Astronomy Sweeps 31st Annual Denman Undergraduate Research Forum
The Department of Astronomy is thrilled to announce a clean sweep of the Earth and Beyond category at the 31st Annual Richard J. and Martha D. Denman Undergraduate Research Forum. This is the largest number of winners we have EVER had as well as the largest cohort of students participating!!!!! Congratulations!
| Placement | Category | First Name | Last Name | Poster Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Place | Earth & Beyond | Rachel | White | Using a Convolutional Neural Network to Reconstruct Neutrino Events in ANITA |
| Second Place | Earth & Beyond | Daniel | Zurawski | A New Rossiter-McLaughlin Measurement of a Sub-Neptune Exoplanet |
| Third Place | Earth & Beyond | Lucas | Ferrari | Using Phase Curve Analysis of TESS Photometry to Probe the Atmospheres of Ultra-Hot Jupiters |
| Honorable Mention | Earth & Beyond | Blake | Sodikoff | Flux-Based Detection of Phosphine in Venus-like Exoplanets |
More than 300 undergraduate researchers shared their scholarly and creative work across ten academic categories during the forum, held on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in the Archie M. Griffin Grand Ballroom of the Ohio Union. The Denman Undergraduate Research Forum provides a culminating opportunity for graduating students to present their research and creative inquiry to the Ohio State community.
As Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry’s only competitive poster forum, the Denman Forum highlights excellence in undergraduate scholarship. Student presentations were evaluated by a panel of faculty, staff, and alumni reviewers, who assessed participants on their ability to clearly and effectively communicate their research questions, methodologies, and findings through both poster content and oral presentation.
Thanks to the generosity of Rick and Marte Denman, award recipients in each category received a placement medal, award certificate, and certificate of scholarship in recognition of their exemplary work and commitment to undergraduate research.
Congratulations to all of the students recognized at the 31st Annual Denman Undergraduate Research Forum for their dedication, curiosity, and contributions to research and creative inquiry at Ohio State.
From left to right: Daniel Zurawski, Rachel White, Blake Sodikoff, Lucas Ferarri
Blake Sodikoff second from left.