College of Science & Engineering

Coincidence can be a very funny thing. Sometimes, it’s a bit of a one-off, like finding out that you have the same birthday as a new friend, a distant relative or a prominent historical figure. Other times, it could mean something altogether different, as if the stars have aligned to indicate that you are exactly where you are supposed to be in life and career.

SFSU astronomy graduate student Gillis Lowry is living one particular coincidence that falls into both categories.

“I would like to thank San Francisco State University and everyone who helps make it what it is. I'm very grateful for the chance to continue to stay in this field and to continue to improve my skills and bring me closer to the career I hope to have in astronomy research and science communication.” 

—SFSU astronomy graduate student Gillis Lowry on donor-funded scholarships

“The master's program at SF State will allow me to continue doing research and also to take needed classes before I go to a Ph.D. program,” said Lowry, who co-authored the exoplanet habitability paper with Cornell University students Abigail Bohl and Lucas Lawrence and Professor Lisa Kaltenegger, director of the Carl Sagan Institute at Cornell.

“Our paper was mainly to create a target list of the planets that would be the most interesting to follow up with telescopes, especially future telescopes,” Lowry said. “I have a follow-up paper coming out probably in a year that's going to reveal how likely it is that we could observe these planets with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).”

But, just how do researchers such as Lowry, her co-authors and others determine which exoplanets may have life? Considering that the closest exoplanets to Earth are approximately 4.25 light years (about 25 trillion miles) away from us, getting any kind of reading on them might seem implausible if not downright impossible, at least to non-astrophysicists.

According to Lowry, the team’s research over three years was aided by telescopes such as JWST, data from the now-retired Gaia spacecraft of the European Space Agency (ESA) and reliance on trusted scientific methods to come up with their list of 45 exoplanets.

As Lowry explains it, “Scientists have a rough idea of the size and orbits of many exoplanets, but it’s difficult to determine whether these tiny worlds have an atmosphere, much less one that can support life. Sometimes, though, astronomers get lucky, and an exoplanet happens to orbit in front of its star from our perspective. As it does so, starlight passes through any atmosphere the planet has. Chemicals in the atmosphere can then absorb specific wavelengths, or colors, out of the starlight.” 

She continues, “When we receive all the light in our telescope and we split it up into a full rainbow, we're able to see little lines that have been taken out of the rainbow. And because we've measured these chemicals on earth, we know what specific lines correspond to what specific chemicals. At that point, if it has something like methane or oxygen, especially if it has a few of those together, then we might be able to say there's far too much of this specific chemical for it to be present in this atmosphere without eventually getting blown away into space, unless life is continually producing it.”

Hearing Lowry enthusiastically explain the process, it sounds so relatively easy. Of course, it’s not, but her tone conveys the sense of how much she enjoys the research.

To get a complete picture of Lowry’s pursuit of astronomy, we have to look back at where it all started. As a 6-year-old first grader, she was captivated by glow-in-the dark space books which she checked out her local library and would read under the covers at night. A year after that — and here’s where the profound coincidence comes in — she learned that she shares a birthday with legendary astronomer, author, TV host, and commentator Carl Sagan.

“I had never heard of him before, but I saw that he was an astrophysicist and an author,” Lowry said. “I really liked writing and I really liked space, so from then on I started saying that I wanted to be an astrophysicist when I grew up.” Later, she learned that Sagan was a professor at Cornell for 30 years. “That’s where my fixation on going to Cornell came from, because there were a lot of opportunities to uphold his legacy, both in terms of astronomy research and science communication.”

Growing up in St. Louis, a city with a rich history of supporting human space exploration with research and design and manufacturing of rockets as early as Project Mercury, Lowry took to astronomy like comets take to the cosmos. It was in St. Louis that Lowry “grew up going to the James S. McDonnell planetarium — even spending the night there under the stars.” She later returned there as an undergrad to present planetarium shows for up to 150 adults and children. Her experience giving shows there led her to jump right into giving shows at SFSU’s Charles F. Hager Planetarium.

