CIERA
@nuciera.bsky.social
We're Northwestern University's Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics! Currently celebrating our 15th anniversary. Learn more about us at linktr.ee/nuciera
Proud to share that CIERA REU student Aster Winkler won the AAS Chambliss Astronomy Achievement Award! 🎉 Mentored by Tjitske Starkenburg, Aster’s work used Roman Space Telescope simulations of globular cluster streams. tinyurl.com/mvxmuaz6
CIERA REU Student Aster Winkler Wins AAS Chambliss Astronomy Achievement Award
Aster Winkler, a participant in CIERA’s 2025 Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program, has received a prestigious Chambliss Astronomy Achievement Student Award from the American Astronomi...
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January 29, 2026 at 4:09 PM
Proud to share that CIERA REU student Aster Winkler won the AAS Chambliss Astronomy Achievement Award! 🎉 Mentored by Tjitske Starkenburg, Aster’s work used Roman Space Telescope simulations of globular cluster streams. tinyurl.com/mvxmuaz6
Join us this Friday for the first CIERA Astronomer Evening of 2026!
CIERA's Gideon McFarland will speak about telescopes, and Caroline von Raesfeld will give a talk on how elements are made in stars. Telescope viewing will follow.
Dearborn Observatory 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM
CIERA's Gideon McFarland will speak about telescopes, and Caroline von Raesfeld will give a talk on how elements are made in stars. Telescope viewing will follow.
Dearborn Observatory 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM
January 28, 2026 at 9:14 PM
Join us this Friday for the first CIERA Astronomer Evening of 2026!
CIERA's Gideon McFarland will speak about telescopes, and Caroline von Raesfeld will give a talk on how elements are made in stars. Telescope viewing will follow.
Dearborn Observatory 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM
CIERA's Gideon McFarland will speak about telescopes, and Caroline von Raesfeld will give a talk on how elements are made in stars. Telescope viewing will follow.
Dearborn Observatory 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Only a couple days left to apply to CIERA’s Summer 2026 REU at Northwestern! 9-week interdisciplinary astrophysics research, $6,300 stipend, housing & travel included. Deadline: Jan 30. Apply: sites.northwestern.edu/cierareu
January 28, 2026 at 8:54 PM
Only a couple days left to apply to CIERA’s Summer 2026 REU at Northwestern! 9-week interdisciplinary astrophysics research, $6,300 stipend, housing & travel included. Deadline: Jan 30. Apply: sites.northwestern.edu/cierareu
🎉 Congratulations to CIERA Director Vicky Kalogera, recipient of Northwestern’s Daniel I. Linzer Award for Faculty Excellence in Service! The award will be presented Feb 16, 2026, at the Faculty Awards Reception. 👏 #CIERA #FacultyExcellence
January 28, 2026 at 4:41 PM
🎉 Congratulations to CIERA Director Vicky Kalogera, recipient of Northwestern’s Daniel I. Linzer Award for Faculty Excellence in Service! The award will be presented Feb 16, 2026, at the Faculty Awards Reception. 👏 #CIERA #FacultyExcellence
Deadline approaching: Applications to the Summer 2026 CIERA REU at Northwestern are due Jan 30!
9-week interdisciplinary astrophysics research experience, $6,300 stipend + housing & travel.
Apply: sites.northwestern.edu/cierareu
9-week interdisciplinary astrophysics research experience, $6,300 stipend + housing & travel.
Apply: sites.northwestern.edu/cierareu
January 21, 2026 at 9:57 PM
Deadline approaching: Applications to the Summer 2026 CIERA REU at Northwestern are due Jan 30!
9-week interdisciplinary astrophysics research experience, $6,300 stipend + housing & travel.
Apply: sites.northwestern.edu/cierareu
9-week interdisciplinary astrophysics research experience, $6,300 stipend + housing & travel.
