TAP Programs for Students

Graduate Student Research Prize

The Theoretical Astrophysics Program (TAP) seeks to award one student at the University of Arizona with the Graduate Student Research Prize. This competition, held annually, is an opportunity to highlight students conducting exceptional theoretical astrophysics research. The application period opens each fall semester with applications due early January. All graduate students are encouraged to apply anytime before graduation. 

The winner of the competition will receive a commemorative plaque, a $1000 cash award, and an invitation to present their work during the spring colloquia series. Review and selection are done by committee and based on the quality and originality of the research.

The 2025 Graduate Student Research Prize was awarded to Eonho Chang (Andrew Youdin, advisor). Eonho Chang gave a TAP Colloquia talk on March 3, 2025.

Join the TAP mailing list to receive future announcements.

Eligibility criteria:

1) Must be a current grad student 

Note: To increase program impact, applicants must be a current grad student starting in AY26 (fall 2025 application cycle).

2) Have submitted or published a research paper in a peer-reviewed journal within the past two years.

3) Complete the TAP Research Prize application including:

  • Provide a one-page summary outlining the importance and context of the work.
  • Submit endorsement statement by TAP Faculty advisor, including an estimate of the student’s percent contribution to both the research and the writing (minimum 60% student contribution expected).

Please contact Rosie Johnson, TAP Project Manager, with any questions. 

Graduate Student Research Prize Recipients

Name Department Year
Eonho Chang Applied Math 2025
Yangyang Cai Physics 2024
Haowen Zhang Astronomy 2023
Gabriele Bozzola Astronomy 2022
Nicolas Garavito-Camargo Astronomy 2021
Joshua Lothringer Planetary Sciences 2019
Youngmin JeongAhn Planetary Sciences 2016
Evan Schneider Astronomy 2014
Tim Johannsen Physics 2011
Curtis Cooper Planetary Sciences 2006
Martin Pessah Astronomy 2006
Todd Thompson Physics 2000
Sharada Iyer Physics 2000
Chris L. Fryer Astronomy 1996
William Sears Planetary Sciences 1994

 

TAP Travel and Training Grants for Students

The TAP small matching grants program seeks to provide resources to undergraduate and graduate students to assist with training, travel for research collaboration, or confernece attendance to support their educational and research pursuits and help to prepare them for entering the future job market.

Grant awards up to $1,000 may be used for training opportunities, conferences, research-related travel, or professional supplies/equipment. Preference will be given to new applicants and those in the later stages of their degree program.

Application availability will be announced through the TAP listserv.

Past Awardees of TAP Travel and Training Grants

Click on the tabs above to view the past recipients by year

Sabina Abate
Atri Bhattacharya Physics
Rixin Li Astronomy
Rachel Smullen Astronomy

 

Etka Pastel Astronomy

 

Carolynn Raithel Astronomy
Etka Patel Astronomy
James T. Keane Lunar and Planetary Science Laboratory

 

Gabriele Bozzola Astronomy
Saverio Cambioni Lunar and Planetary Science Laboratory
Pedro Espino Physics
Hamish Hay Lunar and Planetary Science Laboratory
Rixin Li Astronomy
Rachel Smullen Astronomy
Maria Steinrueck Lunar and Planetary Science Laboratory
Adam Sutherland Astronomy
Tyler Trent Astronomy

 

Jiachuan Xu Astronomy

 

 

 

Gabriele Bozzola Astronomy
Jose Cisneros Physics
Emmanouil Drimalas Physics
Tintin Nguyen Astronomy
Chang Tao Yang Physics
Jada Walters Lunar and Planetary Science Laboratory
Xiaozhou Zhao Lunar and Planetary Science Laboratory

 

Yangyang Cai Physics
Soley Hyman Astronomy
Vikram Manikantan Astronomy
Ian Matheson Lunar and Planetary Science Laboratory
Jiachuan Xu Astronomy
Eonho Chang Astronomy
Jonah Barber Physics
Jose Cisneros Castro Lunar & Planetary Science Laboratory
Katie Chamberlain Astronomy
Eonho Chang Astronomy
Emmanouil Drimalas Astronomy
Hayden Foote Astronomy
Soley Hyman Astronomy
Ian Matheson Lunar & Planetary Science Laboratory
Pranjal RS Astronomy
Himansh Rathore Astronomy
M Smith Astronomy
Jackson Zarisky Astronomy
Jonah Barber Physics
Hayley Bowden Astronomy
Eonho Chang Applied Math
Hayden Foote Astronomy
Nikhil Garuda Astronomy
Waverly Gorman Physics
Lori Huseby Planetary Sciences
Vikram Manikantan Astronomy
Iggy Matheson Planetary Sciences
Maria Mutz Physics
Mahdi Naseri Astronomy
Himansh Rathore Astronomy
Neev Shah Astronomy
M Smith Physics
Connor Sweeney Physics
Erik Wessel Physics
Jackson Zariski Applied Math