The 2025 Summer Student Program in Tucson brought together seventeen students from across the globe to share research and connect with the Rubin science community.
In July 2025, seventeen undergraduate students from LSST Discovery Alliance (LSST-DA) member institutions traveled to Tucson, Arizona, to take part in the LSST Discovery Alliance Summer Student Program, held in conjunction with the Rubin Community Workshop. The program offered students a unique opportunity to share their research, learn from leading astronomers and data scientists, and explore pathways into scientific careers.
This year marked the first time the Summer Student Program welcomed participants through the Heising-Simons Foundation-supported Expansion Partnership Program, an initiative that broadens engagement with Rubin LSST science by supporting researchers and students from institutions that are newer to the LSST community or have historically had fewer opportunities to participate.
The Summer Student Program fosters diversity, collaboration, and professional growth among undergraduates engaged in LSST-related research.
A Truly Global Cohort
The 2025 cohort represented a remarkable breadth of institutions and geographies—spanning universities across the United States as well as the Astronomical Observatory Institute in Poland, the University of Toronto in Canada, the Laboratório Interinstitucional de e-Astronomia (LIneA) in Brazil, and Universidad de La Laguna in Spain’s Canary Islands.
This diversity enriched the program’s discussions and collaborations, allowing students to share perspectives from a wide range of academic, cultural, and scientific contexts.
Sharing Research and Building Skills
Throughout the week, students took part in scientific programming alongside student-focused activities designed to deepen their engagement with the Rubin LSST community.
- Poster Sessions — Students presented their Rubin/LSST-related research in two dedicated sessions, discussing methods, results, and implications with researchers from across the globe.
- Lightning Talks — During a plenary session, each student gave a 30-second “poster pitch” to introduce themselves and spark interest in their work.
- Career Pathways for Students — A dedicated breakout session provided insights into the many trajectories available in astronomy, data science, and related fields.
Behind the Scenes at Arizona’s Astronomy Hubs
In addition to conference sessions, students explored the engineering and technology behind modern astronomy through special tours:
- University of Arizona’s Richard F. Caris Mirror Lab — Home to the world’s largest telescope mirrors, students learned how these massive optical components are designed and built.
- NOIRLab Machine Shop — A look at the precision manufacturing that supports astronomical instrumentation.
These experiences offered a tangible connection between the students’ research and the tools that will power the Vera C. Rubin Observatory’s science in the years ahead.
Community and Connection
The Summer Student Program also emphasized relationship-building. Students joined group dinners, explored Tucson together, and connected with faculty and peers about graduate programs and research opportunities.
“Directing the Summer Student Program for the past few years has been an incredible experience. The value the program contributes to student experiences by opening the initial door for students to engage in networking and research discussions at such an early career stage should not be understated. Providing avenues for students to present their cutting-edge research in a friendly and motivating setting is one of the best ways for us to ensure the next generation of Rubin-LSST scientists have the support they need to succeed.”
– Ryan Oelkers, Summer Student Program Director
“Not only did the program give me the skills to strengthen my research, but it also helped me envision the possibilities for my future and gave me the confidence to pursue anything I set my mind to.”
– Kelly Zyko, CUNY College of Staten Island
“The program was a turning point in my career — I attended my first in-person international conference, made lifelong friends, and had amazing networking opportunities. It also allowed me to collaborate directly with the LINCC team on LSDB, which led to the implementation of a new method that will improve the performance of the spectroscopic catalog deduplication pipeline I am developing.”
– Luigi Lucas De Carvalho Silva, Laboratório Interinstitucional de e-Astronomia (Brazil)
“Presenting my work to international experts who took the time to listen and congratulate me has been a transformative experience, which also allowed me to form lasting friendships with other students and gave me enormous motivation to continue growing as a researcher.”
– Daniel Cano Morales, Universidad de La Laguna / Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (Spain)
Celebrating the 2025 Student Cohort
- Lyrick Batista – CUNY
- Jose “Diego” Monje Gastelum – San Diego State University
- Sara Gelven – University of Pittsburgh
- William Huff – Georgia Tech
- Greyson Klein – Illinois Institute of Technology
- Colin Macrie – Rutgers University
- Daniel Cano Morales – Universidad de La Laguna / Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (Spain)
- Erin Nothdorf – Illinois Institute of Technology
- Alexis Ortiz – Illinois Institute of Technology
- Ashley Ortiz – Purdue University
- Brittney Shavor – San Jose State University
- Luigi Silva – Laboratório Interinstitucional de e-Astronomia (Brazil)
- Wiktoria Stefanowska – Astronomical Observatory Institute (Poland)
- Quinn Page Sullivan – Penn State University
- Anastasia Wei – Northwestern University
- Ruyi Xu – University of Toronto (Canada)
- Kelly Zyko – CUNY College of Staten Island