Nico Bers, a junior physics major with a concentration in astronomy has received an Honorable Mention for the 2025 Universities Space Research Association (USRA) Distinguished Undergraduate Awards.
This year’s Honorable Mentions were selected from 130 applicants representing 71 universities across the country by a review panel composed of faculty from USRA’s member institutions. The awards recognize exceptional undergraduates who demonstrate outstanding research and academic achievement in fields related to space science and engineering.
Nico conducted research in CIERA Director Professor Vicky Kalogera’s Group under the mentorship of former CIERA Fellow (NASA Einstein Fellow) Sylvia Biscoveneau, now a faculty member at Princeton University.
“This recognition means a lot to me, and I am grateful to have been in an incredible environment at CIERA and in a group doing important research that I was able to contribute to,” Bers said.
The USRA Distinguished Undergraduate Awards are among the most competitive honors for undergraduates pursuing research in space-related disciplines, aiming to foster the next generation of leaders in astrophysics, planetary science, and aerospace engineering.