Interactions.
Students and Professor aligning a telescope.

Inside UB’s observatory dome, PHY 386 students learn how to align and operate the department’s telescope while exploring AI-powered methods for analyzing astronomical data.

In this Issue:

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Message from the Chair

Xuedong Hu.

Xuedong Hu, Professor and Chair

The first snow has come and gone in Buffalo, and the Fall semester is rumbling by before we know it. Hope this past year has been rewarding for you in terms of your health, family life, and professional career!

Year 2025 has seen one challenge after another for Higher Education in general, with the keywords being change and uncertainty. While the multitude of federal policy shifts and reversals have mostly settled down by now, further uncertainties are still ahead of us, whether the proposed drastic cut in indirect cost for federal grants, or the alarming trend of declining international student enrollment for many universities.  And the list goes on and on. The head wind is also not limited to the federal level.  Within the State of New York, the declining population has severely impacted many smaller SUNY campuses in recent years. While UB has weathered the storm reasonably well so far, the trend certainly poses a serious question for UB in general, and UB Physics in particular: What changes and additions could we make to deliver the best education package to our students? 

Department News

Prof. Tim Thomay and graduate student Jeffrey Carvalho fine-tune the setup used in their new open-access Journal of Optics publication on quantum light sources.

New Insights into Quantum Light

By Tim Thomay, PhD

The Thomay group recently published new research in the Journal of Optics on “spectrally-resolved higher-order photon statistics of spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC)”. This nonlinear optical process, in which a single photon splits into a pair of entangled photons, is a cornerstone of modern quantum optics. Using a four-detector Hanbury Brown and Twiss interferometer coupled to a spectrometer, the team systematically explored how photon correlations vary with wavelength, pump power, and coincidence time. The results revealed a striking wavelength dependence: shorter wavelengths produced nonlinear increases in photon numbers with pump power, while longer wavelengths followed a more linear trend. 

The evolution of a single spin under coherent driving and spontaneous decay. TWA (solid lines) shows strong agreement with the exact solution (circles) for weak to moderate loss rates. Credit: PRX Quantum (2025). The Cumulant Expansion (CE) curves are also shown. DOI: 10.1103/1wwv-k7hg

Quantum dynamics on your laptop? New UB method brings that vision closer

By Jamir Marino, PhD

A fresh computational technique from UB physicists promises to make simulating complex quantum systems far more accessible. In a new paper in PRX Quantum, User-Friendly Truncated Wigner Approximation for Dissipative Spin Dynamics, researchers led by Assistant Professor Jamir Marino present a user-friendly extension of the truncated Wigner approximation (TWA) that works for open, dissipative quantum spin systems—i.e. systems that exchange energy with their environment and are constantly subject to drive.  Traditionally, TWA has been restricted to ideal, isolated quantum systems. Marino’s team breaks through that limitation by developing a conversion table that lets physicists directly map a wide range of quantum spin problems into stochastic classical equations that can be run on consumer hardware. Key advantages of the new method: Low computational cost, making it possible to simulate complex dynamics in hours rather than days on supercomputers;  Simplicity and generality: the approach removes much of the problem-specific derivation burden; 

Department Events

Participants of NYSS APS Symposium.

Participants of NYSS APS Fall 2025 Symposium at UB

Student participants at NYSS APS Fall 2025 Symposium.

Students participating in NYSS APS Fall 2025 Symposium

NYSS APS Fall 2025 Symposium at UB

By Changjiang Liu, PhD

The University at Buffalo hosted the 132nd Topical Symposium of the New York State Section of the American Physical Society (NYSS-APS) on November 1, 2025, under the theme Frontiers in Quantum Materials and Phenomena. The full-day event brought together over 100 participants from across New York State and the broader Northeast to exchange ideas on emerging directions in condensed-matter physics, materials science, and quantum technologies.

Prof. Christopher Monroe giving Rustgi Lecture.

Prof. Christopher Monroe (Duke Universiry) gives Rustgi Lecture 2025 at UB

Christopher Monroe answers questions from students.

