Research Mentors
Experiential Learning: Physics Beyond the Classroom
Hands-on research experience for undergraduates is valued highly in the department (read a case story in the newsletter Interactions 6). Many members of the physics faculty invite exceptional undergraduate students to join in their research initiatives. Some research activities may lead to part-time employment during the academic year, or full-time employment during the summer months.
Interested students should:
- Investigate faculty research projects: Biological Physics; Condensed Matter Physics; High Energy Physics and Cosmology; Non-linear Dynamics and Statistical Physics
- Contact individual faculty members to discuss potential collaboration.
- Register for PHY 498 – Undergraduate Research or PHY 497 – Physics Honors/Senior Thesis if they wish to receive academic credit. (A Senior Thesis is a necessary requirement for graduating with departmental honors.)
Experimental Research Mentors
Professor Cerne studies novel materials using magneto-polarimetry. Undergraduate research projects typically involve building electronic, optical, or mechanical systems for improving old/making new measurements. These instruments are then tested and used by the students for measurements. Students also participate in new measurements, which can lead to a senior thesis. Students should have an interest and motivation to do experimental research.
Professors Iashvili works on the D0 experiment ( http://www-d0.fnal.gov/ ) at Fermilab, near Chicago, and the CMS experiment ( http://cmsdoc.cern.ch/cms/outreach/html/ ) at CERN, near Geneva, Switzerland. Both experiments are designed to study properties of fundamental particles, interactions between them, as well as to search for new phenomena. Students should be able to program in C++ and have a basic knowledge of UNIX/Linux systems.
Professors Kharchilava works on the D0 experiment ( http://www-d0.fnal.gov/ ) at Fermilab, near Chicago, and the CMS experiment ( http://cmsdoc.cern.ch/cms/outreach/html/ ) at CERN, near Geneva, Switzerland. Both experiments are designed to study properties of fundamental particles, interactions between them, as well as to search for new phenomena. Students should be able to program in C++ and have a basic knowledge of UNIX/Linux systems.
Professor Luo studies spin-related effects in semiconductors, and fabricates and studies semiconductor nanostructures.
Professor Markelz uses terahertz and ultra fast laser techniques to probe collective vibrational mode response in biological molecules, and carrier and phonon dynamics in solid state systems.
Professor Petrou studies semiconductor nanostructures using spectroscopic techniques (reflectance, photoluminescence, electroluminescence, and Raman spectroscopies) in the visible and near infrared. His main research effort concentrates on injection of spin polarized electrons from ferromagnetic metals into quantum wells and quantum dots, as well as electron spin manipulation in devices.
Professor Pralle uses laser tweezers to study protein mechanics and membrane structur, magnetic nanoparticles to remotely control protein function and optical microscopy to quantify and model cellular organization.
Professor Rappoccio's research interests are focused on "natural" solutions to the question of why the electroweak scale is different from the Planck scale. The solutions Prof. Rappoccio is most interested in are those where top quarks play a special role in this process, including examinations of models that predict extra spatial dimensions in our universe, and supersymmetry (SUSY).
As a member of the CMS Collaboration, Prof. Rappoccio has been actively involved since 2007. He is involved in QCD jet reconstruction and triggering, advanced techniques for identifying fast-moving heavy particles like top quarks and W/Z/H bosons, and upgrades to the CMS detector in 2013-2015.
Professor Zeng's research interests are in synthesis of nanoscale magnetic materials, nanodevice fabrication for electron transport studies, magnetic and magnetotransport characterizations. Students who are interested in nanoscience and nanotechnology, and are motivated to learn, are encouraged to apply. Students with basic knowledge of chemistry and/or programming skills are especially welcome.
Theoretical Research Mentors
Professor Han's main research topics are modeling of quantum many-body effects in electronic devices and strongly correlated systems, and simulation of magnetic behavior in nanoscale magnets.
Professor Hu's main research topics are solid state quantum computing, coherent control in semiconductor heterostructures, spintronics, and quantum fluctuations in solids. The focus of Prof. Hu's research has been to study and to manipulate quantum coherence, correlation, and fluctuations, and to explore their role in future nanoscale devices.
Professor Kinney works at the interface between particle physics and astrophysics as it applies to the universe immediately after the Big Bang.
Professor Sen works on nonlinear phenomena in systems with many degrees of freedom. His projects concern dust dynamics, shock absorption, and solitons.
Professor Wackeroth is interested in offering independent study in particle physics. Her research aims to confront and challenge our understanding of the fundamental forces of nature and the mechanism of mass generation at the quantum level through precision experiments.
Professor Zhang's long-term research objectives are unified around the theme of understanding and predicting materials properties from first principles, with emphases on nanostructured and other novel materials, computational materials design, and development of new theoretical and computational techniques.
Project Portal
Start a project to build skills and gain real-world experience for your career. The Experiential Learning Network's Project Portal is the easiest place to get started! Once you start a project, you can also pursue an ELN Digital Badge to display your accomplishments to future employers and graduate schools.
