We are pleased to announce the 2020 Stanley Wyatt Memorial Award co-recipients, Barry Chiang and Kyle Nelli!
The Stanley Wyatt Memorial Award is awarded annually to the graduating Astronomy major or minor with the most outstanding GPA and track record of undergraduate research. The award honors Professor Stanley Wyatt, a faculty member who helped shape the Illinois Astronomy Department.
Barry Chiang, a native of Taoyuan, Taiwan, earned three degrees this Spring: LAS Astronomy, Engineering Physics, and Music Composition with a minor in Mathematics. He has worked with Professor Jessie Shelton’s group since 2018. His research focused on the indirect detection of dark matter self-annihilation, which resulted in a first-author paper and research awards from Physics. Barry's research continues with dark matter production in the early Universe. Barry’s musical composition "From the Above" recently premiered at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. Barry looks forward to pursuing his Master of Advanced Study (MASt) in Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics at the University of Cambridge this Fall.
Kyle Nelli earned a dual degree in Engineering Physics and Astronomy this Spring. He has worked with Professor Stu Shapiro since the summer before his junior year creating 3D visualizations of compact object mergers (black holes and neutron stars) from simulations created by Physics postdocs. In addition to 3D visualizations, he is also learning the basics of creating these simulations. His research interests lie in the field of general relativity, specifically either numerical or theoretical relativity. He intends to pursue these interests further in the Fall at Caltech, where he will be attending graduate school.