Prof. Christopher Monroe answers questions from students

Moti Lal Rustgi Lecture for 2025

By Xuedong Hu, PhD

On November 14, 2025, UB Physics hosted the 29th Moti Lal Rustgi Memorial Lecture. The Moti Lal Rustgi Memorial Lecture Series was established in 1993 through a generous endowment from the Rustgi family to honor and remember former Physics colleague Professor Moti Lal Rustgi. The lecture is given annually by distinguished researchers on topics that have broad appeal. The 29th lecture in this series, titled “Quantum Computers: What, How, and When?” was given by Christopher Monroe. 

Dr. John Cerne and the Western New York Mensa Chapter members.

Dr. John Cerne gives tour of Fronczak Hall to the Western New York Mensa Chapter members.

Western New York Mensa Chapter members visit UB Physics Department

By John Cerne, PhD

On October 14,  Dr. John Cerne gave a tour of Fronczak to the Western New York Mensa Chapter. This included touring the Camera Obscura and Foucault pendulum. The Chapter members asked many great questions and had a lot of stimulating conversations about physics and technology with Dr. Cerne.

Faculty News

Meet our New Faculty Members

Wanyi Nie.

Professor Wanyi Nie

Professor Wanyi Nie joined the Department of Physics at the University at Buffalo in Spring 2024. Her research spans the cutting edge of novel semiconductors, optoelectronic devices, and clean energy technologies. Her group focuses on developing organo-metal halide perovskites and metal-organic frameworks, with applications ranging from X-ray imaging and infrared detection to spintronics and photovoltaics. 

Dusan Sarenac.

Assistant Professir Dusan Sarenac

Dusan Sarenac joined UB Physics in Spring 2024 as an Assistant Professor. He is an experimental physicist whose research spans quantum optics, neutron scattering, and biomedical photonics. Dusan completed his PhD at the University of Waterloo and was a Research Associate at the Institute for Quantum Computing before joining UB. 

Jamir Marino.

Assistant Professir Jamir Marino

In August 2025, Dr. Jamir Marino relocated his research group, NEUQUAM, working on interdisciplinary non-equilibrium quantum many-body physics, from the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz to the UB. 

Christine McLean (left) David Lu (right).

Assistant Professors Christine McLean and David Yu

The High Energy Physics Experimental Group has recently grown to include Assistant Professors Christine McLean and David Yu. They both join the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in Geneva, Switzerland. They join Profs. Ia Iashvili, Avto Kharchilava, and Salvatore Rappoccio

Poster for the ICTP-SAIFR conference.

ICTP-SAIFR School in São Paulo, Brazil

By Jamir Marino, PhD

November 3–14, 2025, Prof. Marino will kick off his collaborations at ICTP-SAIFR (International Center for Theoretical Physics – South American Institute for Fundamental research) with a two-week school on the dynamics of quantum many-body systems.

Benedikt Harrer.

The Physics of Music seminar course at UB

By Benedikt Harrer, PhD

In the UB Seminar course “PHY 199 – The Physics of Music”, taught by Associate Teaching Professor Benedikt Harrer, first-year students explore UB's North Campus soundscape through an assignment that blends acoustic science with an exploration of their new campus environment. Students use smartphone apps to measure the sound intensity levels of various sound sources on campus and document the loudest, quietest and most surprising sounds they encounter–from vending machines and elevator dings to “silent” study spaces and UB's marching band. 

Poster for the Nonlinearity, Nonlocality and Ultrametricity Conference.

Nonlinearity, Nonlocality and Ultrametricity Conference

By Dejan Stojkovic, PhD

As a full member of the Serbian Academy of Nonlinear Sciences (SANS), Prof. Stojkovic co-organized the international conference "Nonlinearity, Nonlocality and Ultrametricity" (Belgrade, May 2025), honoring the 80th birthday of Prof. Branko Dragovich, President of the SANS. The event gathered over 100 participants from Europe, North America, and Asia

Students and Professor standing by the department of physics' telescope.

Inside UB’s observatory dome, PHY 386 students learn how to align and operate the department’s telescope while exploring AI-powered methods for analyzing astronomical data.

Students and professor outside of the observatory dome.

PHY 386 students outside UB's observatory dome.

