Maria C.

Maria C. is an undergraduate researcher at Columbia University, focused on optimizing optics for the International Axion Observatory under Professor Kerstin Perez. Maria's research endeavors include establishing bolometric corrections for filters relevant to exoplanet imaging as a LAMAT Fellow at the University of California, Santa Cruz. As Treasurer and Payload Lead for the Columbia Space Initiative, Maria manages financials and coordinates grant proposals for a Cubesat Mission. Additionally, Maria leads an international aerospace education event through IgnitedThinkers, and previously taught coding to younger students while interning in bilingual education and working on computational research at the American Museum of Natural History. Currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Astrophysics and Mechanical Engineering at Columbia University, Maria has developed a strong foundation in various scientific and educational initiatives.