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Two engineering physics seniors receive College of Engineering awards

Kirsten Apodaca — Thu, 01 May 2025 22:04:37 +0000

Two engineering physics seniors receive College of Engineering awards Kirsten Apodaca Thu, 05/01/2025 - 16:04

Ángel Hernández

Engineering physics seniors Ángel Hernández and Denali Jah have been recognized by the �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder College of Engineering and Applied Science with graduating student awards. The awards celebrate student achievement in several categories including academics, community, culture, perseverance and research.

Ángel Hernández received two awards, for culture impact and community impact. These awards recognize his commitment to improving the environment both within the Department of Physics and on a broader college and campus level.

When asked what these awards meant to Hernández, he said, “these awards are for my grandparents who crossed borders with nothing but hope. They are for my parents who worked long hours and still found time to support my dreams. These awards are for anyone who has ever felt different, out of place, or overlooked when entering a new space. This recognition tells me to keep going, to keep pushing back against doubt, and to continue lifting others as I climb. This is for my family, my community, and for me."

Hernández was also thankful for others that contributed to his journey. “I’m also deeply grateful to the �鶹��Ѱ��Physics Department and the many mentors and advisors who supported me throughout this journey. Your guidance helped me grow into the scientist I am becoming,” said Hernandez.

Denali Jah

Denali Jah was recognized with the Academic Engagement Award. The award honors Jah’s commitment to academic excellence and the way in which he elevated his own and other students’ learning experiences.

Jah was honored to receive the award and recognized the supportive communities and collective effort. He said, “receiving the Academic Engagement Award honors not only my pursuit of academic excellence but also the steadfast support of the communities that I'm a part of. It reminds me that success is never built alone — it's crafted through the work of people who desire to create systems that are sustainable, efficient, liberating, and flexible so that everyone progresses together.”

Both Hernández and Jah are graduating with degrees in engineering physics this spring and will be recognized for these awards at the Department of Physics Recognition Ceremony on May 9.

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Scholars aim to help women make a quantum leap

Kirsten Apodaca — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 16:16:40 +0000

Scholars aim to help women make a quantum leap Kirsten Apodaca Wed, 04/30/2025 - 10:16

Quantum Scholars Emily Jerris and Annalise Cabra started �鶹��Ѱ��Women of Quantum to help women interested in careers in quantum to network and share experiences.

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Sean Gopalakrishnan receives top honor for plasma research

Kirsten Apodaca — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 12:50:58 +0000

Sean Gopalakrishnan receives top honor for plasma research Kirsten Apodaca Wed, 04/30/2025 - 06:50

Kirsten Apodaca

Sean Gopalakrishnan

Sean Gopalakrishnan, a senior physics and astrophysics student, has been recognized for his outstanding research with a Stephen Halley White Undergraduate Research Award. The award is one of the top honors for graduating students in the Department of Physics.

The award was established in 2013 by alumnus Dr. Stephen White (Phys’63) to recognize exceptional undergraduate research projects. During his undergraduate studies at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder, Dr. White’s research experiences made an impact on his future career and led him to create the award.

Studying lava tubes on the moon

Gopalakrishnan said “physics has always been a fascination of mine, ever since I learned that we can predict the motion of the planets."

Pursuing his interests, Gopalakrishnan enrolled at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder and double majored in physics and astrophysics. He joined the Institute for Modeling Plasma, Atmospheres and Cosmic Dust (IMPACT) at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) in 2023. Dr. Xu Wang, research scientist at LASP, served as Gopalakrishnan’s research advisor.

Wang said, “Sean’s work addresses the charging and subsequently the possible dust environment inside lava tubes on the moon’s surface.” Lava tubes are tunnel-like passages that are created as basaltic lava channels under the surface.

“These structures have long been thought to be natural habitats for future lunar exploration. But recent numerical simulations predicted a hazardous plasma environment inside,” Gopalakrishnan explained.