Hands-On Astronomy with AI at UB

By Tim Thomay, PhD

Spring 2025, Prof. Thomay launched Computational Methods for Physicists (PHY 386), a new undergraduate course that blends coding, data analysis, and AI with real-world applications in astronomy. Students learn modern computational tools such as Jupyter, pandas, and Astropy, applying them directly to data from UB’s own telescope observation facility. The course culminates in a hands-on astronomy event where students use AI techniques to analyze and interpret telescope data, exploring applications that ranges from signal processing to pattern recognition in astronomical images. This unique integration of classroom learning, AI methods, and direct observation give students a rare opportunity to see how computational physics connects to discovery in astronomy. By fostering both technical skills and scientific curiosity, the course demonstrates how UB students can engage with frontier technologies in a way that is grounded in authentic astronomical research.

Faculty Recognitions and Awards

Faculty Recognitions

Priya Banerjee.

Professor Dejan Stojkovic

Stojkovic has received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities for his continued efforts in seeking solutions to some of the most fundamental problems at the interface of particle physics, gravity and cosmology.

Hao Zeng.

Professor Hao Zeng

Hao Zeng, a Moti Lal Rustgi Professor in Physics, has received a Fulbright Scholarship for a planned collaboration with Prof. Hideo Hosono at the Institute of Science, Tokyo. Professor Zeng is an international leader in materials science and physics, with pioneering work in magnetic nanoparticles, data storage and permanent magnets. 

Ia Iashvili.

Professor Ia Iashvili

Ia Iashvili has been recognized with the Exceptional Scholar Award for Sustained Achievement for her tireless and impactful work on the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) at the Large Hadron Collider in Geneva, Switzerland. She is a world-leading expert in the reconstruction and calibration of hadronic particle jets produced by the strong nuclear force. 

UB Physics professors receiving the 2025 Breakthorugh Prize.

UB Physics professors (from left to right) David Yu, Salvatore Rappoccio, Ia Iashvili, Christine McLean and Avto Kharchilava received 2025 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics.

Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics

On Saturday 5th April Patty McBride, former CMS Spokesperson, received the 2025 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics on behalf of the CMS Collaboration. The University at Buffalo CMS group includes Ia Iashvili, Avto Kharchilava, Salvatore Rappoccio, with new faculty members Christine McLean and David Yu who joined in spring 2025. 

This was a joint award, along with ATLAS, LHCb and ALICE Collaborations. It was presented to the Spokespersons by Yuri Milner and Jeff Bezos, at an award ceremony in Los Angeles for “Detailed measurements of Higgs boson properties confirming the symmetry-breaking mechanism of mass generation, the discovery of new strongly interacting particles, the study of rare processes and matter/antimatter asymmetry, and the exploration of nature at the shortest distances and most extreme conditions at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider”.

Faculty Awards

Associate Professor Wanyi Nie and SUNY Distinguished Professor Igor Žutić

Wanyi Nie and Igor Žutić have received a new National Science Foundation grant award number DMR-1848371, to investigate exciton dynamics in chiral heterostructures, a frontier topic in quantum materials science.

Sukanya Srinivasan and Banerjee.

Postdoctoral researcher Sukanya Srinivasan (right) and Prof. Banerjee's (left).

Professor Priya R. Banerjee

Priya R. Banerjee has received a new $2.1 million award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to advance understanding of how proteins and RNA organize within cells to regulate essential functions—and how disruptions in this process may contribute to disease. The four-year grant, part of NIH’s Maximizing Investigator’s Research Award (MIRA) program, will allow Banerjee’s team to investigate the biophysical principles underlying RNA-driven condensates—microscopic, membrane-less droplets that help compartmentalize biochemical reactions in cells. These droplets form through a process known as liquid–liquid phase separation, which enables certain biomolecules to cluster together dynamically without the need for a surrounding membrane.

Igor Žutić.

