Ayanna Mann

Ayanna Mann is a second-year Ph.D. student in the Department of Astronomy at Columbia University. She attended Howard University on a full scholarship through the Karsh STEM Scholars Program, graduating summa cum laude in 2025 with a B.S. in Physics, a concentration in Astrophysics, and minors in Mathematics and Philosophy. As a member of the inaugural TEAM-UP Together Scholarship cohort and a three-time recipient, Ayanna’s undergraduate journey was shaped by the program’s investment in her scientific and professional development. During her time at Howard, she was named a Barry Goldwater Scholar and received the USRA Distinguished Undergraduate Award, and she most recently received the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship in Physics and Astronomy.

At Columbia, Ayanna studies time-domain astronomy and stellar evolution, with a particular interest in planetary engulfment events. Her research focuses on identifying these rare transients, constraining their occurrence rates, and understanding the circumstellar environments they produce, with the broader goal of developing automated frameworks for real-time transient detection in the era of the Vera C. Rubin Observatory. Beyond her research, Ayanna is deeply committed to mentorship and expanding access to opportunities in STEM, while drawing on her background in the humanities to explore the intersections of science, society, and culture. She is honored to return to the TEAM-UP Together Student Experience Conference as this year’s closing speaker.