North Carolina Space Grant Supports Two Undergraduate Research Scholars

Two Elon University students have been chosen for the NC Space Grant Undergraduate Research Scholarship, a highly competitive program that helps students gain hands-on research experience aligned with NASA Mission Directorates.

Cayden Tirak ’28 and Myka Thomas ’27 are the second and third Elon students to receive the award, following Jules Levanti ’25 in 2024. Tirak is also the youngest Elon student to receive the award.

“It is really exciting to have won this grant, and the funding will be able to help me take this research project further,” said Tirak, who is an astrophysics major and Honors Fellow studying “green pea galaxies” and the black holes at their center. “Being able to say I won a research grant for my undergraduate project is a huge privilege and will help me in the future pursue my dreams of doing research as a career.”

Read the full article on elon.edu

Author Credit: Elon University News Bureau, staff

Image Credit: Elon University | Today at Elon

Original Post Date: 6.15.2026