Laura Beth Chomiuk is an American radio astronomer and astrophysicist whose research involves the study of stellar evolution, stellar explosions (especially novae), and the effects of ejected material from stellar explosions on subsequent stellar evolution, as well as building a detailed radio map of the Andromeda Galaxy.[1] She is a professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at Michigan State University.[2]
Education and career
Chomiuk grew up in Detroit, and was inspired to study astronomy through seeing the 1997 film Contact.[3] She became an undergraduate at Wesleyan University, where she graduated with high honors in astronomy in 2003. She continued her studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. There, she received a master’s degree in atmospheric and oceanic sciences in 2006, and completed a Ph.D. in 2010.[4] Her dissertation, Supernova remnants across the Hubble Sequence, was supervised by Eric Wilcots.[4][5]
After postdoctoral research from 2010 to 2013 as a Jansky Fellow at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, the Harvard–Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, and Michigan State University, she joined Michigan State University as an assistant professor in 2013.[4] At Michigan State, she has founded multiple programs providing astronomy research opportunities to undergraduates,[3] and hosts outreach events for the public to attend observations.[1] She was promoted to associate professor in 2018 and full professor in 2023.[4]
Recognition
Chomiuk was a 2025 recipient of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers.[6]
Personal life
In 2020, Chomiuk was diagnosed as having stage IV cancer.[3]
References
- ^ a b Cho, Amy (9 March 2026), “MSU professor paves the way for future astronomers”, The State News, retrieved 2026-04-28
- ^ “Laura Beth Chomiuk”, Directory, Michigan State University College of Natural Sciences, retrieved 2026-04-28
- ^ a b c Mauger, Bethany (12 February 2025), A stellar career and unyielding spirit: MSU physics and astronomy professor reflects on her career amid her battle with stage four cancer, retrieved 2026-04-28
- ^ a b c d Curriculum vitae (PDF), retrieved 2026-04-28
- ^ “Laura Beth Chomiuk”, AstroGen, American Astronomical Society, retrieved 2026-04-28
- ^ “Laura B. Chomiuk”, PECASE recipients, National Science Foundation, retrieved 2026-04-28
External links
- Laura Chomiuk publications indexed by Google Scholar
- Home page
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