Physics is the broadest of the sciences, and more than any other seeks to explain the natural world in the most universal manner possible. Physicists emphasize basic knowledge, looking for the hidden symmetries that underlie the natural world, and try to express them in the most universal terms possible. The breadth of problems studied in modern physics and astronomy is great. Our department has active research programs in areas ranging from theoretical astrophysics and observational astronomy to complex systems, condensed matter physics, atomic, molecular and optical physics, and nuclear and particle physics.
Current Faculty Searches |
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See the Transit of Venus On Tuesday, June 5th, Venus will cross in front of the sun and be visibly silhouetted. Weather permitting, Northwestern will have a telescope available to the public for viewing the event. This is your last chance to see the transit of Venus before 2117! Read more about the viewing here. |
Andrew Srisuwananukorn Wins Krieghbaum Scholarship Undergraduate Andrew Srisuwananukorn (Faculty Advisor: Giles Novak) has been awarded a 2012-2013 Katherine L. Krieghbaum scholarship. These scholarships are given to rising seniors by the college to "recognize exceptional promise in undergraduate research in the arts and sciences." Andrew will use his scholarship to support a research project titled, "Submillimeter Polarimetry of Saturn's Rings." Read more about the Krieghbaum scholarship, including how to apply, here. |
Roberto Vega-Morales wins Fellowship at Fermilab
2012-2013 Fermilab Fellowship in Theoretical Physics. This will allow him to work at Fermilab while finishing his thesis. Vega-Morales currently works with Prof. Ian Low at Northwestern. |
Sam Zeller Wins Department of Energy's Early Career Award
Zeller worked with Prof. Heidi Schellman at Northwestern and received her PhD in 2002. She is currently co-spokesperson for the MicroBooNE neutrino experiment at Fermilab. |
Prof. Giles Novak Recognized for Excellence in Mentoring
The college's teaching awards "applaud excellence in instruction, significant contributions to curricular innovation, exemplary mentoring of research and independent study, and fostering of a sense of community both inside and outside the classroom." |
Prof. Jim Sauls Wins Prestigous John Bardeen Prize
The John Bardeen Prize is awarded for theoretical work that has provided significant insights on the nature of superconductivity and has led to verifiable predictions. It was established in 1991 in honor of Dr. John Bardeen, the only person to be awarded two Nobel Prizes in the same category, the second of which was for the theory of superconductivity along with Robert Schrieffer and Leon Cooper, the so-called BCS theory. Former recipients of this prize are: David Pines, Alexander Andreev, Kazumi Maki, Doug Scalapino, Anatoly Larkin, David Nelson, Valerii Vinokur, T. Maurice Rice, Philip Anderson, Anthony J. Leggett, G. M. Eliashberg, Vitaly L. Ginzburg, Alexei A. Abrikosov, Lev P. Gor'kov, four of whom are Nobel Laureates. |
EARLIER 2012 DEPARTMENTAL NEWS
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Former Physics and Astronomy undergradate and graduate student Geralyn "Sam" Zeller was just awarded a Department of Energy Early Career Award for her project "Understanding Liquid Argon Neutrino Detectors: Moving from Art to Science”. 
Prof. Jim Sauls
