Ayanna Mann

My story

For as long as I can remember I have driven everyone insane with my intensely inquisitive nature. My family knew I was destined to be a scientist, so, when I was 5 my parents got me a 12-dollar, 180-degree constellation light projector, I remember laying down and looking into the stars and feeling safe. That was my introduction to a field I would grow to love, astrophysics. This summer it came full circle. I had the opportunity to research under Adam Miller at Northwestern and was able to come up with an improved throughput model of transmission for ZTF. Being awarded this scholarship will not only continue to facilitate my academic career, but also allow me to break society’s limitations on Black women in STEM and encourage diversity in a highly underrepresented field.

TEAM-UP Together Scholarship Recipient in 2022 and 2023