Hawkins graduated from the University of Chicago in 2020 and recently received the NASA Space Technology Graduate Research Opportunity (NSTGRO) Fellowship. He is currently a graduate student at UCSB working on MKID instrumentation and high-contrast imaging.
Hailing from the Pacific Northwest, Crystal graduated from UC Santa Cruz in 2021. She is now a Physics graduate student at UCSB. Crystal was recently awarded the NASA Space Technology Graduate Research Opportunity (NSTGRO) Fellowship. She enjoys traveling, hiking, and figure collecting, and is a US Marine Corps veteran. She lives with her husband, Hamza, and her cat, Puggles.
Majid graduated from the Colorado School of Mines in 2021 and is currently a graduate student at UCSB. He was awarded the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship in 2023.
Caitlin graduated from The Ohio State University in 2021 and is currently a graduate student at UCSB.
Josh graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 2022 and is currently a graduate student at UCSB.
Aled graduated from UC Berkeley in 2022 and is currently a graduate student at UCSB. He was recently awarded the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship and the NASA NSTGRO Fellowship (declined).
Michael graduated from Williams College in 2023 and is currently a graduate student at UCSB. He works on high contrast imaging instrumentation, microwave engineering, and superconducting device physics with high kinetic inductance materials.
Nikki graduated from UCLA in 2023 and is currently a graduate student at UCSB. She is currently working on MEC Prime, an update to the MKID Exoplanet Camera, focusing on cryogenics, data processing, and instrument control.
Aaron graduated from CU Boulder in 2023 and is currently a graduate student at UCSB. He can be found in the clean room, machine shop, or using the sputter system.
Born and raised on Oʻahu, Kiana graduated from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in 2025. She is currently a graduate student at the University of California Santa Barbara and is interested in astronomical instrumentation. Her hobbies include crafting and admiring nature.