As the Hager Planetarium is currently undergoing renovation that will include a state-of-the-art star projector with full dome video, Lowry will be spending most of her extracurricular time at SFSU working on a complete overhaul of astronomy lab curriculum with Professor Eileen Gonzalez, Professor Adrienne Cool and Astronomy Laboratory, Planetarium, and Observatory Technician Jim Gibson. “The updated planetarium will have so many new capabilities — flying through the canyons of Mars and zooming out to the farthest reaches of our observable universe, for example — as well as a more accurate, more beautiful night sky,” Lowry said. “I’m very passionate about upgrading the labs to be more engaging and to cover a wider spread of topics, so I’m devoting my time to making them the best they can be.”

“I’m very passionate about upgrading the labs to be more engaging and to cover a wider spread of topics, so I’m devoting my time to making them the best they can be.” 

—SFSU astronomy graduate student Gillis Lowry

Lowry’s research will inform the scientific communication she aspires to continue, building upon the work she did while at Cornell that included publicizing the student-built spacecraft Alpha CubeSat, directing events honoring Sagan’s legacy and the search for life, writing articles and making videos for the Carl Sagan Institute, coordinating the 100th anniversary celebration for Cornell’s Irving Porter Church Telescope at Fuertes Observatory and more.

“I’m interested in writing, video creation and presentation of topics in front of a camera,” Lowry says. “Ultimately, it's getting feedback from the public and being able to talk to the public and interact with them directly that is really the most exciting part as well as getting to see people's reactions to space and how much awe it instills in them.”

About the Kazuko Walson Scholarship

(Ms.) Kazuko Walson (dec. circa 2003) was a Physics student at SFSU in the 1970s. Upon her passing, her estate contacted the Physics department to set up the scholarship in her name “to provide scholarships to students who need financial assistance to pursue their studies in either astronomy or space exploration.”

If you would like to consider a planned gift, an endowed scholarship or a one-time gift to assist students such as Gillis Lowry, please contact College of Science and Engineering Director of Development Holly Fincke at hollyfincke@sfsu.edu.

“I had classes with very dedicated professors who took the time to mentor me and inspired me to be diligent with my studies. The professors and community at SFSU motivated me to do better and keep learning.”

—Hanh Huynh (B.S., ’14)

Her leave-behind message to SFSU students at the panel discussion was simple: “Surround yourself with people who support you and have your best interests at heart. Never sell yourself too short and always aim high.”

Castillo was the first in his family to attend a four-year institution after two years at junior college. A Bay Area native like Huynh, he wanted to stay close to home to help his family with home responsibilities. He came to SFSU knowing that he wanted to study chemistry.

“I envisioned myself working in a lab, doing experiments, but I did not know that I had the capabilities to take on graduate school,” Castillo says. “But working with the professors at SFSU and doing research really opened my vision to the possibilities of attending graduate school. Once I got further involved in research, my advisors pushed and encouraged me to attend graduate school and pursue a Ph.D.”

“I did not know that I had the capabilities to take on graduate school. But working with the professors at SFSU and doing research really opened my vision to the possibilities of attending graduate school. Once I got further involved in research, my advisors pushed and encouraged me to attend graduate school and pursue a Ph.D.”

—Juan Castillo (B.S. ’16)

After graduating from SFSU, Castillo, who majored in Chemistry, earned his Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from the University of California, Davis, where his research focused on characterizing dietary carbohydrates to understand their role in shaping the gut microbiome (the ecosystem of microbes that live in our intestines). He is a senior scientist at Gilead, where he develops and implements innovative analytical methods to support life-saving therapies.

Castillo told the students at the panel session that he was once in their shoes, not sure where his future laid. “I was trying to figure out my career path, and I did not envision myself at Gilead,” he said. “But, given my research experience and training, I was able to get my Ph.D., and I was capable of landing a job at Gilead.”

