans to study these fields further in graduate school. More »

Dan Endean won the Outstanding T.A. Award. Originally from Holland, Michigan, Dan's main research interest is condensed matter. He plans to use his award funds to replace garage sale furniture in his apartment.

Alex Gude won the Outstanding T.A. Award. Originally from Concord, California, Alex's main research interest is in High Energy Experiment. He is currently working with Professor Mans on CMS. He plans to use the scholarship money to help pay for his rent and groceries.

Roxanne Radpour won the Outstanding T.A. Award. Originally from Orange County, California, Roxanne's main research interest is in Particle Physics and Cosmology. She will be working with Vuk Mandic's CDMS group this summer. She plans to use her scholarship money towards getting a new bike.

Jan Zirnstein won the Outstanding T.A. Award. Originally from Germany Jan moved to the United States in April 2000. He attended the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and graduated in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science in Physics and Economics. Currently, his main research interest is the experimental side of high energy particle physics. He is also excited to rejoin the NOvA collaboration this summer. Jan is planning to use his award money to help pay rent and utilities.

Christopher Granstrom-Arndt won the Outstanding T.A. Award. (Undergraduate T.A.) Originally from Rochester, Minnesota, Christopher has a broad range of interests that will likely change, including optics, mathematical physics, the quantum hall effect, and statistical mechanics of phase transitions. He plans to use his award funds towards books and living expenses.

Lynn Wilson won the Dr. Leonard F. Bulaga/Arctowski Medal Fellowship. Originally from Grand Rapids, Minnesota, his main research interest is energy dissipation mechanisms in collisionless shock waves. He plans to use his scholarship funds to pay for his RA position over the summer term of 2010.

Xiaoyi Cui won the Hoff Lu Fellowship in Physics. Originally from Qufu, China (hometown of Confucius), Xiaoyi's main research interest is in theoretical high energy physics. Xiaoyi will use the scholarship funds towards research this summer.

Mun Chan won the Aneesur Rahman Award. Originally from Malaysia, his main research interest as a graduate student centered on understanding electron spin dynamics and transport in ferromagnet-semiconductor devices. He is also interested in the effects of the hyperfine interaction on the electron spins. Currently, Mun is studying magnetic excitations in high temperature superconductors using neutron scattering. He plans to use his award for more computing power.

Matt Parker won the Anatoly Larkin Fellowship.

Nicholas Howell won the Edmond G. Franklin Scholarship in Physics.

David stark won the Edmond G. Franklin Scholarship in Physics.

Daniel Brinkman won the Outstanding T.A. Award. He is originally from Naperville, Illinois. He is currently interested in mathematical physics, especially in the areas of advanced quantum theories and particles.

Vanessa Cheesbrough won the Hagstrum Award in Physics. She is originally from Brookings, South Dakota and will be using the award to help defray moving costs this fall. She'll be starting a PhD program at the University of Arizona in Tucson. Her research is primarily focusing on developing astronomical instrumentation, but also hope to incorporate some observations as well (perhaps extrasolar planet detection).

Molly Krogstad won the A.O.C. Nier Undergraduate Scholarship in Physics. Molly is a student in condensed matter physics and atomic, molecular, and optical physics. This summer she will be participating in a physics REU at the University of Colorado at Boulder, doing research on ultracold molecules. She plans to use the award money to cover the cost of tuition. She is originally from Maple Grove, Minnesota.

Christopher Geach won the Harry & Viola St.Cyr Scholarship in Physics. Christopher is a a student in theoretical and particle physics. He plans to use the award money to continue his research in Professor Hanany's lab over the summer. He will also use the money to defray the cost of studying abroad next fall. He is originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Grant Remmen received the Jeffrey Basford Scholarship in Physics. He plans to use the award to further his academic goals of attaining a triple major in Astrophysics, Physics, and Mathematics. Grant plans to attend graduate school, earning a Ph.D. Grant's research interests include dark matter, theoretical physics, and astronomy. In 2009, Grant researched the dark matter distribution of the Milky Way and the Galaxy's neutrino content. He is originally from Detroit Lakes, Minnesota.

Jack Hellerstedt won the Edmond G. Franklin Scholarship in Physics. Jack is a student in Professor Goldman's group, fabricating samples used to electrostatically tune through the superconductor insulator transition. The award will go toward his last year of school here at the University of Minnesota. He is from St. Paul, Minnesota where he went to St. Paul Central High School.

