UConn STARs Initiative

UConn STARs: Science Technology and Astronomy Recruits

  • UConn STARs Outreach at HPHS Spring 2026

UConn STARs is a program to help support undergraduate students in physics, provide opportunities for outreach, and to build community. UConn STARs offers one-on-one mentorship, professional development activities, social engagement, and a (paid!) opportunity to volunteer in the community, teaching high school students about physics. Sounds cool, right?

Applications for the 2026/2027 Academic Year are now closed but please reach out anytime to Cara Battersby (cara.battersby@uconn.edu) if you are interested in joining.

Please consider donating to STARs – we are so so grateful for your support!

Example Calendar – Fall 2026 events

Check for updates here!

Program History: UConn STARS was founded in Spring 2022 by Prof. Cara Battersby, Matías Lopez-Ortiz, Hannah Koziol, and Matt Regala. In Spring 2022, we had 7 STARs participants and we developed and taught four lesson plans at the SAND elementary school in Hartford. We have visited Hartford Public High School (HPHS) every Spring from 2023 – present, teaching eight classes over one week each May. We also participate in public outreach events, such as at Hartford Public Library and the Hartford STEM Fest. Additionally, STARs member Elias Oakes published a formal BiteScis article and teacher-ready lesson plan based on a STARs lesson plan: Protecting Humans from Cosmic Radiation Using Magnetic Shields.

STARs program overview table 2022-2026

News items:

STARs Managing Co-Leads (current):

  • Eduardo Aguirre Serrata has been a co-leader of the STARs program since Fall 2023. Ed is a graduate student in physics.
  • Cara Battersby is the Director and Founder of the STARs program and has been a co-leader since Spring 2022. Cara is a professor in the physics department specializing in astrophysics. She uses large-scale observations and numerical simulations to better understand how star formation varies in extreme environments, such as our Galaxy’s Center (read more about the Milky Way Laboratory).
  • Elias Oakes is a graduate student in physics and has been a co-leader of the STARs program since Fall 2022. He studies giant interstellar clouds of dust and gas and their contributions to star formation (check out pictures from my collaboration PHANGS here!). He grew up in NYC and went to school in Chicago, so says he is compensating for his past lack of stars by studying astronomy at UConn.
  • London Willson is a graduate student in physics and has been a co-leader of the STARs program since Fall 2023. They are a graduate student in astrophysics.

STARs Co-leads (current)

  • Managing co-leads (above) plus
  • Disha Ardalkar has been a STARs program co-lead since Fall 2026 and participant since Fall 2025.
  • Ayssar Farah has been a graduate student co-lead of STARs since Fall 2026.
  • Meerina Khatiwada has been a STARs program co-lead since Fall 2026 and participant since Fall 2025.
  • Alfredo V. Ramos Cornejo has been a STARs program co-lead since Fall 2026 and a participant since Fall 2024.
  • Alexander Yi has been a STARs program co-lead since Fall 2026 and a participant since Fall 0225.

STARs Co-Leads (former):

  • Leilani Ainsworth was a co-leader (Fall 2024-Spring 2026) and participant since Fall 2023.
  • Danya Alboslani was a co-leader (Fall 2022 – Spring2024) and participant since Spring 2022 – Spring 2024. Danya worked in the Milky Way Laboratory and completed a research experience for undergraduates at the Maria Mitchell Observatory in Summer 2022. She graduated from UConn in Spring 2024.
  • Micah Banschick was a co-leader (Fall 2024-Spring 2025)  and participant since Fall 2023.
  • Nina Bolard was a co-leader (Fall 2023 – Spring 2024) and participant since Spring 2023 – Spring 2024.
  • Isabella Bruzzese was a co-leader (Fall 2025 – Spring 2026) and participant since Fall 2023.
  • Rachel Cleveland was a co-leader (Fall 2022 – Spring 2024) and participant since Spring 2022.
  • Faisal Khan was a co-leader (Fall 2025 – Spring 2026) and participant since Spring 2025.
  • Sangeeta Kuchibhotla was a co-leader (Fall 2023 – Spring 2024) and participant since Spring 2022.
  • Hannah Koziol is a STARs program co-founder and was a co-leader (Spring 2022). Hannah played a critical role in getting the STARs program started and graduated from UConn in Spring 2022.
  • Dani Lipman was a graduate student managing co-leader of the STARs program (Fall 2022-Fall 2023).
  • Matías Lopez Ortiz is a STARs program co-founder and was a graduate co-leader of the program (Spring 2022). Matías was instrumental in getting the STARs program up and running and we are forever indebted to his vision and dedication.
  • Alondra Muñoz-Escobedo was a co-leader (Fall 2022-Spring 2024) and participant since Spring 2022.
  • Rei-Matthew Regala is a STARs program co-founder and was a co-leader (Spring 2022). Matt was vital in helping to develop the vision for STARs and graduated from UConn in Spring 2022.
  • Brooke Parker Thibodeau was a managing co-leader (Fall 2022 – Spring 2026) and participant since Spring 2022. Brooke Parker holds the record for the longest leadership in the STARs program (besides the director) and contributed in a tremendous and long-standing way to the success and integrity of the program, and we are highly indebted to them for their contributions.
  • Carlos Torres was a co-leader (Fall 2024 – Spring 2025) and participant since Fall 2022.
  • John Trujillo was a co-leader (Fall 2024-Spring 2025) and participant since Fall 2022.
  • Zach Ritchey was a graduate student co-leader (Fall 2023-Spring 2024).