- Category
- Impact
- Date
- June 30, 2025
We met Katie Casciotti when she and two of her peers presented their research at the Flagstaff Astronomy Symposium. Katie has since graduated with a B.S. in Astronomy and minors in Computer Science and Mathematics, and we wanted to check in again with her.
Katie enjoys astronomy because it allows her to explore the universe, and that adventurous spirit drove her to move across the country to find a school where she could surround herself with like-minded peers. The Bachelor of Science in Astronomy at Embry‑Riddle's Prescott Campus — where undergraduate education is our primary focus — fit the bill.
Embry‑Riddle's Prescott, Arizona, Campus
The Prescott Campus’ mile-high elevation, low light pollution and beautiful weather provide outstanding conditions for astronomical observation. Our campus is home to the state-of-the-art Observatory Complex, which includes both optical and radio observatory equipment. The optical observatory includes a 16-inch diameter telescope equipped with professional-quality cameras, a high-resolution spectrograph and more.
The radio observatory is unique for undergraduate institutions and includes numerous antennas and dishes for observation of radio frequency bursts from the sun and Jupiter, hydrogen gas emissions from the Milky Way, lighthouse-like pulses of radiation from the collapsed cores of exploded stars and more.
A smaller campus with a focus on undergraduate research, Prescott gave Katie the opportunity to enter student-faculty research early in her academic career. Our well-connected faculty provide access to external research projects and the numerous major astronomical observatories throughout Arizona, such as the Lowell Observatory and Kitt Peak National Observatory.
Outstanding Opportunities
Katie worked with Dr. Pragati Pradhan, assistant professor of science with a focus on X-ray astrophysics, on her research into colliding-wind binaries in the X-ray. Through her connection with Assistant Professor Dr. Noel Richardson, Katie had the opportunity to present her work at the Flagstaff Astronomy Symposium.
Katie told us, “Presenting my work on colliding-wind binaries at Flagstaff was a great experience. It gave me a chance to present to a new type of audience: professionals in my field with little experience in my topic. This was a neat change from my previous presentations — presenting to students with no experience at Embry‑Riddle or to experts at the American Astronomical Society (AAS), whose papers I’m actively citing.”
Mentors Matter Here
Mentors are an important part of each program at Embry‑Riddle, and Katie’s time on our Prescott Campus allowed her to make meaningful connections with her mentors, Richardson and Pradhan.
“My mentors inspire me. They are both amazing people who make great contributions to their field while also putting in so much time and effort into their students. I aspire to support my own students one day in the same way they have supported me throughout my academic career,” Katie said.
Katie’s Words of Wisdom
When asked if she had any advice for incoming students, Katie answered, “Remember why you’re at Embry‑Riddle.”
When her classes got tough, Katie reflected on her research and her time at the observatory to remind herself why she was there and why she loved it. She also emphasized the importance of joining side projects related to your major and taking advantage of every opportunity, as she did when she had the opportunity for hands-on teaching experience at the Observatory Complex.
Katie plans to continue her studies after graduation and transition into research on how astronomical observations constrain dark matter parameters. She has big goals: Katie starts her Master’s in Astronomy in the fall of 2025, then plans to move on to her Ph.D. in Physics and Astronomy. Congratulations, Katie — keep reaching for the stars!
