Astrophysical Sciences - Princeton University

At the SigmaPhi Conference held this week in Kolymbari, Greece, David McComas, Professor of Astrophysical Sciences, received the SigmaPhi Prize at the SigmaPhi International Conference in Statistical Physics. The prize is to “honor outstanding achievements in Statistical Physics", and the citation on McComas’ award reads “In recognition of his transformative leadership in space science and heliophysics, bridging cutting-edge space observations with statistics and thermodynamics.” This prize is awarded every three years, and Dave shares this honor with Euthimios Kaxiras (Harvard) and Constantino Tsallis (Centro Brasileiro de Pesquisas Fisicas, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil).

Congratulations, David!

Vera C. Rubin Observatory was built to carry out the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST), a ten-year project to map the sky in six visible-light bands to greater depth than has ever been done before. On June 30, 2026, after decades of planning and construction of the facility on Cerro Pachón in the Chilean Andes, it was announced that the LSST has officially begun. The science that LSST will do ranges from studies of asteroids in our own solar system to the nature of dark matter and dark energy. Princeton astronomers have played a major role in this project, especially in developing the software pipelines that will process the petabytes of data that LSST has started to generate.

We now look forward to the next ten years of data taking and amazing science!

Credit: NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory/NOIRLab/SLAC/AURA

Recent Princeton graduate, Sophia Varughese ’26, who majored in Astrophysical Sciences and her advisor Professor Neta Bahcall, Eugene Higgins Professor of Astronomy, Professor of Astrophysical Sciences, and Director of Undergraduate Studies, were recently featured on the University website in an article discussing Sophia’s senior thesis, and her two passions, Astrophysics and Jazz!

The full article can be found here: https://www.princeton.edu/news/2026/06/17/senior-thesis-spotlight-scholarly-look-black-holes-and-relativity-student-whose

Congratulations, Sophia!

Senior thesis spotlight: A scholarly look at black holes and relativity by a student whose other universe is jazz Sophia Varughese has two passions: astrophysics and music. Her senior thesis is a scholarly look at black holes and relativity, advised by Neta Bahcall. Her other universe is jazz performance.

Rishika Porandla, a rising junior and student in the Astrophysical Sciences Department, has been named as a Student Ambassador of the American Physical Society for 2026-2027.

Working at the Princeton Space Physics Laboratory and the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Rishika optimizes graphene and amorphous carbon foils for time-of-flight detectors used in space missions such as NASA’s Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe, and redesigns hemispherical electron energy analyzers for the Department of Energy’s FLARE experiment.

Across Central Jersey, Rishika leads STEM outreach initiatives that reinforce physics fundamentals, introduce students to AP curricula and hands-on laboratory experiences, and inspire interest in NASA space missions. At Princeton, Rishika’s roles include Lead IMAP Fellow for Princeton Science Outreach and STEM Lead for the Civic Leadership Council. On campus, she also serves as a Princeton Correspondent on Undergraduate Research and as a student advisor to the American Geophysical Union.

As an APS Ambassador, Rishika looks forward to connecting Princeton students with opportunities to present their research and engage with the APS Global Summit through travel grants, poster presentation opportunities, and professional networking. She is excited to serve as a resource for students seeking guidance on APS programs, grants, and early-career development in physics and related fields.

The APS Student Ambassadors program is a prestigious leadership opportunity that connects physics students around the world to the broader physics community. Ambassadors serve as liaisons between APS and their peers by sharing resources, promoting professional development programs, and strengthening the sense of belonging among physics students on campus and beyond. Rishika was selected as the representative of Princeton University in the ambassadorship. According to Sarah Monk, the program manager, 125 ambassadors across 125 institutions in 20 countries were selected out of thousands of applications.

Congratulations, Rishika!

Robert Lupton, Senior Research Astronomer, in the Department of Astrophysical Sciences was recently featured in an article from the Office of the Dean of the Faculty. Lupton, has spent his career developing software systems that power major sky surveys like the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, which enables scientists worldwide to map and study the universe in unprecedented detail. Read it here:

Senior Research Scientist Robert Lupton: Mapping the cosmos one telescope image at a time A senior research scientist in astrophysical sciences at Princeton and a world-renowned expert in astronomical software and algorithms, it’s 25 years since Lupton first started thinking about how to build Rubin, which celebrated its “first look” last summer when it released stunning images to ...

Jenny Greene, Professor of Astrophysical Sciences, is among the new members elected to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences (AAAS), in recognition of her outstanding contributions in the field of Astronomy and Astrophysics. Professor Greene’s research focuses on supermassive black holes and the galaxies in which they reside. Greene is also the Academic Director of the Prison Teaching Initiative.

The American Academy of Arts & Sciences was established in 1780 during the American Revolution and its mission is to benefit society through every art and science in order to advance knowledge and learning across disciplines to improve peoples’ lives. The AAAS confers the distinction of honor as a member to leaders around the globe who are experts in the arts and sciences, business, philanthropy, and public affairs.

Professor Greene joins the ranks of 14,500 elected members since AAAS was first established. Other current AAAS members from Princeton’s Astrophysics community include: Neta Bahcall, Adam Burrows, Jim Gunn, Eve Ostriker, Lyman Page, Jim Peebles, Eliot Quataert, David Spergel, Jim Stone, Suzanne Staggs, and Joe Taylor.

Hiranya Peiris (University of Cambridge), who received her PhD from our department in 2003, was also named to the AAAS this year.