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Exploring the Cosmos: Student Research Illuminates Galactic Mysteries

(Posted May 15, 2025)

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Rohit Raj '25

Rohit Raj '25

HUNTINGDON, Pa.— An intense curiosity to understand the world around him led Rohit Raj ’25 to study physics at Juniata College. Now, his discoveries have been recognized nationally by the Society of Physics Students (SPS), which recently honored Rohit with its Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Research.    

“My research focuses on ‘unusual’ stars in our neighboring galaxies, Andromeda and Triangulum,” said Rohit, who studies the rare stars Wolf-Rayet, Symbiotic, and Mysterious H-alpha/Ca-triplet emitters. 

Rohit was selected for the award because of his exceptional achievement in physics and astronomy research. Reviewers choose an award winner based on the quality and originality of the research, as well as engagement with the broader physics community. Rohit’s project, “Unusual Emission Line Stars in Nearby Galaxies (M31, M32, M33),” stood out to reviewers for its rigor and creativity.  

“Rohit’s work is an excellent reflection of the high-level scholarship and mentorship happening within Juniata College’s physics department,” said James Borgardt, William W. Woolford Professor of Physics and chair of the Physics and Engineering Physics Department. “This recognition is well-deserved.”  

To conduct his research, Rohit utilized some of the most powerful technology available, including the 10-meter Keck Telescope in Hawaii and the Hubble Space Telescope, studying individual stars 2.5 million light-years away.   

“Observing one of these stars in another galaxy is like spotting a single firefly on the moon,” Rohit explained. “Because Wolf-Rayet stars hide in the busiest, dustiest neighborhoods of their galaxies, it’s easy for light from nearby stars to blend together. To separate one ‘needle’ from a whole ‘haystack’ of stars, I built a crowd-analysis tool.”  

Each of the star classifications represents a unique stage in the evolution of the star, and utilizing two telescopes allowed Rohit to obtain multiple angles and measurements. The data gleaned from Rohit’s work offers valuable insights into the inner workings of a galaxy, particularly how galaxies grow and recycle material.   

Rohit’s path to Juniata began with the persistent question, “why?” And it’s a question that continues to drive him.  

“As a child in India, I would spend time roaming around, looking at my surroundings, and trying to understand natural phenomena,” he said. “A physics textbook I had in grade 6 or 7 explained things like condensation and had lots of answers, so I started to read other physics books to find more answers.”  

More answers led to more questions, and as a teenager, he began researching professors and emailing them with questions.   

“Some of them said my questions were very good. Some responded that I would need to look for the answer myself because they hadn’t found it yet,” said Rohit. “That was the first time I thought about looking for these answers myself. It was fascinating to think you could have so many questions and realize you could look for answers and keep on learning your whole life.”  

Rohit connected with Professor Borgardt in India.   

“We had really good conversations that made me think maybe this is the place I should go and where I’ll get the support to do research,” Rohit said. “It was one of the best decisions I have made.”  

At Juniata, Rohit has been an active member of Juniata’s chapter of SPS, and served as an associate zone councilor representing Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. Over the last two summers, he interned with Raja GuhaThakurta, distinguished professor of astronomy and astrophysics at University of California, Santa Cruz.   

“The last four years have been some of the best and most transformative years of my life. I’ve come a long way from where I started, and I know I still have a long road ahead,” said Rohit. “But whatever I pursue, I’ll carry the values Juniata has taught me at the core of my work.”  

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.