Victoria Williamson

I am a senior undergraduate student at the University of Florida, majoring in Astrophysics with minors in Mathematics and Religious Studies. I joined the group in my sophomore year and soon began leading my own research project. In fall 2025, I plan to begin a Ph.D. in Astronomy, focusing on cosmology and high-energy astrophysics through theoretical modeling, computational simulations, and observational data.

My research with Prof. Slepian and James Sunseri (Princeton University) investigates turbulence in the interstellar medium (ISM) using algorithms originally developed for cosmology. We applied the 4-Point Correlation Function (4PCF) to magnetohydrodynamic simulations, measuring the 4PCF on over 50 ISM simulations with varying magnetic field strength and pressure. Our findings reveal significant information beyond 2-point statistics, demonstrating the 4PCF’s potential as a powerful tool for studying turbulence and magnetic fields in the ISM. This work contributes to understanding star formation, one of nature’s most fundamental processes. Our published results are available here , and more details can be found on the project website. I was awarded a UF University Research Scholarship for this work.

Beyond research, I am passionate about astronomy outreach, particularly for women and underprivileged communities. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, reading, and painting with watercolors.

My personal website here.

In fall 2025, I will be joining the Ph.D. program in Physics & Astronomy at Rutgers.