Undergraduate student wins prestigious scholarship intended for graduate physics students

LAWRENCE — A University of Kansas undergraduate student whose research interest focuses on planets beyond our solar system, or exoplanets, has been awarded a prestigious physics scholarship intended for graduate students.

Lucciana Cáceres Holgado, a senior from Cusco, Peru, was chosen as the recipient of the second annual Marian H. Rose Research Scholarship from the Society of Physics Students, an organization of the American Institute of Physics. The scholarship, whose namesake was a noted physicist, author and environmental activist, was created to reward one graduate student nationwide with $15,000 in grant funding. 

Though still an undergraduate, Cáceres Holgado was chosen this year for her track record of research and community involvement.

Double majoring in physics & astronomy and minoring in astrobiology, she has already gained research experience helping her professors on major projects such as assisting in engineering and testing electronic links to send to the Compact Muon Solenoid detector at the world’s premiere high-energy physics research center at CERN. 

Cáceres Holgado also spent a summer in Chile at the U.S. National Science Foundation’s National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory (NOIRLab), where she learned how to identify chemical signatures in the atmospheres of exoplanets, an area she is continuing to pursue in her own research. 

She is also active in her local chapter of the Society of Physics Students and serves as vice president of KU’s Peruvian Student Association.

Cáceres Holgado said she was grateful for all these experiences at KU, especially the access to cutting-edge research.  

“The hands-on exposure to real research has been invaluable,” she said. “What stands out most is how approachable and generous KU professors are; they are genuinely willing to share their knowledge and invite students to join their research groups.”

Ian Crossfield, associate professor of physics & astronomy and one of Cáceres Holgado’s mentors, said he was excited, though not surprised, that she won the scholarship despite still being an undergraduate.

“Winning this national-level award is a just acknowledgment of Lucciana's world-class hard work and research skills,” he said.

Cáceres Holgado said she would use the scholarship funds to further her research characterizing the atmosphere of the exoplanet known as Hot Jupiter TOI-2109 b.

“As an international Latina woman in astronomy and physics, being selected for this award means a great deal,” she said. “It shows a growing recognition of diverse voices in STEM fields that have historically been underrepresented. I am deeply grateful for the funding and for the vote of confidence in my work.”