This page is no longer being updated and remains online for informational and historical purposes only. The information is accurate as of the last page update.
For questions about page contents, contact the Communications Division.
Trustee Scholarship recipient Malinda Saia (Turnersville, N.J.) just finished her junior year at Lafayette, and already she has conducted sophisticated astrophysics research, published her findings in a scholarly journal, and presented the work at the 201st meeting of American Astronomical Society in Seattle.
Saia’s publication in Astrophysical Journal is based on research she conducted under the guidance of Michael Stark, assistant professor of physics. As an EXCEL Scholar, she studied a binary cluster of stars known as Cygnus X-3 to determine if the system is a neutron star or black hole. In Lafayette’s distinctive EXCEL Scholars program, students work closely with faculty on research while earning a stipend. Many of the more than 160 students who participate each year go on to publish papers in scholarly journals and/or present their research at conferences.
A physics major, Saia explains that mass is a key factor used to distinguish black holes from neutron stars. She and Stark calculated the mass of Cygnus X-3 and are writing proposals to get time on more sensitive satellites that will help verify their findings.
“I’m really excited that we published a paper,” says Saia. “I think this is a great start and will help when applying to graduate schools. Also, attending the American Astronomical Society meeting was a really good experience. Most of the astronomers in the United States attend this meeting, so it was a good way to meet people with similar interests who could potentially become contacts in the future.”
“This was my first time at an AAS meeting,” she adds. “I felt well prepared because I gave a talk to Physics Club earlier this year about our results. I knew the types of questions to expect.”
Saia will continue her EXCEL research with Stark this summer and plans to delve deeper into astrophysics next year in a senior honors thesis.
“The physics department at Lafayette has done so much for me,” she says. “The student-faculty ratio is great. I can get extra help whenever it is needed, and I’ve had the opportunity to do so much research. I could not have imagined it being any better.”
Saia plans to pursue a career in high-energy astrophysics after attending graduate school.
She serves as president of Physics Club and is a member of Sigma Xi, the international honor society for science and engineering research. Saia also is a Trustee Scholarship recipient. Selected from among Lafayette’s top applicants, Trustee Scholars have distinguished themselves through exceptional academic achievement in high school. They receive from Lafayette an annual minimum scholarship of $7,500 (totaling $30,000 over four years) or a grant in the full amount of their demonstrated need if the need is more than $7,500. She is a former member of the swimming and diving team.