Apply: sites.northwestern.edu/cierareu
Cheers to Tim Kovachy and Andrew Geraci from @NUCIERA at the first URIC Research Impact Day! They shared how gravitational-wave astronomy is expanding beyond LIGO, using new quantum and optomechanical detectors to explore previously unreachable frequencies. #astronomy
January 15, 2026 at 5:26 PM
Cheers to Tim Kovachy and Andrew Geraci from @NUCIERA at the first URIC Research Impact Day! They shared how gravitational-wave astronomy is expanding beyond LIGO, using new quantum and optomechanical detectors to explore previously unreachable frequencies. #astronomy
Applications for the Summer 2026 CIERA REU at Northwestern are due Jan 30! 9-week interdisciplinary astrophysics research experience, $6,300 stipend + housing & travel. Learn more & apply: sites.northwestern.edu/cierareu
January 14, 2026 at 6:48 PM
Applications for the Summer 2026 CIERA REU at Northwestern are due Jan 30! 9-week interdisciplinary astrophysics research experience, $6,300 stipend + housing & travel. Learn more & apply: sites.northwestern.edu/cierareu
Now accepting applications for REACH, our 3-week summer program for high schoolers! Learn astronomy, research skills, & Python, no prior experience needed. Tuition assistance available. Apply by March 9, 2026: bit.ly/4p33EI2
January 12, 2026 at 9:35 PM
Now accepting applications for REACH, our 3-week summer program for high schoolers! Learn astronomy, research skills, & Python, no prior experience needed. Tuition assistance available. Apply by March 9, 2026: bit.ly/4p33EI2
Exciting news! CIERA Science Advisory Board member Ray Jayawardhana, an astrophysicist and provost of Johns Hopkins, will become the next president of Caltech! At CIERA, we’ve been fortunate to benefit from Ray’s insight and guidance!🎉
bit.ly/4jw4fkn
bit.ly/4jw4fkn
Ray Jayawardhana Appointed Caltech's Tenth President
The Johns Hopkins University provost, renowned astrophysicist, and award-winning author will begin as the Institute's leader on July 1, 2026.
bit.ly
January 8, 2026 at 8:56 PM
Exciting news! CIERA Science Advisory Board member Ray Jayawardhana, an astrophysicist and provost of Johns Hopkins, will become the next president of Caltech! At CIERA, we’ve been fortunate to benefit from Ray’s insight and guidance!🎉
bit.ly/4jw4fkn
bit.ly/4jw4fkn
Congratulations to CIERA faculty member Claude-André Faucher-Giguère on being named a 2026 Fellow of the American Astronomical Society 🎉The AAS recognized his influential work on cosmological hydrodynamics, galaxy formation, and black hole feedback. bit.ly/49d0M6F
Claude-André Faucher-Giguère Named Fellow of the American Astronomical Society
On January 8, 2026, the American Astronomical Society (AAS) announced 23 new Fellows for 2026, including Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics (CIERA) faculty member Cl...
bit.ly
January 8, 2026 at 5:34 PM
Congratulations to CIERA faculty member Claude-André Faucher-Giguère on being named a 2026 Fellow of the American Astronomical Society 🎉The AAS recognized his influential work on cosmological hydrodynamics, galaxy formation, and black hole feedback. bit.ly/49d0M6F
We’re excited to welcome Alexandra (Alex) Mannings to CIERA as our new Board of Visitors Research Associate, starting today! Please join us in welcoming Alex! bit.ly/4jzPOfa
Announcing Alexandra Mannings as Board of Visitors Research Associate
We are pleased to announce that Alexandra (Alex) Mannings will be joining CIERA as our new Board of Visitors Research Associate, beginning January 5.
Alex recently earned her PhD in Astronomy and Ast...
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January 5, 2026 at 5:23 PM
We’re excited to welcome Alexandra (Alex) Mannings to CIERA as our new Board of Visitors Research Associate, starting today! Please join us in welcoming Alex! bit.ly/4jzPOfa
🚀 Applications are now OPEN for CIERA’s REACH Program! A 3-week summer astronomy research experience for high school students—focused on Python, hands-on research, and mentorship from professional scientists. Apply now: bit.ly/4pkKa1t
#Astronomy #HighSchoolSTEM #Python
#Astronomy #HighSchoolSTEM #Python
Research Experiences in Astronomy at CIERA for High School Students (REACH) - Summer 2026
REACH (Research Experiences in Astronomy at CIERA for High School Students) is a highly interactive, in-person 3-week program (with an optional 3-week extension) that provides high school students exp...
