Our Team

Vlad Grecu
President
Vlad Grecu is a third-year student in the Faculty of Science studying physics and astronomy. His passion for astronomy stemmed in kindergarten from questions about why the night is dark, and from there stretched outwards to discover increasingly vast, occasionally puzzling concepts. When not learning more about astronomy (or studying), his hobbies include playing soccer, tennis, and video games, reading sci-fi and fantasy books, and following Formula 1.

Chantal Hemmann
VP Academic
Chantal is a second-year science student with an endless fascination for space. She greatly enjoys laughing at her friends when they point to Jupiter in the night sky and ask her what star it is, but also spends a fair amount of time reading, playing the piano, and wishing she were stargazing.

Joshua Schirmaier
VP Observational
Josh is a second-year engineering student that hopes to pursue a career in the space industry as an aerospace engineer. He has had a passion for space and astronomy for as long as he can remember and now spends most of his clear nights observing or photographing the night sky. In the rest of his free time, he enjoys activities like reading, watching movies, and going on hikes.

Jen Jon Ma
VP Promotions
Jen Jon is a third-year materials engineering student who aspires to build a career in the space industry. His lifelong passion for space exploration began on the bridge of the Enterprise, and continues today through his satellite student design team. When free, Jen Jon likes to blow things up (in video games), watch movies and TV, and hang out with friends. If spotted in the wild, it is advised to approach Jen Jon with caution - you may find yourself in an inescapable conversation.

Rozy Etaghene
VP Social
Rozy is a second-year Applied Biology student who’s love for space came from watching Interstellar in Grade 11 physics. (Don’t ask how many times she’s watched it since). She loves to sit and look up at the stars while listening to music when she can’t sleep. One of Rozy’s favorite YouTube things is the space related rabbit-hole she’ll find herself down at 2 am...Sleep is for the weak (jk).
Rozy leaves you with this; “Or perhaps we've just forgotten that we are still pioneers. And we've barely begun. And that our greatest accomplishments cannot be behind us, that our destiny lies above us”

Justin Lee
Equipment Coordinator
Justin is a UBC alumni (BSc 2016) and staff. He was an exec in the UBC Astronomy Club from 2011-2016 and co-president of the club in 2013, and enjoyed running observation nights for the UBC community to see the stars and planets through a telescope, often for the first time. He spends most of his free time climbing and running in the mountains.

Andrea Schildhorn
Outreach Coordinator
Andrea is a second year undergraduate student at UBC. She stumbled across astronomy in her first year and thought to herself: “Yeah, this is it.” Andrea enjoys going outside, playing guitar and finding cool rocks on the beach.

Richard Wong
Social Coordinator
Richard is a fifth year biology student that enjoys looking up at the night sky from time to time. If he’s not out stargazing, you can find him out on a bike ride or listening to Ken Carson.

Gurveen Kaur
President
Gurveen is a fourth year Arts student who doesn’t know much, except that she loves to look up at the sky and wonder how she ended up on this planet. She has hundreds of questions about everything in the Universe and as much as they terrify her, she would still love to know all the answers. Find her at club events to talk to her and maybe have some fun conversations about our beautiful Universe.

Ayan Araleh
VP Administration
Ayan is a second year in the Faculty of Science looking to pursue a combined Physics and Astronomy degree. She is a huge space nerd, loves anything Sci-Fi and F1 related.

Kamryn Diehl
VP Observational
Kamryn is a Masters student studying botany after finishing a combined major in physics, computer science, and biology. Her interest in astronomy stemmed from watching NOVA documentaries with her Dad as a kid, and she continues to appreciate space by star-gazing whenever Vancouver’s infamously clear sky permits it. When it's cloudy out, Kamryn enjoys gardening, playing video games, and drumming.

Lindsay Ilkay
VP Promotions
Lindsay is a fourth year animal biology student. She’s always been curious about the universe, and the many worlds that exist outside of our own. In her free time, she loves to ski, draw, and hangout with her dog, Asha.

Steven Hsueh
Academic Coordinator
Steven is a 5th year Physics and Astronomy student. His passion for astronomy started as a child watching astrophysics-related videos and documentary, and continues with a focus on galaxy mechanisms and gravitational waves. Outside of academics, he enjoys various games and questioning the world around him while laughing at theories with his friends.

Naomi Goizueta-Serrano
Observational Event Director
Naomi is a second year student studying astrophysics who has dreamed of working at NASA since she was five years old. Doing what exactly? She’s not sure yet, but as long as it has to do with outer space then it’s perfect for her. In her free time, she enjoys reading fiction to escape reality, dancing her little Latina heart out, and spending time with her friends.

Elsa Wei
Promotions Coordinator
Elsa is a 2nd year visual art major with plans to minor in computer science. She started learning more about astronomy after taking physics courses in high school. She likes every star and has so many questions about the multiverse. In her free time, she likes reading, drawing animation, playing tennis and rhythm games.

Neil Jadav
Social Coordinator
Neil is a 3rd year, physics and astronomy major. He is passionate about learning about the wonders of astrophysics and was inspired by Carl Sagan to pursue a career in this field. When Neil isn’t found studying at Hebb, he likes to spend his time outdoors and watching F1 races.

Jaaron Muters
Treasurer
Jaaron is a 4th year Mathematics major, just going with the flow and trying to figure out what he wants to do for a career. He's been in love with astronomy as a hobby since he was introduced to the concept of black holes in third grade, and has been an executive with the club for the past 2 years. In his free time, Jaaron enjoys playing SSBM, soccer, and volleyball, along with studying computer science and jazz piano. Feel free to hit him up with any music suggestions or astronomy questions!

Aakash Anantharaman
VP Administration
Aakash is a third year student at UBC who is currently in the combined physics and astronomy program. He is a an astrophysics enthusiast with a keen interest in the subject, developed from his first (of countless) viewings of the movie Interstellar. He hopes to eventually find himself working at an observatory or in academia. In his free time one can find him working on sketches or reading novels and manga.

Pranay Aggarwal
VP Outreach
Pranay Aggarwal is a second year student in science from India. Gazing at the starry sky through the telescope is as fascinating as it is humbling. One may be the centre of their universe, but within the grand scheme of things, humans are nothing more than cosmic dust. This inspire a sense of adventure-- for exploration and introspection of one’s own role in the scheme. He was first exposed to the subject in 6th grade when his parents bought him a book on the night sky from a book fair. A touch complex, but he has not looked back since.

Erica Bell
VP Social
Pluto's biggest fan.

Sean Heakes
Astrophotography Director
During the daytime Sean is a third year Astronomy undergrad. At night Sean travels between stars faster than the speed of light and visits galaxies, planetary nebulae, star clusters, and planets within our own solar system.

Ripley Stafford
Observational Event Director
Ripley is a second year science student excited to study physics and astronomy. Since she was a kid she has always had a deep curiosity about the ever expanding universe and all it's made of. In her free time she loves playing her guitar, laughing with friends and spending time in nature.

Christa Agoawike
Secretary
Christa is a third year biology and oceanography major hoping to minor in health and society. They’ve been interested in astronomy ever since they learned what a black hole was! In their free time, they like to watch anime, read manhwas and geek out about Greco-Roman mythology.

Devin Kettle
Website Manager
Devin is a staff member at UBC. His love for astronomy was sparked by seeing the Milky Way for the first time while camping as a kid on a clear, dark summer's night in the Kootenays. That moment of immense perspective has stuck with him since then. He enjoys camping, playing Ultimate, staring into space, and being sat upon by his cats.