Nathan Mirman won the Edmond G. Franklin Scholarship in Physics. Nathan is a student in particle physics, and plans to pursue it professionally. He is working for Professor Mans on the CMS detector at CERN. The award will allow him to focus on classes and research during my senior year. He is originally from Edina, Minnesota.

Can Zhang won the Edmond G. Franklin Scholarship in Physics. Can is a student currently working with Professor C.C. Huang on liquid crystals. He plans to use the award money for non-resident tuition. He is originally from Wuhan, China.

Sam Gleason won the Hagstrum Award in Physics. Sam is a student studying condensed matter physics. He plans to use the award to continue his studies in the Ph.D. program at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. He is originally from Minnetonka, Minnesota.

Vanessa is a student focusing on developing astronomical instrumentation, but also hope to incorporate some observations as well (perhaps extrasolar planet detection). She'll be using the award to help defray my moving costs this fall to pursue a PhD program at the University of Arizona in Tucson. Vanessa is originally from Brookings, South Dakota.

Anthony Hatke won the Hoff Lu Fellowship. He is a student in Non-equilibrium transport in quantum hall systems. He plans to use the award money for summer support. He is originally from La Crosse, Wisconsin.

Anthony Hatke won the Robert O. Pepin Fellowship He is a student in non-equilibrium transport in quantum hall systems. He plans to use the award money for summer support. He is originally from La Crosse, Wisconsin.

Todd Springer won the Aneesur Rahman Award. He is a student in high energy theory, nuclear physics, and cosmology. He is planning to use the money to buy new textbooks, and to help me with moving expenses. He will be pursuing a postdoctoral research position at the University of North Carolina this fall. He was born and grew up in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Alex Levchenko won the Aneesur Rahman Award. He is a student in superconductivity --- fluctuations and non-equilibrium effects. He plans to use his award money for fees and airfare for summer school. He is originally from Kharkov, Ukraine.

Sean Bartz won the Outstanding T.A. Award. He is a student in theoretical particle and nuclear physics, and I am beginning a project on quantum chromodynamics this summer. He plans to use the award money on a quantum field theory textbook and perhaps a new pair of sneakers. He is originally from Indianapolis.

Perrie Cole won the Outstanding T.A. Award. He is a student in experimental particle physics. He works with CMS primarily on calibration and detector performance for the hadronic calorimeter. He plans on putting the award money into his savings. He is originally from Blackduck, Minnesota.

Joseph Kinney won the Outstanding T.A. Award. He is a student in the area of condensed matter experiment, specifically superconductivity, working for Allen Goldman. He is originally from Metaline Falls, Washington.

Adam Schreckenberger won the Outstanding T.A. Award. He is a student in the area is high energy particle physics with a specific interest in neutrinos. He plans spend the award money on my course books for next semester. He is originally from River Forest, Illinois, which is a suburb of Chicago.

Addis Woldesenbet won the Outstanding T.A. Award. She is a student studying gravitational lensing. She plans to use the award money for buying books. She is originally from Ethiopia.

Miranda Pihlaja won the Outstanding T.A. Award. She is a student in Physics Education Research. She plans to use the award money for something fun or useful. She is originally from Minnesota.

Nadezda Monina won the Outstanding T.A. Award. She is a student in biological physics. She plans to use her award to help pay for books. She is originally from Moscow, Russia.

David Christle won the Outstanding T.A. Award. He is studying experimental condensed matter physics, specifically semiconductor and patterned media experiments. The award will cover his tuition costs for next year. He is originally from St. Cloud, MN

Shivaraj Kandhasamyis won the Hoff Lu Fellowship. He is interested in the search for gravitational waves using the LIGO experiment and plans to use his fellowship as summer research support. He is originally from India.

Vanessa Cheesbrough won the Edmond G. Franklin Scholarship. She will be a senior working in Shaul Hanany's observational cosmology laboratory. She is interested in pursuing either observational cosmology or astronomy in graduate school. She plans to use the tuition to help her take extra classes and allow her to stay working in Hanany's Lab. She is originally from Brookings, SD.

Nathan Mirman won the A.O.C. Undergraduate Scholarship in Physics. He is a student in high energy physics working with Professor Mans on aspects of the trigger system in the CMS (Compact Muon Solenoid) detector at CERN. Nathan is originally from Minneapolis and plans to continue in high energy physics professionally.

Adam Pieterick won the J. Morris Blair Scholarship. He is student focused on solid state physics and will be working this summer on liquid crystals. Adam plans to apply his award money toward next year's tuition. He is originally from Altoona, Wisconsin.