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January 5, 2026 at 4:33 PM
🚀 Applications are now OPEN for CIERA’s REACH Program! A 3-week summer astronomy research experience for high school students—focused on Python, hands-on research, and mentorship from professional scientists. Apply now: bit.ly/4pkKa1t
#Astronomy #HighSchoolSTEM #Python
#Astronomy #HighSchoolSTEM #Python
Calling all aspiring astronomers! Northwestern’s CIERA REU gives undergrads hands-on research in galaxy evolution, exoplanets, gravitational waves & instrumentation. Work with faculty, attend workshops & field trips, and present your findings! Apply: bit.ly/4jjNetC
December 22, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Calling all aspiring astronomers! Northwestern’s CIERA REU gives undergrads hands-on research in galaxy evolution, exoplanets, gravitational waves & instrumentation. Work with faculty, attend workshops & field trips, and present your findings! Apply: bit.ly/4jjNetC
Hubble has imaged the aftermath of two rare collisions between rocky bodies in the nearby planetary system—events once thought to happen only every 100,000 years. CIERA member Jason Wang helped confirm the discovery. bit.ly/4s66Pl1 #Science #Astrophysics #CIERA
Cosmic crash caught on camera
In an unprecedented celestial event, NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope (HST) captured the dramatic aftermath of colliding space rocks within a nearby planetary system.
When astronomers initially spotted a...
bit.ly
December 18, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Hubble has imaged the aftermath of two rare collisions between rocky bodies in the nearby planetary system—events once thought to happen only every 100,000 years. CIERA member Jason Wang helped confirm the discovery. bit.ly/4s66Pl1 #Science #Astrophysics #CIERA
🍪✨ Winter Solstice = maximum darkness, maximum cookies.
CIERA’s first-ever cookie exchange was a sweet success—thanks to everyone who baked, shared, and collaborated their way to a great celebration. Science is better together. 🤝❄️
CIERA’s first-ever cookie exchange was a sweet success—thanks to everyone who baked, shared, and collaborated their way to a great celebration. Science is better together. 🤝❄️
December 18, 2025 at 9:59 PM
🍪✨ Winter Solstice = maximum darkness, maximum cookies.
CIERA’s first-ever cookie exchange was a sweet success—thanks to everyone who baked, shared, and collaborated their way to a great celebration. Science is better together. 🤝❄️
CIERA’s first-ever cookie exchange was a sweet success—thanks to everyone who baked, shared, and collaborated their way to a great celebration. Science is better together. 🤝❄️
Summer REU at Northwestern CIERA!
Undergrads: dive into 9 weeks of interdisciplinary astrophysics research-exoplanets, galaxy evolution, gravitational waves, instrumentation & more. Field trips, workshops, HPC + Python training included!
Learn more: bit.ly/3MDGv18
Undergrads: dive into 9 weeks of interdisciplinary astrophysics research-exoplanets, galaxy evolution, gravitational waves, instrumentation & more. Field trips, workshops, HPC + Python training included!
Learn more: bit.ly/3MDGv18
December 17, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Summer REU at Northwestern CIERA!
Undergrads: dive into 9 weeks of interdisciplinary astrophysics research-exoplanets, galaxy evolution, gravitational waves, instrumentation & more. Field trips, workshops, HPC + Python training included!
Learn more: bit.ly/3MDGv18
Undergrads: dive into 9 weeks of interdisciplinary astrophysics research-exoplanets, galaxy evolution, gravitational waves, instrumentation & more. Field trips, workshops, HPC + Python training included!
Learn more: bit.ly/3MDGv18
Here's some fun news! CIERA's VERY own Nathalie Jones and Jason Wang were interviewed yesterday on Fox 32 Chicago about their recent discovery of a new exoplanet!
