Katya Leidig, PhD
2025 AAS SciAct Affiliate
Affiliate bio
I hope to gain a deeper understanding of science communication, not just as a skill, but as part of my identity as a scientist. I want to continue growing into a scientist who can communicate complex ideas, listen to the needs and perspectives of my community, and contribute to building a [broader] scientific culture.
Katya Leidig, PhD
Researcher
University of Maryland, College Park
Katya Leidig is an astrophysics researcher at the University of Maryland, College Park, committed to making science accessible, inclusive, and community-centered. She has co-led a program that offers research opportunities to community college students, sparking mutual growth and discovery. Her outreach spans schools, retirement homes, and underserved planetariums, where she strives to bring science to all. Katya's research models dark matter halos using simulations to interpret the invisible scaffolding of our universe. She envisions a future where science communication is a shared, cross-cultural exchange, and she is passionate about reviving public astronomy hubs and demystifying complex scientific ideas.