The Gilead Foundation has been a valued SFSU partner, contributing $5 million to the University’s new Science and Engineering Innovation Center (SEIC) that opened in January, 2025 as well as student programming and direct student aid.

"We are delighted to support the sciences at San Francisco State University," said Gilead Foundation President Jane Stafford. “Through their research skills, SFSU science alumni continue to be contributing members to the Gilead team as it strives to discover and test new therapies to treat illnesses that affect so many of us.”

“We are delighted to support the sciences at San Francisco State University. Through their research skills, SFSU science alumni continue to be contributing members to the Gilead team as it strives to discover and test new therapies to treat illnesses that affect so many of us.”

—Gilead Foundation President Jane Stafford

The Gilead and SFSU partnership extends beyond financial support. Gilead employees actively engage with SFSU students through mentorship, guest lectures and on-campus events. In addition, Gilead scientists are interested in exploring deeper collaborations with SFSU – such as contributing to SFSU’s STEM ​ curriculum and providing more opportunities for students to develop professional skills that will help them to achieve successful careers in biotechnology.

But being ahead of the curve, for Alex, also means investing in those who follow. In 2024, after many previous years of donations to San Francisco State University, Alex established an endowed scholarship at SFSU. Building on that commitment, he recently funded the Milowski Data Science and Machine Learning Summer Scholars program – an 8-week, faculty-mentored research experience designed to meet the growing demand for AI-driven skills.

The program gives students across the College of Science & Engineering (CoSE) hands-on experience applying data science and machine learning to real-world problems at scale. Participants also engage in weekly professional development, including networking and presentation training, to prepare for future careers.

“Technology and the application of machine learning are changing at an ever-increasing pace, and our research and academic pursuits need to evolve alongside it,” Alex says. “I wanted to bring data science and machine learning together for aspiring researchers and practitioners. Data science asks the questions; machine learning helps answer them. They naturally complement each other and should be pursued together.”

“I wanted to bring data science and machine learning together for aspiring researchers and practitioners. Data science asks the questions; machine learning helps answer them. They naturally complement each other and should be pursued together.”

—Alex Milowski (M.S. ’04)

That vision becomes reality this summer. Graduate students Serena Chang and Matthew Bush will serve as the program’s inaugural scholars. Working with Biology Professor Andrea Swei, Serena will study how mountain lions influence tick populations and the risk of tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease. Matthew, collaborating with Mathematics Professor Tao He, will conduct research to develop a non-invasive system to analyze human gait using floor vibration sensing – research that could aid early detection of mobility decline and neurological disorders.

“We are thrilled to launch the inaugural Milowski Data Science and Machine Learning Summer Scholars Program,” says CoSE Dean Carmen Domingo, PhD. “Providing funded summer research puts students on a path toward career success. Many of our students would otherwise take unrelated summer jobs to cover expenses. This program allows them to advance their research, strengthen their skills and better prepare for a competitive job market. Alex has provided a wonderful example of the impact an alumnus can have on our students.”

“This program allows them to advance their research, strengthen their skills and better prepare for a competitive job market. Alex has provided a wonderful example of the impact an alumnus can have on our students.”

—CoSE Dean Carmen Domingo, Ph.D.

Serena is grateful for the research opportunity that awaits her this summer. “I am really honored to have been nominated by Dr. Swei and selected for the Milowski Data Science and Machine Learning Summer Scholars program,” she says. “Support from this program gives me the opportunity to make concerted efforts to expand my experience and skills with data science and machine learning approaches. I am confident this will make me a better researcher as I develop my career in disease ecology.

“Plus, I am excited to work to answer my research question of how top predators impact Lyme disease transmission risk using a machine learning model approach that's new to me. I find both the topic and effort to develop my computational skills really engaging. I believe participation in this program will make me a stronger candidate for PhD programs in the 2027-28 academic year, which I hope will be the next step in my career path to becoming a professor of biology with a focus in disease ecology and One Health.”