You can watch the interview here: lnkd.in/gPCuhzth
You can watch the interview here: lnkd.in/gPCuhzth
December 17, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Here's some fun news! CIERA's VERY own Nathalie Jones and Jason Wang were interviewed yesterday on Fox 32 Chicago about their recent discovery of a new exoplanet!
You can watch the interview here: lnkd.in/gPCuhzth
You can watch the interview here: lnkd.in/gPCuhzth
🚀 Applications are OPEN for REACH Summer 2026 at @CIERA_NU! 3-week astronomy research program for high school students
💻 Learn Python + work on real science
🧑🚀 Mentored by astrophysicists
💙 No prior coding required | Tuition assistance available
🔗 bit.ly/4p33EI2
#STEM #Astronomy #HighSchoolStudents
💻 Learn Python + work on real science
🧑🚀 Mentored by astrophysicists
💙 No prior coding required | Tuition assistance available
🔗 bit.ly/4p33EI2
#STEM #Astronomy #HighSchoolStudents
December 17, 2025 at 1:03 AM
🚀 Applications are OPEN for REACH Summer 2026 at @CIERA_NU! 3-week astronomy research program for high school students
💻 Learn Python + work on real science
🧑🚀 Mentored by astrophysicists
💙 No prior coding required | Tuition assistance available
🔗 bit.ly/4p33EI2
#STEM #Astronomy #HighSchoolStudents
💻 Learn Python + work on real science
🧑🚀 Mentored by astrophysicists
💙 No prior coding required | Tuition assistance available
🔗 bit.ly/4p33EI2
#STEM #Astronomy #HighSchoolStudents
A discovery fit for Star Wars: CIERA astronomers have directly imaged a Tatooine-like planet orbiting two suns — and it’s closer to its stars than any other directly imaged planet in a binary system. 🌟🌟🪐https://bit.ly/4q8Dfto
@thejason.wang #Exoplanets #Astronomy #Northwestern #CIERA
@thejason.wang #Exoplanets #Astronomy #Northwestern #CIERA
December 11, 2025 at 7:59 PM
A discovery fit for Star Wars: CIERA astronomers have directly imaged a Tatooine-like planet orbiting two suns — and it’s closer to its stars than any other directly imaged planet in a binary system. 🌟🌟🪐https://bit.ly/4q8Dfto
@thejason.wang #Exoplanets #Astronomy #Northwestern #CIERA
@thejason.wang #Exoplanets #Astronomy #Northwestern #CIERA
🚀 Applications are OPEN for Northwestern CIERA’s NSF-funded Astrophysics REU!
Join us for 9 weeks of interdisciplinary research, workshops, HPC training, field trips & more.
💰 $6,300 stipend + housing + travel
📅 Deadline: Jan 30
🔗 Apply: bit.ly/3MDGv18
Join us for 9 weeks of interdisciplinary research, workshops, HPC training, field trips & more.
💰 $6,300 stipend + housing + travel
📅 Deadline: Jan 30
🔗 Apply: bit.ly/3MDGv18
Research Experiences for Undergraduates - Summer 2026
Our Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program provides students with the opportunity to pursue an astrophysics-based interdisciplinary research project in collaboration with Northwestern U...
bit.ly
December 11, 2025 at 4:21 PM
🚀 Applications are OPEN for Northwestern CIERA’s NSF-funded Astrophysics REU!
Join us for 9 weeks of interdisciplinary research, workshops, HPC training, field trips & more.
💰 $6,300 stipend + housing + travel
📅 Deadline: Jan 30
🔗 Apply: bit.ly/3MDGv18
Join us for 9 weeks of interdisciplinary research, workshops, HPC training, field trips & more.
💰 $6,300 stipend + housing + travel
📅 Deadline: Jan 30
🔗 Apply: bit.ly/3MDGv18
Only 5 days left to apply!
CIERA Postdoctoral Associate applications close Dec 15, 2025, 11:59 PM (CT). Take the next step in your astrophysics career.
Learn more and apply: ciera.northwestern.edu/opportunities
#Postdoc #Astrophysics #CIERA #STEMCareers #AstronomyJobs
CIERA Postdoctoral Associate applications close Dec 15, 2025, 11:59 PM (CT). Take the next step in your astrophysics career.