He investigated the interaction between lunar lava tubes and the solar wind. The results showed that the charging environment isn’t as hazardous as the simulation suggested, making the structures more viable for lunar habitation.

“This work is timely and important for NASA’s Artemis mission,” said Wang. The series of missions are designed to send humans to the moon and eventually establish a long-term presence.

Research project earns top honors

Gopalakrishnan’s outstanding research project received a summa cum laude designation from the College of Arts & Sciences Honors Program. The Physics Honors Council Representatives selected him to receive one of two Stephen Halley White Undergraduate Research Awards awarded this semester.

Tobin Munsat, professor and chair of physics, served as the Physics Honors Council Representative for Gopalakrishnan. Munsat said “Sean turned his work into a top-quality honors thesis, which really showed his independence on the project and his expertise in the subject matter.” He added, “I’ve also seen him present his work at a scientific conference, and it makes me proud that he’s representing our department.”

To Gopalakrishnan, the award is an incredible honor. “It's truly a gift to see my research and hard work pay off,” he said.

What’s next?

After graduating this spring, Gopalakrishnan will stay in Boulder to pursue a PhD in physics at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder. He plans to continue his research with the IMPACT group.

“I'm grateful for this opportunity, and excited for future research to come,” said Gopalakrishnan.

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Quantum magic leads to top award for Luke Coffman

Kirsten Apodaca — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 12:44:13 +0000

Quantum magic leads to top award for Luke Coffman Kirsten Apodaca Wed, 04/30/2025 - 06:44

Kirsten Apodaca

Luke Coffman

Luke Coffman, a senior double majoring in physics and math, has been recognized for his outstanding research with a Stephen Halley White Undergraduate Research Award. The award is one of the top honors for graduating students in the Department of Physics.

Pursuing quantum research

Coffman has always been interested in quantum. One of the main reasons he enrolled at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder was the university’s top reputation in quantum sciences.

As a first-year student, he began quantum information theory research with Graeme Smith, former professor and JILA fellow. Coffman continued research with Xun Gao, assistant professor and associate fellow of JILA, which culminated in writing and defending an honors thesis.

His research project explored “quantum magic” in fermions (e.g. electrons) which essentially measures how difficult it is to replicate a quantum state using a classical computer. The more magic a state has, the more useful it is for quantum computation, and could be used to show a quantum advantage.

States that lack magic often have "Gaussian" properties, making a quantum version of the central limit theorem a powerful tool for studying magic. “Luke has made impressive progress in exploring how the central limit theorem can be generalized to fermionic systems – a direction that bridges classical statistics, quantum information, and even has potential applications in condensed matter and quantum chemistry,” said Gao.

Earning top honors and notable recognition

The College of Arts & Sciences Honors Council awarded Coffman’s outstanding research project a summa cum laude designation. He was then awarded one of this semester’s Stephen Halley White Undergraduate Research Awards by the Physics Honors Council Representatives.

Jun Ye, professor adjoint of physics and JILA fellow, was the Physics Honors Council Representative on Coffman’s defense. “Luke wrote an outstanding honors thesis and gave a high-powered defense talk on a complex subject that connects classical statistics and fermionic quantum mechanics, with impact on quantum information and condensed matter.” Ye added, “he has the big picture and technical competence to do fun physics in the future.”

“It is an incredible honor to receive this award and a meaningful affirmation to keep pursuing the sometimes all-too-grueling process of research,” said Coffman. “I’m grateful to the physics department for cultivating a space where curiosity is not only encouraged but celebrated.”

Coffman has already received national recognition for his outstanding achievements in research. He was awarded an Astronaut Scholarship and a Goldwater Scholarship in 2024. Coffman also received a prestigious National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship which provides a three-year stipend for graduate studies and professional development opportunities.

Beyond research, building community

While an undergraduate at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder, Coffman was deeply engaged in building community in physics and related disciplines. He served as co-president of the Society of Physics Students, and vice president of the student group COSMOS in the Department of Mathematics.