Alex’s path to this moment began early. While still in high school, he started taking college courses and quickly developed a reputation as a skilled programmer. He paid his way through the University of Minnesota by writing software – first for the student newspaper, then for the university’s computing department – before moving into private industry, where he built large-scale print production systems for a large financial printing company. That unique experience introduced him to SGML and the precursors of the Web.

His curiosity soon drew him into the early days of Gopher, a pre-Web internet protocol for organizing and retrieving information. He became an expert in early Web technologies, launched a consulting company around it and eventually sold that company to a startup. That opportunity brought him to San Francisco – and ultimately to SFSU, where he earned his master’s degree in Mathematics before continuing on to a PhD in Informatics at the University of Edinburgh.

His experience at SFSU left a lasting impression. Inspired by the opportunities the university provides its students, he established the Alex Milowski Scholarship in Mathematics in 2010 and endowed it in 2024.

Now living near campus, Alex regularly attends CoSE events to connect with students and see their work firsthand, including serving as a judge at the recent CoSE Student Project Showcase.

“One thing I enjoy about coming to events is seeing the breadth of student work,” he says. “They’re articulate, excited, and deeply engaged in their research. It’s a clear reflection of what San Francisco State is doing well.”

“One thing I enjoy about coming to events is seeing the breadth of student work. They’re articulate, excited, and deeply engaged in their research. It’s a clear reflection of what San Francisco State is doing well.”

—Alex Milowski (M.S. ’04)

Through his philanthropy – made possible by a lifelong passion for programming, data science and innovation – Alex is opening doors for the next generation. His goal is simple: to help SFSU students not just keep up with change, but stay ahead of it.

Angela is focused on expanding environmental knowledge and increasing access to outdoor spaces. She describes these as a personal and professional calling. “I’ve experienced firsthand how nature can be a source of profound healing — helping me navigate my disability (PTSD), process trauma, and build an intimate, restorative relationship with the world around me. Spending time in outdoor spaces has also allowed me to explore and connect with my mestiza identity and indigenous Peruvian ancestry. As I have learned about the complex histories of the natural spaces I visit, I continue to reflect on how colonialism has distanced me from my ancestral language, Quechua, and from ways of life connected with nature. Being in these landscapes feels like coming back home.”

Angela is currently the president of the Sierra Nevada Alliance of Gators (SNAG), a student organization that builds community through nature and advocates for continued access to SFSU’s Sierra Nevada Field Campus (SNFC), where she fundraises efforts to help students overcome financial barriers to attend. She also works as an outdoor trip leader and is a student manager for the Gator Outdoor Adventure (GOA) program, a branch of Campus Recreation at the Mashouf Wellness Center that provides accessible hiking, backpacking, camping, and climbing trips for students, faculty, and alumni. Notably, the “Gator Wild” program led by GOA was Angela’s first experience with camping and backpacking, as well as her introduction to the SNFC, a research and education field station dedicated to building inclusive community around teaching and learning in the natural sciences, land management, art, music, and culture, offering workshops, classes, and a home base for research at nearby field sites. SNFC’s reach extends beyond the SFSU community, serving as a research and education resource for the local communities of the northern Sierra Nevada, the general public of California, and beyond. 

“I’ve experienced firsthand how nature can be a source of profound healing — helping me navigate my disability (PTSD), process trauma, and build an intimate, restorative relationship with the world around me. Spending time in outdoor spaces has also allowed me to explore and connect with my mestiza identity and indigenous Peruvian ancestry.” 
—Angela Tafur

With transportation being a challenge for SFSU students to access the field campus and other outdoor spaces, Angela utilized her roles within SNAG and GOA to organize various low- and no-cost trips and public transit trips to SNFC and various National Park sites, California State Park sites, and regional parks; showing students that accessing the outdoors without a car is not only possible but empowering. “Having seen and experienced the transformative impact of outdoor programs firsthand, I now want to help others find that connection,” Angela said. 

