Who We Are

The Yale Society of Physics Students is a nationally registered chapter of the Society of Physics Students. We host weekly study sessions (with food!), dinners with professors in the physics department, fun study breaks, movie nights, outreach efforts, and other events. We also hold two prestigious senior lecture series every year, first held in 2018: the Howard L. Schultz Senior Prize Lecture in the spring, and the Beatrice Tinsley Senior Prize Lecture every fall. Anybody is welcome to join Yale SPS. Check out the "Join!" tab for more information.

Officers for 2023-2024

Aaron Chizhik | President he/him

Aaron is a senior in Grace Hopper College majoring in music and physics. Originally from San Diego, Cali, Aaron has been studying piano since he was but a wee lad and continues to actively do so through music studies at Yale. Aaron currently is interested in fields of particle and nuclear physics, particularly (pun very much intended) regarding the great mystery of neutrinos. Aaron is presently working with the Heeger/Maruyama group, focusing on light detector development for the CUORE/CUPID neutrinoless double beta decay collaborations. Beloved activities orthonormal to school include watching martial arts movies, reading Russian literature, listening to rock n' roll, and eating strawberry cheesecake.

Nikita Mazotov | Co-President he/him

Nikita is a junior in Pierson College and a Ukrainian international student. He works as a peer tutor for the PHYS 200 course. His research interests have focused on experimental particle physics and occasional use of machine learning in the context of CERN ATLAS ITk Phase-II upgrades. Nikita’s favorite computer game is Kerbal Space Program.

Board Members

Henry Kaplan | Treasurer he/him

Henry is a senior in Branford college, majoring in Physics (XTREME.) and MechE. He is from Brooklyn, NY, also known as NY's best borough. Given his outgoing and charming nature, many first believe him to be a humanities major, but don't let that deceive you. When Henry is not busy being an academic weapon, you might find him taking a nap or working on art. He particularly enjoys drawing in graphite, as well as making CAD models to 3D print.

Matthew Balestier | Community Outreach Co-Chair they/them

Matthew Balestier is a junior in Jonathan Edwards College majoring in Math and Physics from New Jersey. They also hold a position on the board of Broad Recognition magazine. Aside from school, they hold a strong interest in art history. Their favorite contemporary artists are Mark Maggiori and anything weird and modern.

Jerry Li | Website & Media Developer he/him

Jerry is a junior in Grace Hopper who is majoring in physics (int.). He is originally from New Haven and grew up in a nearby town in CT called Guilford. Jerry is especially interested in astrophysics and is working on research dealing with the relationship between supermassive black holes and their host galaxies under Professor Meg Urry. In his free time, he can also be found playing piano, playing soccer, or going to IMs.

Nikita Mazotov | National SPS/Sigma Pi Sigma Liaison he/his

Nikita is a sophomore in Pierson College and a Ukrainian international student. He works as a peer tutor for the PHYS 200 course. His research interests have focused on experimental particle physics and occasional use of machine learning in the context of CERN ATLAS ITk Phase-II upgrades. Nikita’s favorite computer game is Kerbal Space Program.

Max Watzky | Prize Lecture Chair he/his

Max Watzky is a first-year in Benjamin Franklin College majoring in Astrophysics. He is currently working under Professor Charles Bailyn, searching for black hole candidates in the OGLE variable star dataset. Outside of physics and astronomy, you can find him playing trombone or extending his 200+ day Duolingo streak.

 

Maddi Brown | Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Liaison she/her

Maddi is a sophomore in Pierson majoring in Physics (int) from Wirtz, Virginia. She is specifically interested in astronomy and astrophysics. She is also interested in fostering environments for those new to physics, math, or STEM in general! Outside of the physics community, Maddi enjoys exploring different beaches surrounding New Haven and day trips to NYC (exploring the city is a fun time considering she is most familiar with her rural hometown). When she’s not grabbing chai lattes in Steep or working on PSETS in Tsai, she’s most likely hanging out in the astro lounge some days!

Anh-Thai Le | Physics Community Coordinator he/him

Anh-Thai is a sophomore from Southern California planning to major in Math and Physics. On the physics side of things, he's interested in particle physics and the intersection between math and physics, particularly in probability theory and statistical mechanics. Aside from SPS, Anh-Thai hopes to foster a love for STEM through his involvement in Yale's Science Olympiad and MathCounts Outreach. In his free time, he enjoys binge watching YouTube videos and (trying) not to play Supercell games.

