Paige Krsnak

B.S. Physics (in progress), Queens College, CUNY

paige.krsnak50@cuny.edu//bsky.app/pkrsnak.dev//github.com/SplendidStrontium

Education

Queens College, CUNYAug 2026 – present

B.S. Physics, minor in Mathematics (expected May 2029)

Queensborough Community College, CUNYSep 2024 – May 2026

Coursework in physics and mathematics; transferred to Queens College

  • GPA 4.0
Columbia University, School of Professional StudiesSep 2011 – Dec 2013

Coursework in computer science and astronomy

Columbia University, Columbia CollegeSep 2006 – May 2011

B.A. Astronomy

Research

Undergraduate Research Fellow, AstroCom NYCDec 2025 - present

Mentor: Jillian Bellovary, Ph.D. (QCC / AMNH)

  • Researching impact of massive black holes on dwarf galaxy evolution using cosmological simulations.
  • Generating synthetic observations of simulated galaxies with SKIRT radiative transfer code.
  • Creating user-friendly visualizations of simulation data using Python and Plotly.
CRSP Scholar, CUNY Research Scholars ProgramOct 2025 - Jul 2026

Mentor: Jillian Bellovary, Ph.D. (QCC / AMNH)

  • Reviewed literature on dwarf galaxy evolution and black hole feedback.
  • Analyzed cosmological simulation data using pynbody.
  • Compared simulation results to observational data from Nearby Galaxy Catalog.
Undergraduate Researcher, QCC NSF REU ProgramMay 2025 - Aug 2025

Mentor: Sunil Dehipawala, Ph.D. (QCC)

  • Analyzed spectroscopic data of iron oxides using X-ray fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopy.
Undergraduate Researcher, Frontiers of Science Summer Research Program, Columbia UniversityMay 2007 - Aug 2007

Mentor: Joseph Patterson, Ph.D. (Columbia University)

  • Analyzed light curves of cataclysmic variable stars to determine orbital periods and other properties.

Presentations

Twin Studies for Simulated Galaxies: Bounding the Observable Footprint of Black Holes in Dwarfs (Talk)Jul 2026

AMNH Summer REU Symposium, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY

Deciphering the Dwarfs (Talk and Poster)Jul 2026

CUNY Research Scholars Program Symposium, New York College of Technology, Brooklyn, NY

A Matter of Perspective: How a Galaxy's Tilt Changes the Light We See (Talk)May 2026

CRSP Spring Student Symposium, Queensborough Community College, Queens, NY

Feast or Famine: An Exploration of the Role of Massive Black Holes on Star Formation Rates in Dwarf Galaxies within the Sandra Simulation (Poster)Dec 2025

Undergraduate Research and Creative Works Day, Queensborough Community College, Queens, NY

Seeing the Unseeable (Talk)Aug 2025

QCC NSF REU Program Symposium, Queensborough Community College, Queens, NY

Honors & Awards

AstroCom NYC Scholar, NSF-funded research fellowship, CUNY / AMNHDec 2025 - present
Student Speaker, CUNY Research Scholars Program SymposiumJul 2026

Selected to represent Queensborough Community College

Physics Department Scholarship, Queensborough Community CollegeMay 2026
Phi Theta Kappa, Queensborough Community College2026
Dean's List, Queensborough Community College2025 - 2026
Frontiers of Science Summer Research Fellowship, Columbia University2007

Teaching & Outreach

Guest Instructor, Chinese Academy at Queensborough Community CollegeJul 2025
  • Designed and taught a 2-hour activity on astronomical distances adapted for early elementary to early middle school students.
Teaching Assistant, Dazzling Discoveries, New York, NY2010 - 2011
  • Taught in weekly after-school science enrichment program for early elementary school students, including hands-on activities and demonstrations.
Tutor, Dazzling Discoveries, New York, NY2010 - 2011
  • Tutored high school algebra and trigonometry twice weekly.
Instructor, STEM Summer Institute, MIT Office of Engineering Outreach Programs, Cambridge, MA2009
  • Designed and executed introductory physics course at summer program for advanced middle school students.

Skills

Programming
Python (NumPy, Astropy, Matplotlib, pandas, Plotly), HTML/CSS
Scientific software
pynbody, SKIRT radiative transfer code, Jupyter
Tools
Git/GitHub, Unix/Linux, LaTeX, Jekyll
Other
Data visualization, scientific writing, public speaking, science outreach

Professional Experience

Administrative Assistant, B.J. Laura & Son (family business) (Queens, NY)2023 – present

Part-time, a few hours per week

Administrative Assistant, Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University2011 – 2014
Administrative Assistant, Department of Physics, Columbia University2006 – 2011

Service

Student Union Representative, AstroCom NYCDec 2025 – present
  • Coordinate with the student committee to organize events and represent student needs to the program.