Learn more and apply: ciera.northwestern.edu/opportunities
#Postdoc #Astrophysics #CIERA #STEMCareers #AstronomyJobs
December 10, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Only 5 days left to apply!
CIERA Postdoctoral Associate applications close Dec 15, 2025, 11:59 PM (CT). Take the next step in your astrophysics career.
Learn more and apply: ciera.northwestern.edu/opportunities
#Postdoc #Astrophysics #CIERA #STEMCareers #AstronomyJobs
CIERA Postdoctoral Associate applications close Dec 15, 2025, 11:59 PM (CT). Take the next step in your astrophysics career.
Learn more and apply: ciera.northwestern.edu/opportunities
#Postdoc #Astrophysics #CIERA #STEMCareers #AstronomyJobs
Last Astronomer Evening of the year tonight!
Hear Andrew Marszewski's talk on “The Origin of Elements: From the Big Bang to Exploding Galaxies and Beyond” and enjoy an interactive gas spectral tube demo run by Nathalie Jones.
🪐 Telescope viewing to follow!
Hear Andrew Marszewski's talk on “The Origin of Elements: From the Big Bang to Exploding Galaxies and Beyond” and enjoy an interactive gas spectral tube demo run by Nathalie Jones.
🪐 Telescope viewing to follow!
December 5, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Last Astronomer Evening of the year tonight!
Hear Andrew Marszewski's talk on “The Origin of Elements: From the Big Bang to Exploding Galaxies and Beyond” and enjoy an interactive gas spectral tube demo run by Nathalie Jones.
🪐 Telescope viewing to follow!
Hear Andrew Marszewski's talk on “The Origin of Elements: From the Big Bang to Exploding Galaxies and Beyond” and enjoy an interactive gas spectral tube demo run by Nathalie Jones.
🪐 Telescope viewing to follow!
There’s still time to apply! CIERA Postdoctoral Associate applications are open until Dec 15, 2025, 11:59 PM (CT). Learn more and apply bit.ly/48W5PbL
#Postdoc #Astrophysics #CIERA #STEMCareers #AstronomyJobs
#Postdoc #Astrophysics #CIERA #STEMCareers #AstronomyJobs
December 3, 2025 at 10:07 PM
There’s still time to apply! CIERA Postdoctoral Associate applications are open until Dec 15, 2025, 11:59 PM (CT). Learn more and apply bit.ly/48W5PbL
#Postdoc #Astrophysics #CIERA #STEMCareers #AstronomyJobs
#Postdoc #Astrophysics #CIERA #STEMCareers #AstronomyJobs
This #GivingTuesday consider donating to CIERA! Your support fuels the exploration of black holes, neutron stars, exoplanets, galaxies, and the cosmic events that shape our universe. Every gift, large or small, empowers students and scientists to reach farther. ciera.northwestern.edu/donate/
December 1, 2025 at 11:54 PM
This #GivingTuesday consider donating to CIERA! Your support fuels the exploration of black holes, neutron stars, exoplanets, galaxies, and the cosmic events that shape our universe. Every gift, large or small, empowers students and scientists to reach farther. ciera.northwestern.edu/donate/
This Thanksgiving, we’re grateful for the community of scientists, students, staff, and supporters who help CIERA explore the wonders of our universe. Wishing you a warm and joyful holiday!
Image credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Charles Kilpatrick, Aswin Suresh
#Thanksgiving2025 #Gratitude
Image credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Charles Kilpatrick, Aswin Suresh
#Thanksgiving2025 #Gratitude
November 27, 2025 at 8:52 PM
This Thanksgiving, we’re grateful for the community of scientists, students, staff, and supporters who help CIERA explore the wonders of our universe. Wishing you a warm and joyful holiday!
Image credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Charles Kilpatrick, Aswin Suresh
#Thanksgiving2025 #Gratitude
Image credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Charles Kilpatrick, Aswin Suresh
#Thanksgiving2025 #Gratitude