Physics & Astronomy
Welcome. Our department provides an attentive, hands-on research and learning community for undergraduate and graduate students up through the PhD level.
Our diverse and dynamic faculty of twelve includes four women and represents seven different countries. Recently, our department was named in a report from the American Institute of Physics for our high percentage (30-40%) of female PhD awardees from the years 2013-2017. Our program was also recognized by the APS among US PhD-granting departments for our high percentage (50%) of female graduates: placing second nationally at the undergraduate level and third at the graduate level (APS data for the period 2011-2013).
We carry out state-of-the-art research in this department. Out of 10 research faculties, there are 5 NSF CAREER award winners, 2 Cottrell and Scialog Scholars, and 1 W.M. Keck Foundation award recipient. Additionally, faculties are supported by DOE, traditional (three-year) funding from NSF and grant awards (R15, RO1) from NIH.
Using Fundamental Knowledge to
Expand Academic Horizons
Specialized courses help tailor undergraduate degree options in the direction of physics, astrophysics or medical physics. Some students pursue our dual-degree with engineering, or utilize a physics education as foundational knowledge before entering medical school or law school.
Graduate students are integral to progress in research and teaching on campus. They work closely with faculty and undergraduates while pursuing a master's in physics or PhD in physics or biophysics.
Identifying Solutions, Accelerating Research
Our research involves primary faculty investigators leading teams of graduate and undergraduate students toward a better understanding of astronomy and astrophysics, biophysics and condensed matter physics.
We continually collaborate with other departments in the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and across campus to drive research forward in the areas of computational biology, imaging analysis, computer technology and big data.