Coffman has also been part of Quantum Scholars since it was established in Spring 2023. “I was excited to find community with other students that were also exploring quantum science and engineering,” he said. Coffman and other scholars have played an active role in shaping the program. “It truly feels like a program built on addressing the changing needs of its students and the broader world of quantum by ensuring students in the program are guiding its future,” he added.

What’s next?

After graduating this spring, Coffman will head to Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico to continue researching quantum magic. This fall, he will pursue a PhD in quantum science at Harvard University.

“Luke is a highly self-motivated student with strong foundations in both physics and mathematics, and it’s been exciting to see him deepen his understanding across these disciplines. I look forward to seeing what he contributes to these areas in the future,” said Gao.

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Daily Camera: Joe Romig (Phys'63, PhDAstro'75) set the example for how to succeed on and off the field

Kirsten Apodaca — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 19:01:57 +0000

Daily Camera: Joe Romig (Phys'63, PhDAstro'75) set the example for how to succeed on and off the field Kirsten Apodaca Mon, 04/28/2025 - 13:01

�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder alum Joe Romig (Phys'63, PhDAstro'75) is featured in the Daily Camera, highlighting his success as a two-time All-American and Rhodes Scholar.

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Alum Dan Cole (PhDPhys'18) reflects on research experience at NIST

Kirsten Apodaca — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 18:48:59 +0000

Alum Dan Cole (PhDPhys'18) reflects on research experience at NIST Kirsten Apodaca Thu, 04/24/2025 - 12:48

Now a quantum physicist at Infleqtion, Dan Cole reflects on his experience conducting research at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) as part of CU’s Professional Research Experience Program (�鶹��Ѱ��PREP).

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Melting glaciers at the end of the Ice Age may have sped up continental drift, fueled volcanic eruptions

Kirsten Apodaca — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 18:09:12 +0000

Melting glaciers at the end of the Ice Age may have sped up continental drift, fueled volcanic eruptions Kirsten Apodaca Wed, 04/23/2025 - 12:09

New research by geophysicists, Professor Shijie Zhong and physics graduate student Tao Yuan, shows ice melting from modern-day Greenland could again drive an increase in volcanic eruptions around Iceland. The research was published in the journal Nature.

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Meet some of our graduating physics Buffs

Kirsten Apodaca — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 22:43:50 +0000

Meet some of our graduating physics Buffs Kirsten Apodaca Thu, 04/17/2025 - 16:43

We asked our graduating physics and engineering physics students what advice they had for other students, where they are headed after CU, and what they will carry with them into their next chapter.

David Abbe, Bachelor of Arts in Physics

Based on what you know now, what is your best piece of advice for other students?

Don't worry so much. Enjoy your time in college, hang out with friends, join study groups. There is so much at �鶹��Ѱ��and in life to enjoy so don't get caught up stressing about the little things.

Why did you choose to study physics or engineering physics?

I chose to study physics because I was enamored by the physical world. I really wanted to learn why and how everything worked down to the most fundamental level. This desire and curiosity led me to the physics department at CU.

Where are you headed after graduation?

I am headed to McGill University to pursue a PhD in Condensed Matter Physics.

William Ashcraft, Bachelor of Arts in Physics

Why did you choose to study physics or engineering physics?

I quickly fell in love with physics in my first high school physics class. I still remember the very first lab I did and I never looked back. With every class here at �鶹��Ѱ��I've gotten to see more of the beauty and incredible work in science, and I hope I get to keep doing physics for the rest of my life!

Where are you headed after graduation?

After graduation I'm going to continue my studies, with a masters program in material science from the University of Rochester.

Aaron Barrios, Bachelor of Arts in Physics

What does graduating from college represent for you?

