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 will open soon – 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 2025 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 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.
  • Leilani Ainsworth has been a co-leader of the STARs program since Fall 2024 as well as a participant of the STARs program (since Fall 2023).
  • Faisal Khan has been a co-leader of the STARs program since Fall 2025 as well as a participant since Spring 2025.
  • Cara Battersby (she/her) is a founder and has been a co-leader of the STARs program 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.
  • Brooke Parker Thibodeau has been a co-leader of the STARs program since Fall 2022 as well as a participant of the STARs program (since Spring 2022).
  • London Willson is a graduate student in physics and has been a co-leader of the STARs program since Fall 2022. They are a graduate student in astrophysics.

STARs Co-Leads (former):

  • Danya Alboslani was a co-leader (Fall 2022 – Spring2024) and participant of the STARs program (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 of the STARs program from Fall 2024-Spring 2025 as well as a participant of the STARs program (since Fall 2023)
  • Nina Bolard was a STARs program co-leader (Fall 2023 – Spring 2024) and participant (Spring 2023 – Spring 2024). She graduated from UConn in Spring 2024.
  • Rachel Cleveland was a co-leader of the STARs program from Fall 2022 to Spring 2024 as well as a participant of the STARs program since Spring 2022. She graduated from UConn in Spring 2025.
  • Sangeeta Khuchibhotla was a STARs program co-leader (Fall 2023 – Spring 2024) and participant (Spring 2022 – Spring 2024) and graduated from UConn in Spring 2024.
  • Hannah Koziol is a STARs program co-founder and was a co-leader of the program in Spring 2022. Hannah led one of the undergraduate “families” and played a critical role in getting the STARs program started. She graduated with her Bachelor’s Degree at UConn in Spring 2022 and is currently pursuing a PhD in sunny California.
  • Dani Lipman was a co-leader of the STARs program from Fall 2022-Fall 2023. Dani is a graduate student studying the center of the Milky Way. She grew up in Des Moines, Iowa and has spent much of her career creating programs for engaging local communities with science. She also traveled to China to study the impact of university professors participating in science outreach and community engagement. Dani is a firm believer that sharing knowledge is a core responsibility of all scientists, and that actively promoting diversity in all areas of STEM is necessary to do so! She is excited to be a part of STARs!
  • Matías Lopez Ortiz is a STARs program co-founder and was a co-leader of the program in Spring 2022. He was a graduate student in physics and has since graduated with his Master’s degree. 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 of the STARs program from Fall 2022-Spring 2024 as well as a participant of the STARs program (since Spring 2022).
  • Rei-Matthew Regala is a STARs program co-founder and was a co-leader of the program in Spring 2022. Matt led the other undergraduate “family” and was vital in helping to develop the vision for STARs. He graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree at UConn in Spring 2022 and is currently working in industry.
  • Carlos Torres was a co-leader of the STARs program from Fall 2024-Spring 2025, and a participant since Fall 2022.
  • John Trujillo was a co-leader of the STARs program from Fall 2024-Spring 2025, as well as a participant since Fall 2022.
  • Zach Ritchey was a co-leader of the STARs program from Fall 2023-Spring 2024. Zach is a graduate student in physics studying magnetic materials for cryogenic refrigeration applications. He is also interested in microstructural tunability of functional oxide material properties.