
The Clemson University College of Science held an awards ceremony on April 10 to honor outstanding students, including two from the Department of Physics and Astronomy.
Maggie Marte received the Phi Kappa Phi Certificate of Merit, awarded to a graduating senior with a GPA of 3.4 or higher who has demonstrated leadership, service, and creative contributions. Maggie, a physics major with a minor in mathematical sciences, has maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA while conducting research on piezoelectric materials for quantum devices. Her efforts have led to an accepted publication and several awards, including Best Engineering Oral Presentation at the 2023 South Carolina Academy of Science. She is also a Goldwater Scholar and Astronaut Scholar. Outside academics, she is vice president of the Society of Physics Students, part of the College of Science Student Ambassadors, and a member of the Clemson club gymnastics team. This fall, she will pursue a Ph.D. at MIT in quantum systems.
Sumit Banerjee, a Ph.D. candidate, was recognized for his community engagement efforts. His research models 1.8 MeV gamma-ray emissions from Al-26 decay in the Milky Way. He developed a pirate-themed summer reading and science program for public libraries and has led over 40 planetarium shows. Banerjee also volunteers for campus outreach events like solar eclipse viewings and the Clemson Women in Physics meeting and serves as a teaching assistant.
Adapted from: https://news.clemson.edu/top-2024-25-college-of-science-students-honored/