Masaya Nishioka wont the Aneesur Rahman Award. He is a student in experimental condensed matter physics. Masaya is studying the transport properties on carbon-based devices, especially organic field effect transistors and graphene spin valves. He plans to use the award to help with expenses after graduation. He is originally from Japan.

Can Zhang won the Jeffrey Basford Award. He is pursuing his undergraduate degree with hopes to study experimental physics in graduate school. He is originally from China and will use the scholarship to help cover the cost of non-resident tuition.

Martha Boyer won the Aneesur Rahman Award. She is a student in observational astrophysics originally from St. Paul, Minnesota. She is currently studying how evolved stars with low metal-contents in those galaxies are able to form dust and expel that dust to the interstellar medium of the galaxies. She may use her award money to visit the Magellan Telescopes in Chile this summer and to attend conferences in Germany and England.

Tao Hu won the Anatoly Larkin Fellowship. His primary area of research is condensed matter theory, which he studies under Professor Boris Shklovskii at the Fine Theoretical Physics Institute. He is originally from China.

shun Wang won the Hoff Lu Fellowship. His research area of interest is condensed matter physics experiment and is doing research on liquid crystals. He used the money from the Hoff Lu Fellowship to cover his tuition and payment for the summer. Wang is originally from China.

Roman Lutchyn won the Anatoly Larkin Fellowship. He is a theoretical physicist whose research interests is in the area of quantum condensed matter physics. In the past three years he has been working on the problems in mesoscopic superconductivity with possible application to solid state quantum information devices. He studies the fundamental limitations on the coherence time in superconducting quantum bits. Lutchyn recently moved to the University of Maryland to work as a postdoctoral research fellow.

Yeonbae Lee won the Hagstrum Award. Yeonbae is a teaching assistant at the School of Physics and Astrnomy.

Johnson works in Professor Jochen Mueller's Biological Physics laboratory. Her research specialty is designing and building microfluidic devices. The work combines flourescence with spectroscopy. Eventually the group plans to use the samples to study how HIV assembles.

Elizath Barnes' research interests are in atmospheric dynamics and climate modeling. She is currently doing research in the UK with the Dept. of Meteorology at the University of Reading. She will begin graduate school with the Dept. of Atmospheric Sciences at the U of Washington in the fall. Elizabeth is originally from Hugo, Minnesota

Froehle's research interests is in condensed matter experiment. He worked with Prof. Dahlberg. He'll be using the money to help fund his graduate studies (in Mathematics) at the University of California - Berkeley.

Vanessa Cheesbrough was the 2007 recipient of the St. Cyr Scholarship. She is still undecided on a focus for her research, but would prefer to pursue experimental physics. She has been been interested in galactic structure and evolution, but her work in Professor Shaul Hanany's observational cosmology lab has sparked her interest in this area as well. Cheesbrough is originally from Brookings, South Dakota.

David's research interests are spin dynamics, artificial spin ice, geometrically frustrated systems, micromagnetics, and exchange-bias. He plans to use his physics degree to attend graduate school in pursuit of a doctoral degree in condensed matter physics. He is originally from St. Cloud, Minnesota.

Margo's research interests include crystallography, particularly the binding of Congo Red with lysozyme and human insulin. She plans to use her degree to pursue either a Masters or Ph.D. She is originally from Wroclaw, Poland.

Ashley's research interests at this point are still very broad. She is interested in astrophysics and elementary particle physics. She will be spending the summer of 2007 at the Institute for Astrophysics in Hawaii studying the physics of star formation and evolution. Ashley plans to use her degree to attend graduate school in physics. She is orginally from Rapid City, South Dakota.

Craig is still undecided about field of physics in which he would utlimately like to work. He plans to use his degree to pursue a Masters and Ph.D. in physics. He hopes to one day become a professor of physics. Criag is originally from Detroit Lakes, Minnesota.

David Toyli was the recipient of the 2007 Blair Scholarship. David is currently working in Professor Paul Crowell's Spintronics laboratory. He plans to continue doing research in Semiconductor Spintronics, but is undecided what he will do with this degree after graduation. David is originally from Plymouth, Minnesota.

Nic Eggert was one of the recipients of the Alfred O. C. Nier Scholarship for 2007. Last summer he worked in condensed matter with Professor Zudov, and this summer he is working at CERN in Geneva with Professor Rusack on the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS). He plans to use his physics degree to pursue a Ph.D.> He would eventually like to work in research at a university. Eggert is originally from Iron Ridge, Wiscconsin.