 

Officers for 2023-2024

Co-Presidents:

Barkotel Zemenu (JE 2022) Maddie Butchko (ES 2023)

Board Members

Aaron Chizhik (GH 2025) Ethan Martinez (MY 2026) Nikita Mazotov (PC 2024) Alexa Murray (BF 2024) Andrew Nupp (MC 2022) Robin Tsai (TB 2026)

Officers for 2021-2022

Co-Presidents:

Amanda Butler (JE 2022) Dawson Thomas (ES 2023)

Board Members

Lumisa Bista (GH 2024) Agastya Rana (DP 2024) Annie Lin (SM 2024) David Saunders (GH 2023) Richard Li (MY 2022) Barkotel Zemenu (GH 2024) Maddie Butchko (JE 2024) Wyatt Kremer (TC 2024)

Officers for 2020-2021

Co-Presidents:

Shoumik Chowdhury (SY 2021) Laura Zhou (BF 2022)

Board Members

Shantanu Jha (SY 2021) Amanda Butler (JE 2022) David Saunders (GH 2023) Dawson Thomas (ES 2023) Yiming Zhang (BF 2022) Jessie Chen (DP 2023) Giovanna Truong (MY 2023) Olivia Aspegren (BF 2023) Vuong Mai (ME 2021)

Officers for 2019-2020

Co-Presidents: (Spring 2020 Semester)

Shoumik Chowdhury (SY 2021) Laura Zhou (BF 2022)

Board Members

Shantanu Jha (SY 2021) Helena Lyng-Olsen (PC 2022) Clare Staib-Kaufman (SY 2021) George Iskander (GH 2020)

Co-Presidents: (Fall 2019 Semester)

George Iskander (GH 2020) Shoumik Chowdhury (SY 2021)

Officers for 2018-2019

Co-Presidents: (Spring 2019 Semester)

George Iskander (GH 2020)
Shoumik Chowdhury (SY 2021)

Co-Presidents: (Fall 2018 Semester)

Sophia Sanchez-Maes (SM 2019)
Cady van Assendelft (SM 2019)

Newsletter: Chunny Ding (SC 2019)
Facebook Page: George Iskander (HC 2020)

Officers for 2017-2018

Co-Presidents: (Fall 2017 Semester)

Aaron Hillman (BK 2018)
Sophia Sanchez-Maes (SM 2019)
Cady van Assendelft (SM 2019)

Co-Presidents: (Spring 2018 Semester)

Sophia Sanchez-Maes (SM 2019)
Cady van Assendelft (SM 2019)

Newsletter: Chunny Ding (SC 2019)
Facebook Page: George Iskander (HC 2020)

Officers for 2016-2017

Co-Presidents: (Spring 2017 Semester)

Aaron Hillman (BK 2018)
Sophia Sanchez-Maes (SM 2019)
Cady van Assendelft (SM 2019)

Co-Presidents: (Fall 2016 Semester)

Benjamin Krakoff (SY 2017)
Jedidiah Thompson (BK 2017)

Officers for 2015-2016

Co-Presidents: (Spring 2016 Semester)

Benjamin Krakoff (SY 2017)
Jedidiah Thompson (BK 2017)

Co-Presidents: (Fall 2015 Semester)

Manjari Randeria (SY 2016)
Mina Himwich (BR 2016)
Mariona Badenas (BR 2016)

Officers for 2014-2015

Co-Presidents: (Spring 2015 Semester)

Manjari Randeria (SY 2016)
Mina Himwich (BR 2016)
Mariona Badenas (BR 2016)

Co-Presidents: (Fall 2014 Semester)

Robert James Pecoraro (JE 2015)
Catherine Harmer (JE 2015)

Officers for 2013-2014

Co-Presidents: (Spring 2014 Semester)

Robert James Pecoraro (JE 2015)
Catherine Harmer (JE 2015)

Co-Presidents: (Fall 2013Semester)

Steven Zwick (PC 2014)
Po-Yi Ho (BR 2014)

Officers for 2012-2013

Co-Presidents: (Spring 2013 Semester)

Steven Zwick (PC 2014)
Po-Yi Ho (BR 2014)

Co-Presidents: (Fall 2012 Semester)

Rachel Kurchin (PC 2013)
Jenna Freudenburg (BC 2013)

Officers for 2011-2012

Co-Presidents: (Spring 2012 Semester)

Rachel Kurchin (PC 2013)
Jenna Freudenburg (BC 2013)

Co-Presidents: (Fall 2011 Semester)

Joseph O'Rourke (SM 2012)
Daniel Kapec (SM 2012)

Officers for 2010-2011

Co-Presidents: (Spring 2011 Semester)

Joseph O'Rourke (SM 2012)
Daniel Kapec (SM 2012)

Co-Presidents: (Fall 2010 Semester)

Alan Hutchison (TD 2011)
Michele Dufault (Deceased)

Officers for 2009-2010

Co-Presidents: (Spring 2010 Semester)

Alan Hutchison (TD 2011)
Michele Dufault (Deceased)

Co-Presidents: (Fall 2009 Semester)

Katherine Rosenfeld (MC 2010)
Matthew Smith (SY 2010)

Officers for 2008-2009

Co-Presidents: (Spring 2009 Semester)

Katherine Rosenfeld (MC 2010)
Matthew Smith (SY 2010)

Co-Presidents: (Fall 2008 Semester)

Nathaniel Roth (PC 2009)
Elizabeth Jerison (SM 2010)

Officers for 2007-2008

Co-Presidents:

Elissa Dunn (BC 2009)
Margaret Shea (SY 2008)

Officers for 2006-2007

Co-Presidents:

Glenn Murphy (CC 2007)
Anna Mandel (SC 2007)

Officers for 2005-2006

Co-Presidents:

Ruth Toner (ES 2007)
Ning Liang (SC 2007)
Maria Orochena

 

Who We Are