This summer, Jules Levanti '25 was awarded a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) to study black holes at Penn State
Astrophysics major Jules Levanti ’25 shared her experiences with research this summer at the weekly Astro/Physics Tea.
Hosted by the Department of Physics and Astronomy, Astro/Physics Tea promises engaging discussions, thought-provoking ideas and a delightful spread of refreshments.
Levanti was awarded a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) this summer to study black holes at Penn State. She also became the first Elon’s first N.C. Space Grant undergraduate research scholar to further her research on dwarf galaxies.
Working in a research environment is valuable for scientists-in-training. At the Astro/Physics tea, Levanti discussed the process of applying, living in a new place, meeting a cohort of students from across the country and working on a project with a new mentor.
Applying for research positions can be very competitive and it is important to spend time on each part of the application, according to Levanti. In addition to transcripts and recommendation letters, some research hosts require personal statements and summaries of previous research experiences. Students applying for positions should also be thinking about which research domains are of interest and which may be less appealing.
Open to all students, faculty and staff, Astro/Physics Tea is the perfect opportunity to connect with fellow physics aficionados in a relaxed and informal setting. Meetings take place in the third-floor lounge of Innovation Hall at 3:20 p.m. on Wednesdays.