“I consider the work that I do a daily offering for the earth and environment around me. In highland Quechua cultures of Peru, making offerings to the Earth, known as Pachamama, is a deeply rooted indigenous tradition. It is more than just a career, it is a service I have dedicated myself to being a part of the interconnected, beautiful world that gives all of us water, sun, fire, earth, food, air. The least I can do is to give back for how the earth continues to take care of me, mirroring reciprocal and balanced relationships found across nature,” Angela says.

Prior to attending SFSU, Angela saw her interest in the environment flourish under the tutelage of a familiar SFSU face. “At Chabot College, my passion for geography was sparked by a professor — an SFSU geography and earth science alumnus (Suzanne Maher, ’09, ‘16) — who encouraged me to pursue the field,” said Angela. “From the moment I began applying to universities, I knew giving back to my community would be central to my path. That’s why I chose SFSU — to serve the Bay Area community that shaped me. I graduated with honors (from Chabot) and delivered the keynote speech at Latino Graduation Night, a defining moment as I transitioned to SFSU to earn my B.A. in geography.”

“From the moment I began applying to universities, I knew giving back to my community would be central to my path. That’s why I chose SFSU — to serve the Bay Area community that shaped me.” 
—Angela Tafur

The Kirkeberg Scholarship, established by retired SFSU professor Max Kirkeberg and his husband, Gabriel Proo, is awarded annually to an SFSU School of the Environment undergraduate or graduate student whose studies and goals align with dedication to the lived and changing environment of the Bay Area.

Kirkeberg was born in Stanton, Iowa (“the Swedish capital of Iowa”), the only child of high school teachers. He made his way to San Francisco in 1965 as he was working on his Ph.D. thesis. He joined SFSU as a professor of Urban Geography and ultimately received tenure and emeritus tenure status. His most well-known class was Geography 454: "San Francisco on Foot,” which he taught for 30 years. He loved every day as a teacher. 

Upon retirement, Kirkeberg continued teaching the class as a lecturer and offered it through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. He documented the urban geography of the San Francisco Bay Area in almost 60,000 slides taken over 50 years. His images of streets, architecture, development, landscapes, culture, and geographical highlights provide an encompassing picture of the diverse neighborhoods that make up San Francisco, as well as the features and regions beyond it in the greater Bay Area. The collection is available through DIVA, an open digital collections archive built and managed by Academic Technology at SFSU.

Kirkeberg was also the founder and leader of the St. Francis Lutheran Church and SFSU Geography Department AIDS Walk team, which ran from the 1980s to the 2020s, raising more than a million dollars for AIDS research and care, and often competing with the largest corporate teams for the top fundraising totals each year.

Fong’s impact also extends into the heart of campus innovation. Most recently, he became the largest individual donor to the new Science & Engineering Innovation Center (SEIC), playing a pivotal role in creating the 125,000-square-foot hub that “puts science on display” with state-of-the-art labs, classrooms, and collaboration. Opened in 2024, SEIC is home to the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry and the School of Engineering. The building serves more than 7,000 students in the College of Science & Engineering with studio labs, robotics facilities, makerspaces, energy systems labs, and a student success center. Through Fong’s philanthropy, SEIC empowers faculty, trains students, and advances biotechnology and research at SFSU — aligning with his goal of cultivating a new generation of entrepreneurs and visionary researchers.

“By generating discoveries that can attract funding from NIH, NSF, and other sources, the program creates a self-sustaining cycle of research, innovation, and impact.” 
—Kenneth S. Fong (B.A., ’71; M.A., ’74), Ph.D., about the Fong Research Award

From his beginnings as a curious biology student in the 1970s to his role today as an entrepreneur and philanthropist, Kenneth S. Fong’s legacy at SFSU is one of discovery and innovation. Through his generosity — grounded in gratitude and shaped by his own journey — he has built lasting infrastructure and opportunities, sustaining a cycle of exploration, learning, collaboration, and impact that will continue for generations.