Department of Physics and Astronomy

Graduate programs in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences ranked among best by U.S. News and World Report
Statistics program secures top-10 rank and several LAS programs improve from previous ranking. Read More

March 30, 2022
Thomas Iadecola earns NSF CAREER award for quantum computer research
The $470,000 grant will support Iadecola’s theoretical research and efforts to engage pre-college and college students in science, technology and mathematics. Read More

January 31, 2022
Two LAS faculty members recognized for outstanding teaching
The excellent teaching practices of John Lajoie, Department of Physics and Astronomy, and Cason Murphy, Department of Music and Theatre, have been recognized with Cassling Family Awards. Read More

December 2, 2021
Boping Chen awarded the 2021 U.S. ATLAS Outstanding Graduate Student award
Boping Chen (’20 physics and astronomy, Ph.D.) has been honored with the 2021 U.S. ATLAS Outstanding Graduate Student award. Chen was a member of the… Read More

October 25, 2021
Made in Ames: Physics, manufacturing expertise help build nuclear physics experiment
Several Iowa State University physicists are contributing their expertise to the sPHENIX experiment at Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York. Read More

October 10, 2021
Iowa State physicist wins early career grant to study nuclear physics, quantum phenomena
The U.S. Department of Energy selected Srimoyee Sen for an early career award which will fund her research that could contribute to speedy quantum computing. Read More

June 17, 2021
Researchers build structured, multi-part nanocrystals with super light-emitting properties
Alex Travesset, professor of physics and astronomy and associate scientist at Ames Laboratory, played a key role in the discovery of these new materials. Read More

May 28, 2021
The first demonstrations of braiding in photonic topological zero modes
Assistant Professor Thomas Iadecola contributes to groundbreaking research, published in Nature Physics, which demonstrates that "braiding" occurs in particles of light. Read More

October 14, 2020