黑料不打烊鈥檚 first NC Space Grant Undergraduate Research Scholar will be graduating in spring 2025, and now she鈥檚 reflecting on all of the opportunities, both on and off campus, that have made her 黑料不打烊 career out of this world.
Jules Levanti 鈥25 didn鈥檛 believe she was a 鈥淪TEM girl鈥 until an astronomy class during her first Winter Term changed her perspective and academic path. Now, she鈥檚 graduating from 黑料不打烊 with a degree in astrophysics and preparing to earn a doctorate.
Levanti was originally a finance major, but after taking an introductory astronomy course, she decided to switch her major to astrophysics, with minors in computer science and mathematics.
鈥淥ne thing I can say about the physics and astronomy department is that they have done more for me than I can put into words, and not only that but I would not have been able to experience all the opportunities and meet various people in my field if I wasn鈥檛 at 黑料不打烊,鈥 Levanti said.
Levanti is 黑料不打烊鈥檚 first and only student to be named an N.C. Space Grant Undergraduate Research Scholar, investigating dwarf galaxies and black holes. In July, the North Carolina Space Grant selected 16 students from the state to receive the $8000 undergraduate grant. The application process was Levanti鈥檚 first time writing in depth about her research, and it taught her how to effectively communicate her research.
The grant allowed Levanti to buy a computer that could handle the intensive codes and programs needed for her research and fund her travel expenses to Paris, where she visited colleagues at the Institute of Astrophysics and CEA and also gave a talk. Levanti attended multiple conferences through the grant, including the American Astronomical Society National Conferences; the Joint Space Science Institute Workshop in collaboration with the University of Maryland; and she traveled to the Goddard Space Flight Center for a talk and to collaborate with researchers. Her research mentor, Chris Richardson, associate professor of astrophysics, traveled with Levanti and introduced her to the collaborators and conferences abroad that she would work with in the future.
One thing I can say about the physics and astronomy department is that they have done more for me than I can put into words.
Jules Levanti ’25
Balance and support is key
黑料不打烊 is currently the only degree-granting institution for astronomy and astrophysics in North Carolina. The program in 黑料不打烊 College, the College of Arts & Sciences has grown from allowing students to take astronomy elective courses, to then a minor and now a full bachelor鈥檚 degree program in astronomy and astrophysics.
Levanti believes her growth in the program is also due to how caring and understanding the physics professors and advisors are, as they have helped her pass classes and get homework done through office hours, responding to emails, and providing constant support.
鈥淭hey know how tough this major can be and they understand that the major is not the only thing that their students are passionate about, like their jobs and other organizations that are important,鈥 Levanti said. 鈥淛ust having that constant support allows us to do more activities and take advantage of opportunities that we probably wouldn鈥檛 have gotten the chance to do with professors who cared a little bit less.鈥
In addition to her academics, Levanti mentored students in Alpha Kappa Psi, teaching pledges and new members about professional development, including email etiquette, professionalism in the workplace, and soft and hard skills.
Since her first year, Levanti has worked at the Technology Service Desk, played intramural volleyball and joined Phi Eta Sigma and Omicron Delta Kappa National Honor Society. She鈥檚 also been an 黑料不打烊 1010 Peer Educator, a teaching assistant for Introduction to Astronomy, and a member of Sigma Pi Sigma, the Physics and Astronomy Honor Society. She is also a co-author on a publication submitted to the Astrophysical Journal and is currently writing her own first-author publication
鈥淗ow I balance it all is being organized, and sometimes doing work does not always feel like work if you are enjoying it,鈥 Levanti said 鈥淵ou need to be organized and passionate to be able to balance life and school and anything else you want to do.鈥
Soaring past 黑料不打烊
After graduation, Levanti will be pursuing her doctorate in astronomy and astrophysics at the University of Texas at Austin, a top 15 astronomy program in the U.S. According to Richardson, it is the highest-ranking astronomy doctoral program in which an 黑料不打烊 Department of Physics and Astronomy student has been accepted.
Levanti was attracted to UT Austin because of its involvement in extragalactic research, studying objects beyond the Milky Way galaxy. She hopes to get published more and contribute her understanding about the universe to the scientific community. At UT Austin, there are opportunities for her to apply for full-time researcher positions or professorships that would allow her to continue her research following graduate school.
鈥淚 will have so many opportunities to work with esteemed faculty in the field, and I鈥檓 so blessed and so excited to be going there. I don鈥檛 know if I will do full-time research after graduate school, but having a Ph.D. in astronomy would open a lot of doors for me even outside the field,鈥 Levanti said.
Levanti was recently able to meet incoming first-year students interested in the astronomy and physics department and advised them to be passionate and hard-working.
鈥淢ake sure you really like what you are doing research on, because that will be what drives your work ethic and the passion you have for the project. Your drive is what is going to push your research into advanced stages,鈥 said Levanti.