SUNY Distinguished Professor Igor Žutić

Igor Žutić, a SUNY Distinguished Professor, has received a new grant from the National Science Foundation, ECCS-2512491, “Spin-Controlled Light-Emitting Diodes and Lasers” and, as a Co-Principal Investigator, a group grant from the European Innovation Council, “Spin-V(E)CSELS for Ultrafast and Highly-Efficient Space Data Communications.” Both grants have evolved from his collaboration with experimentalists from Europe, who have visited UB, and their joint publications, including Controlling the Helicity of Light by Electrical Magnetization Switching, Nature 627, 783 (2024) and M. Lindemann et al., Ultrafast Spin-Lasers, Nature 568, 212 (2019).

Yamin Sarhan.

NSF-supported graduate student Yasmin Sarhan works in the optics lab.

Professor Tim Thomay’s group awarded a new National Science Foundation grant

Prof. Tim Thomay’s group has been awarded a new National Science Foundation grant “EAGER: Exploratory Study of Hybrid Quantum Encoding in Ring Multicore Fibers at Visible Wavelengths” to expand its research on non-classical states of light and their applications. The project focuses on higher-order photon states, which are of growing interest in the quantum science community because of their potential to unlock capabilities not accessible with traditional single-photon sources. The group aims to develop new experimental techniques that can generate and precisely characterize these advanced quantum light sources, paying particular attention to how their photon statistics can be controlled and tailored. 

Student News

Three PhD students in San Juan Mountain range in Colorado.

Physics PhD students Trey Wojnar (center) and John Verdi (right) in the San Juan Mountain range in Colorado, at one of many trips taken during their summer internship working at Los Alamos National Lab (LANL).

Summer Internships

By Hao Zeng, PhD

Three graduate students from Dr. Hao Zeng’s group completed summer internships at either a national lab or in industry. Physics PhD students John Verdi  and Trey Wojnar received their bachelor’s degrees in mathematical physics at UB under the mentorship of Dr. Zeng and have continued their research with him into graduate studies. Their work combines research on 2D magnetic materials with the expertise of the Laboratory for Ultrafast Materials and Optical Science (LUMOS) team in the Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies (CINT) at LANL, bridging the fields of magnetism and ultrafast spectroscopy. During their time at LANL, they gained experience with ultrafast systems and explored how the properties of 2D magnets can enhance magnetic memory as well as the performance of terahertz (THz) emitters, detectors, and modulators. They also conducted multiphysics simulations, successfully detecting Weyl points in the gigahertz (GHz) range within a layered 3D double gyroid metamaterial that breaks parity symmetry. Looking ahead, they plan to spend the next year honing their skills with device fabrication and material synthesis to prepare them for a return to LANL, where they aim to transform their simulations into experimental results--identifying parity-breaking 3D metamaterials that exhibit Weyl points in the THz range and further investigating the connection between 2D magnets, THz spectroscopy, metamaterials.

MCgen Fellowship

By Dejan Stojkovic, PhD

Mr. Amartya Sengupta, a graduate student of Prof. Stojkovic, was awarded a prestigious Monte Carlo General Education Network (MCgen) Fellowship. This fellowship will fund his research into phenomena bridging particle physics and cosmology, facilitating a six-month residency at the University of Cincinnati's Large Hadron Collider physics program. As a mentoring initiative, the MCgen Fellowship is an integral part of a learning process to apply acquired skills to concrete problems.

Alumni News

John Wilson.

John Wilson, UB Physic PhD 1972

The Life of a UB Physics Alumnus: Reflections on Writing a PHD Thesis in the 1960s

By John Wilson, PhD

Intro by Xuedong Hu, Department Chair:

In October 2025, the Nobel Prize for Physics was awarded to John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret, and John M. Martinis for “the discovery of macroscopic quantum mechanical tunnelling and energy quantization in an electric circuit.” In the 1980s, the trio studied an electrical circuit with two superconductors separated by a thin layer of non-conductive material known as a Josephson junction, and demonstrated quantum tunneling between states that are localized in neighboring minima of the washboard potential created by the Josephson junction. 

Interestingly, one of our UB Physics alumni, Dr. John Wilson, did experimental study of macroscopic quantum effects in a superconducting circuit with two Josephson junctions in the late 1960s.  In the following article he reminisces about his study and work at UB, during a tumultuous period of time in the US.

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