/jila/ en /jila/2026/04/24/kirk-long-and-constanza-echiburu-trujillo-receive-2026-r-n-thomas-award <span>Kirk Long and Constanza Echiburú‑Trujillo Receive 2026 R. N. Thomas Award</span> <span><span>Steven Burrows</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-04-24T09:07:32-06:00" title="Friday, April 24, 2026 - 09:07">Fri, 04/24/2026 - 09:07</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/jila/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2026-04/RN%20Thomas%202026%20Constanza%20Echibur%C3%BA%E2%80%91Trujillo%20and%20nominee%20Drake%20Miller%20III.jpg?h=bcf352c3&amp;itok=qp5tEppk" width="1200" height="800" alt="RN Thomas 2026 Constanza Echiburú‑Trujillo and nominee Drake Miller III"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/7"> Astrophysics </a> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/95" hreflang="en">Ann-Marie Madigan</a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/208" hreflang="en">Dexter Theses</a> <a href="/jila/taxonomy/term/128" hreflang="en">JILA News</a> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div> <div class="align-right image_style-small_500px_25_display_size_"> <div class="imageMediaStyle small_500px_25_display_size_"> <img loading="lazy" src="/jila/sites/default/files/styles/small_500px_25_display_size_/public/2026-04/RN%20Thomas%202026%20Constanza%20Echibur%C3%BA%E2%80%91Trujillo%20and%20nominee%20Drake%20Miller%20III.jpg?itok=68oUXE_D" width="375" height="347" alt="RN Thomas 2026 Constanza Echiburú‑Trujillo and nominee Drake Miller III"> </div> <span class="media-image-caption"> <div>Constanza Echiburú‑Trujillo and nominee Drake Miller III.</div> </span> </div> <p>JILA is pleased to announce that graduate students Kirk Long and Constanza Echiburú‑Trujillo are the recipients of the 2026 Richard Nelson Thomas Award, which recognizes outstanding experimental contributions by JILA graduate students. This year’s nominees also included Drake Miller III and Sajal Gupta, highlighting the strength and breadth of graduate research across the institute.</p><p>Long was recognized for his contributions at JILA prior to beginning a postdoctoral appointment in Germany. Although he was unable to attend the award presentation in person, his work and engagement during his time at JILA exemplify the standards of excellence and collaboration the Thomas Award is meant to recognize.</p><p>Echiburú‑Trujillo was honored for her accomplishments as a JILA graduate student and her contributions to the JILA research community. In addition to her academic work, she has been an active and supportive presence within her group and the broader institute.</p><p>The R. N. Thomas Award is presented annually in memory of Richard Nelson Thomas, whose dedication to experimental science and graduate education left a lasting impact at JILA. The award recognizes students whose work and service reflect those values and who contribute meaningfully to JILA’s collaborative research environment.</p> <div class="align-right image_style-small_500px_25_display_size_"> <div class="imageMediaStyle small_500px_25_display_size_"> <img loading="lazy" src="/jila/sites/default/files/styles/small_500px_25_display_size_/public/2026-04/kirkVeniceWinter.jpg?itok=zoFPBKFd" width="375" height="375" alt="Kirk Long"> </div> <span class="media-image-caption"> <p>Kirk Long.</p> </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>Graduate students Kirk Long and Constanza Echiburú‑Trujillo have been awarded the 2026 Richard Nelson Thomas Award, an honor rooted in JILA’s astronomy tradition that recognizes outstanding experimental contributions by graduate students. Drake Miller III and Sajal Gupta were also nominated, underscoring the depth of student research across the institute.</div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Fri, 24 Apr 2026 15:07:32 +0000 Steven Burrows 1239 at /jila