Entering college, I didn't have all the AP credits or come from a background of physicists; nor was I comfortable meeting new people or sharing my ideas. And yet, I have led the student group COSMOS, worked my research position, and even started the legacy of the Undergraduate Research Expo – all in four years. My graduation from physics with honors means more to me than what you can put on a CV. It represents the proof that you can end better than you started: by remaining dedicated to pursuing passions, seeking out advice and help, and above all having faith even when things look bleak.

Where are you headed after graduation?

I am headed to the University of Washington in St. Louis, to study topics in supermassive black hole accretion alongside Professors Chen and Yuan and ultimately earn my PhD in Physics.

Nicholas Golden, Bachelor of Arts in Physics

From your time at CU, what will you carry with you into your next chapter?

Certainly the content of knowledge but especially the connections and friendships.

What was your research focus?

I studied colloids dispersed in ferronematic liquid crystals. Only recently have polar liquid crystals been discovered. Colloidal dispersion's are found everywhere from paint to milk. I studied sphere and disk colloids withing the novel polar liquid crystal. They exhibited unique topological structures, anomalous diffusion, and self assembly.

What does graduating from college represent for you?

It represents a giant leap towards a person who I have sought to be since childhood. Someone who can better appreciate the logic and beauty of the universe and navigate with curiosity and wisdom.

Youssef Hassan, Doctor of Philosophy in Physics

Based on what you know now, what is your best piece of advice for other students?

Make sure you enjoy your work. Don't compromise on your mental health because a PhD can be the biggest chapter of your most productive years.

Where are you headed after graduation?

Applications in the industry, research and development in quantum technologies.

What was your research focus?

Improving the accuracy of an optical lattice atomic clock at NIST, one of the few most accurate clocks in the world, by engineering a device to shield the clock atoms from thermal radiation.

Ángel Hernández, Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics

From your time at CU, what will you carry with you into your next chapter?

At �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder, my curiosity didn’t just survive – it thrived. This next chapter of my life is guided by that same curiosity, now sharper and more ambitious than ever.

Based on what you know now, what is your best piece of advice for other students?

Lift others as you climb. Lead with compassion, and the rest will follow.

What does graduating from college or graduate school represent for you?

Graduating represents the sacrifices my family made to get me here. From my grandparents migrating from México and enduring the cultural shift to create opportunity for future generations, to my parents working multiple jobs to provide for us, while still showing up for me every step of the way – this is for them.

Caleb Maddry, Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics

From your time at CU, what will you carry with you into your next chapter?

I have met some of the greatest people at CU. Professors, friends, and coworkers have helped me grow into a scientist and engineer. We’ve shared lots of great memories and gone on some awesome adventures in the last four years.

Why did you choose to study engineering physics?

I chose to major in engineering physics because it offered the perfect blend of engineering and physics, allowing me to pursue my passion for both. This program has not only deepened my understanding of these fields but has also equipped me with the practical skills needed to excel in the workforce.

Where are you headed after graduation?

After graduation, I'll be backpacking across Europe for three months! Once I return, I'll jump right into my career as a Systems Engineer at The MITRE Corporation, where I interned during my senior year. I worked on a variety of projects that involved radar and satellites, and I look forward to continuing this work!

Justin Niedermeyer, Doctor of Philosophy in Physics

Based on what you know now, what is your best piece of advice for other students?

Ask questions! Things that seem obvious to others may be more complex than meets the eye. Asking for help allows both you and the person you ask to strengthen your knowledge!

Why did you choose to study physics?

As cliché as it sounds, I’ve wanted to be a scientist since I watched Star Trek with my parents when I was growing up. Carrying out atomic physics experiments sometimes feels like science fiction, but it’s better than that, because we can use our results to help develop scientific facts!

Where are you headed after graduation?

I will move to the United Kingdom and work as a Quantum Scientist at a company called Oxford Ionics. My doctoral research used trapped ions to observe quantum mechanical phenomena. I will use the skills and knowledge I gained during my studies to help research and develop quantum computing technology based on trapped ions.

