Caltech Student-Faculty Programs

Last week, our SURF-the-WAVE and QuantumSURF Fellows presented at @Caltech's KNI x IQIM Summer Poster Session. Congrats to Yiting Zhao, People's Choice winner, and thanks to all who cheered the fellows on. Science is always more fun as a community!

Congratulations to the three winners of the 2026 Vodopia-Hasson SURF Summer Poster Competition: Gabriella Giampietro (WAVE Fellows, @BrownUniversity), Adam Janik (SURF, @UCLA), and Nikhita Penugonda (SURF, @Caltech)! What a great way to close out another summer of research.

It’s live — the 2025 @Caltech Student-Faculty Programs Abstract Book is out now! Explore research from Caltech undergrads + visiting scholars—from the edges of the universe to breakthroughs in AI and sustainability! sfp.caltech.edu/documents/32…

Celebrate 47 years of SURF at @Caltech! Stop by San Pasqual Walk on tomorrow, April 25th (12-1:30 PM) for gratitude cards, orange creamsicles, new swag, and a surprise appearance from our favorite beaver. All Caltech community members welcome! tinyurl.com/caltech-surf47

Did you know that the SURF program has an annual dedicatee? The honor this year goes to Alan Weinstein, professor of physics at Caltech! His mentorship has guided countless students through the LIGO SURF program, fostering the next generation of scientists.

This morning, we held our annual First Day of School Doughnuts event for students who completed this year’s Graduate Summer Research Institute (#GSRI) program at @Caltech. We wish our newest graduate students — and every one else on campus — a successful start to the year!

Celia, who was designated as a Resnick Sustainability Institute (RSI) WAVE Fellow, worked alongside Alex Sessions, Nico and Marilyn van Wingen Professor of Geobiology, and Hannah Dion-Kirschner, a @Caltech graduate student within the Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences.

Happy #EarthDay! To celebrate, we’d like to spotlight one particularly Earth-friendly research project! Celia Kong-Johnson, a 2023 #WAVEFellow from @BrownUniversity, spent last summer conducting isotopic measurements of tree rings to better understand the climate of the past.

Thank you, Carol, for being such an integral part of the work we all do. In a way, every week here is National #UndergraduateResearchWeek. Here’s to another 30! #URW2024

Undergraduate research here at Caltech is run out of a small house by an even smaller team. As we wrap up Undergraduate Research Week this year, we’d like to end on a note of gratitude.

Going on: “I am one of the lucky ones that gets to work with you every day. We are the lucky ones. I value the knowledge, care, and deep commitment you have for the Institute and the program. Thank you for being you.” There are, literally, too many notes like these to post here.

One of us submitted the following: “There is no Caltech without you. There is no SURF without you. You have made such an incredible impact on the lives of students, staff, and friends.”

30 years ago, Carol Casey joined what was then called the SURF Office. She arrived as an Administrative Assistant, rising steadily and working very hard to become Associate Director. For all that time, Carol and undergraduate research at @Caltech have been inextricably linked.

While at Caltech, Abigail completed three SURF projects (2020, 2021, and 2022). They also hold the distinction of being a two-time first-place winner of our Doris S. Perpall SURF Speaking Competition. The photo below captures Abigail standing next to a very proud Toni Perpall!

Harry Gray is a shining example of the role mentors play in promoting and supporting undergraduate research. To him and all of the other mentors spread throughout, thank you! #NationalUndergraduateResearchWeek #URW2024 #ResearchMatters