On April 21, 2025, Yale Physics inducted 25 members (see below) from the undergraduate classes of 2025 and 2026 to Sigma Pi Sigma, the official honor society of the physics and astronomy professions. Through election to Sigma Pi Sigma, distinctive achievement and high scholarship in physics are recognized and celebrated. An organization of the American Institute of Physics, and a member of the Association of College Honor Societies, the American Institute of Physics was founded in 1921 and has more than 100,000 historical members. Membership is lifelong and includes a one-year complimentary membership in the Society of Physics Students (SPS). Yale Physics joined Sigma Pi Sigma, the National Physics and Astronomy Honor Society, as Chapter #584 in 2020.
David Poland, professor of physics and director of undergraduate studies, commented, “We are thrilled to have inducted several of our students as lifelong members of the prestigious Sigma Pi Sigma Honor Society. This esteemed organization fosters a deep interest in physics and astronomy while promoting community building across all levels.”
Since joining Sigma Pi Sigma, the physics department has held induction ceremonies for undergraduate junior and senior students who qualify for the honor—they must have a GPA above a certain level and have taken Quantum Mechanics.
Sigma Pi Sigma exists to honor outstanding scholarship in physics and astronomy, to encourage interest in physics and astronomy among students at all levels, to promote an attitude of service, and to provide a fellowship of persons who have excelled in physics and astronomy.
- Mason Abrell, YC’2026 Physics
- Wayne Ariston, YC’2025 Physics (Intensive)
- Eli Bader, YC’2025 Physics
- Maddi Brown, YC’2026 Physics
- Grace Burton, YC’2025 Physics
- Tanish Chettiar, YC’2026 Physics (Intensive)
- Jeb Cui, YC’2026 Physics (Intensive)
- Dan DeCerbo-O’Brien, YC’2025 Physics
- Ele Donegan, YC’2026 Physics
- Quinn Ennis, YC’2026 Physics (Intensive)
- Edos Herweigh Vonk, YC’2026 Physics (Intensive)
- Morgan Holien, YC’2026 Physics (Intensive)
- John Kiely, YC’2026 Physics (Intensive)
- JeeHwan Kim, YC’2025 Physics
- Nina Liu, YC’2026 Physics
- Jack Lloyd, YC’2025 Physics
- Ethan Martinez, YC’2026 Physics (Intensive)
- Nikita Mazotov, YC’2026 Physics (Intensive)
- Marvin Odobashi, YC’2026 Physics
- Ingrid Rodriguez vila, YC’2026 Physics & Philosophy (BS)
- Pranet Sharma, YC’2026 Physics (Intensive)
- Rohan Wassink, YC’2026 Physics (Intensive)
- Maryanne Xu, YC’2026 Physics
- Iffat Zarif, YC’2026 Physics (Intensive)
- Daniel Zhang, YC’2026 Physics (Intensive)
- Zachary Zitzewitz, YC’2026 Physics (Intensive)
The induction ceremony was followed by the Nobel Prize in Physics Lecture by John Sous, assistant professor of Applied Physics.