UH Institute for Astronomy

IfA graduate Gagandeep Anand is the 2026 Maryland Outstanding Young Scientist!

Congratulations to Dr. Gagandeep Anand of the Space Telescope Science Institute who was named the 2026 Maryland Outstanding Young Scientist!

The Maryland Academy of Sciences recognized Dr. Anand for groundbreaking research about the universe’s structure and evolution: https://news.stsci.edu/4ucX58v

Awesome liquid nitrogen demo courtesy of - making pog at our open house today!

The value of attending professional conferences can't be underestimated for students. Sharing their work, developing a sense of belonging in the field, and networking all lead to students wanting to continue working in astronomy. Conferences can be varied, from astronomy to engineering to computer programming.

One goal of the Workforce Development Opportunities Support Fund is to make travel stipends available for students who've completed research projects with mentors from IfA and across the Maunakea Observatories

https://give.uhfoundation.org/schools/UniversityofHawaiiFoundation/uh-giving-day-2026/pages/Manoa/astronomy?campaign_view=true

Nothing beats first hand experience at a telescope, whether it's observing, working on an engineering project, developing the technical skills to keep a facility operational, or understanding how the front office works.

The goal of our new Workforce Development Opportunities Support Fund is to fund an array of opportunities for students to experience what it's like to work in an observatory. For Mila and Leilani observing at the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility provided an unforgettable opportunity to collect data, work with the fantastic IRTF team, and operate the instruments themselves.

Mahalo for your support!

https://give.uhfoundation.org/schools/UniversityofHawaiiFoundation/uh-giving-day-2026/pages/Manoa/astronomy?campaign_view=true

IfA's director Doug Simons has offered a $1000 match to support IfA's programs as part of today's ! Your generosity supports the people, pathways, and discovery that keep Hawai'i at the forefront of astronomy.

Today's the launch of our new Workforce Development Opportunities Support Fund! Over the course of the day, we'll highlight the opportunities that this fund will create for our local students!

Mahalo for your support!

UH Giving Day 2026 Join me and make a gift for UH Giving Day!

www.ifa.hawaii.edu

Tomorrow’s the day! UH Giving Day is almost here — and together, our UH ʻohana will show what’s possible. 🌈🤙 Invite your friends, family, and fellow alumni to join the movement. Every voice, every share, every gift makes an impact.

We're excited to announce we're launching a new fund at UH Foundation, our Workforce Development Opportunities Support Fund. This new fund supports career exploration and workforce readiness across research, engineering, technical, and operational roles — ensuring our students gain skills, build professional networks, and connect classroom learning to real world careers in Hawai‘i Astronomy.

With the new fund, students like Mila below can continue the research they began in high school as they move to college.

Congratulations to IfA astronomer Fei Dai, named one of the 2026 Sloan Fellows! Dai studies exoplanets and how their orbits, structures and compositions evolve over billions of years.

Distant worlds expert earns another national honor | University of Hawaiʻi System News Fei Dai has been named a 2026 Sloan Research Fellow, one of the most notable and competitive honors for early-career scientists in North America.

Hey all you astro undergrads! Have you applied to our REU program? Application deadline is January 31st! Our program includes 10 weeks with paid stipend, housing, meals, travel to Hawaiʻi, 5 days on Hawaiʻi Island, plus conference and publication support. And did we say it's in Hawaiʻi?

Apply now at

student.ifa.hawaii.edu