Alfonzo Paniagua, Bachelor of Arts in Physics

Based on what you know now, what is your best piece of advice for other students?

Read the text, as it really gives you that extra knowledge for the subjects and often gives you that extra equation that makes your life way easier.

Where are you headed after graduation?

Rejoining the United States Air Force, as it was great times before college and hopefully will be a great time after college.

Allie Plocki, Bachelor of Arts in Physics

Based on what you know now, what is your best piece of advice for other students?

If you are doing reserch try to do multiple projects so that you can get a feel for what you want to keep doing. It is also useful to try to go to different types of institutions so you can see what life is like outside of academia.

What was your research focus?

At CU, I did research in precision time keeping for navigation positioning and timing applications. I worked on a new scheme to improve Rubidium optical clocks.

Where are you headed after graduation?

I will be pursuing my PhD in physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the Fall.

Michael Reh, Doctor of Philosophy in Physics

Based on what you know now, what is your best piece of advice for other students?

Make friends in the department, and lean on each other for support. You're all in this together.

Why did you choose to study physics?

I always liked learning about the more exotic parts of physics like black holes and quantum mechanics when I was younger, but I always saw myself as an engineer. When I applied to my undergraduate program, I entered the college of science and arts, with the intention of transferring to the engineering school later. I ended up liking my classes in physics my first year, and so I put off transferring to engineering until it was much too late, and so I sort of ended up becoming a physicist on accident.

Murilo Tibana, Bachelor of Arts in Physics

What does graduating from college or graduate school represent for you?

It represents a meaningful step forward for my family, who immigrated from Japan to Brazil, and now I have the opportunity to honor their sacrifices by graduating from an outstanding American university.

What was your research focus?

I conducted research with the Andreas Becker group at JILA, where I worked on extending a theoretical framework to characterize electric fields with attosecond durations. My contributions focused on modeling and reconstructing ultrafast pulse trains using two-photon autocorrelation signals, particularly in regimes where conventional techniques are ineffective due to the high photon energies involved.

Why did you choose to study physics?

The idea that we can grasp the workings of the universe through physics and mathematics is both fascinating and, to me, a fundamental part of what it means to be human.

We asked our graduating physics and engineering physics students what advice they had for other students, where they are headed after CU, and what they will carry with them into their next chapter.

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New quantum ‘game’ showcases promise of quantum computers

Kirsten Apodaca — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 14:35:08 +0000

New quantum ‘game’ showcases promise of quantum computers Kirsten Apodaca Thu, 04/17/2025 - 08:35

A team of physicists from �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder teamed up with a group from the Colorado-based company Quantinuum to show how devices called quantum computers can outcompete traditional computers—at least, in some circumstances.

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Three physics students awarded NSF Grad Research Fellowships

Kirsten Apodaca — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 18:45:56 +0000

Three physics students awarded NSF Grad Research Fellowships Kirsten Apodaca Wed, 04/16/2025 - 12:45

The National Science Foundation awarded prestigious graduate research fellowships to 12 �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder students this year, including three physics students. �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Physics seniors Annalise Cabra, Luke Coffman, and Devayani Ravuri were among the recipients. An additional nine physics students and alumni received an honorable mention.

The highly competitive fellowship recognizes outstanding students across the United States in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) disciplines. Fellowship recipients receive three years of financial support including an annual stipend of $37,000, as well as professional development and research opportunities.

There was an overall reduction in the number of grad research fellowships awarded by the NSF this year, but �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder ranked in the top 15 of institutions nationwide in terms of fellowships awarded.

“We’re incredibly proud of all of our graduates, and we especially applaud Anna, Devayani, and Luke who are most deserving of this national-level recognition,” said Tobin Munsat, professor and chair of physics.

�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Physics seniors Annalise Cabra, Luke Coffman, and Devayani Ravuri have been awarded prestigious graduate research fellowships from the National Science Foundation.

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