Reshma Anna-Thomas (‘24) is a recipient of the 2024 International Astronomical Union (IAU) PhD Prize for her thesis, “The Search, The Localization, and The Characterization: Fast Radio Transients.”
This prize recognizes outstanding scientific achievements of PhD students in astronomy worldwide. Each of the IAU’s nine divisions awards a prize to the candidate it identifies as having carried out the most remarkable work in the previous year. Awardees are invited to present their work during the Division Days at IAU XXXIII General Assembly, which will be held in August 2027 in Rome, Italy. Anna-Thomas was awarded by Division D High Energy Phenomena and Fundamental Physics.
As a student at West Virginia University, Anna-Thomas was a member of Professor Sarah Burke-Spolaor’s research group. The group works on the Realfast project, observing, characterizing, and identifying the origin of cosmic bursts of radio light in the sky. “I had a very positive experience working at WVU, especially with Sarah. Sarah provided a perfect balance between freedom and guidance. I had room to explore my own ideas, while always feeling supported, especially during the more challenging phases of the research.”
Anna-Thomas’s thesis focused on finding fast radio transients like Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) using telescopes like the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) and the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope (GBT). “During this search, we discovered a Galactic radio transient, which emitted pulses at irregular intervals,” she explains. “Through detailed analysis, we constrained its source to be of neutron star origin.” Neutron stars are the incredibly dense, collapsed cores of massive stars that have run out of fuel.
Anna-Thomas's thesis went on to explore two key questions about Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs): their origin and their utility as cosmic probes. To investigate this, Anna-Thomas and the Burke-Spolaor group monitored an FRB for 18 months using the Green Bank Telescope in Green Bank, WV. By analyzing how the FRB's radio pulses interacted with surrounding plasma, Anna-Thomas uncovered evidence suggesting the source might be in a binary orbit with a high-mass star. This significant finding spurred long-term monitoring efforts focused on FRB propagation effects, providing insight into their local environments and, consequently, their origins.
“I also used two FRBs that we discovered in VLA data to investigate the gas in the halo of the Andromeda galaxy,” Anna-Thomas said. “This work demonstrated how FRBs can be powerful probes of otherwise invisible matter in galactic halos.”
In Burke-Spolaor’s words, “Reshma was a pleasure to work with over the years. She was an eager student, always willing to take constructive criticism in stride and act on advice given. That's a quality you love to see in a student!”
Professor Maura McLaughlin, Eberly Distinguished Professor and Department Chair, wrote: “This is a significant honor for Reshma, as it is a very competitive prize awarded to just one PhD student in her subject area among many applicants worldwide. I can't wait to see where her career takes her and I have no doubt that she will move our field forward in important ways.”
Anna-Thomas is full of gratitude for her academic experience at WVU and the support she received from colleagues, friends, and family. “Working on FRBs at the place where they were first discovered was in itself a highlight. I also deeply appreciated all the chats I had with other astronomers at WVU. It was overall a very stimulating environment, which was perfect for a PhD student.” Anna-Thomas adds, “I would like to thank my PhD committee members, my collaborators, staff members at WVU, friends and family for all the support throughout my PhD!”