Brian Jiang CC'23, 2023-2024 Churchill Scholar

Brian Jiang CC’23 is one of two Columbia University students to be named a 2023–24 Churchill Scholar. He joins Karen Copeland SEAS’23 among 18 Churchill Scholars who were selected — 16 in the sciences, math and engineering, and two Kanders Churchill Scholars for science policy.

Established in 1963 at the request of Sir Winston Churchill, the Churchill Scholarship was inspired by Churchill’s vision for a U.S.-U.K. partnership that would support the advancement of science and technology in both countries. The Churchill Scholarship provides funding for one year of postgraduate study at Churchill College, Cambridge. This is the first time that Columbia has seen two Churchill Scholars named in the same year.

Jiang, who is from New Jersey, is double majoring in physics and computer science-mathematics. His diverse research interests are centered on understanding fundamental physics, modeling complex and chaotic phenomena, and exploring the large-scale evolution of our universe. Currently, he is engaged in theoretical astrophysics research on the evolution of galaxies and the behavior of high-energy astrophysical plasmas; he also is working on his senior thesis in computational particle physics, specifically regarding lattice simulations of strong interactions.

In 2021 Jiang was named a Goldwater Scholar. He enjoys performing classical trumpet in the Columbia University Orchestra and Bach Society as well as playing chess. At Cambridge, he will pursue an M.Phil. in physics to research galactic evolution. Following his Churchill year, he aims to pursue a Ph.D. and eventually become a professor in theoretical physics.

For more information about the Churchill Scholarship, please reach out to Undergraduate Research and Fellowships.