Department of Physics
Want to major in physics? Go here!
Physics Help Room: FR 251 M-Th 9-5, F 9-3
Department Personnel
Chair: Dr. Lurio, 815-753-6470. llurio@niu.edu
Assistant Chair: Dr. Willis, 815-753-6481 swillis@niu.edu
Director of Graduate Studies: Dr. Chakraborty, 815-753-8804 dhiman@nicadd.niu.edu
Contact us: AskPhysics@niu.edu
Colloquia
Spring Colloquium series begins Friday February 10th, 3:30 pm, Room 200 La Tourette Hall. Refreshments at 3:15.
February 10: Dr. Steve Martin, NIU. The Acceleration of the Expansion of the Universe: Physics Nobel Prize 2011.
February 17: Dr. Young-Min Shin, NIU. Advanced Microwave and THz Vacuum Electron Beam Devices.
February 24: Dr. George Coutrakon, NIU. Quantum Reality and Schrodinger's Cat: An Historical Perspective.
March 2: Dr. Sean Mattingly, Bank of America. Business for Poets: Physics Careers Outside of Physics.
March 23: Dr. Uwe Bergmann, SLAC. Archimedes' Oldest Writings under X-ray Vision.
March 30: Cancelled.
April 6: Dr. Jianguo Wen, Argonne. Sub-Angstrom Transmission Electron Microscopy with Aberration Correction.
April 13: Dr. Bogdan Dabrowski, NIU. Search and Discovery of Strongly Coupled Multi-Ferroic Perovskites Sr1-xBaxMnO3.
April 20: Dr. Mark Pankuch, Director of Medical Physics and Dosimetry, CDH ProCure Proton Therapy Facility. The Clinical Use of Accelerated Protons: Proton Radiotherapy.
April 27: Senior Seminar. 1. Michael Wesley (Faculty Mentor: Professor Yasuo Ito). Observation of Fe doped SrRuO3 Thin-Films. 2. Zachary Johnson (Faculty Mentor: Professor Carol Thompson). Magnetic Force Microscopy of Materials. 3. Anthony M. Schroeder (Faculty Mentor: Professor Zhili Xiao). A Guided Inquiry into Nano-Scale Hydrogen Sensors.
Upcoming Events
ACCESS/PAL Tutoring is looking for tutors! They especially need undergraduates who can tutor for PHYS 150, PHYS 253, and PHYS 273. These are paid positions. Visit www.tutoring.niu.edu or call 815-753-0203 for more information.
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is offering review sessions for the GRE, GMAT, and LSAT.
Links to Recent Dissertations and Theses
News & Highlights
Prof. Suzanne Willis receives Eychaner Award
Prof. David Hedin named APS Fellow. Citation: For his many important contributions to the D0 muon system design, construction, and operation, and his leadership in exploiting muons in a variety of physics studies at D0 both in Run I and Run II of the Tevatron.
Research Rookie Garrett Wise profiled in the Northern Star
NIU physicists co-author patent for Proton CT system that generates 3D images. Article in Symmetry Magazine!
Pati Sievert elected Vice Chair of new APS Forum on Outreach and Engaging the Public; quoted on the Forum's mission
NIU Research Rookies include two physics students!
2011 Nobel Prize in Physics is awarded to Dr. Saul Perlmutter, Dr. Brian Schmidt, and Dr. Adam Riess, whose work indicates that the universe is expanding at an accelerating rate.
Prof. Fortner is profiled by the Chicago News Cooperative: The Illinois GOP's Favorite Physicist , and in the New York Times: It Can Take a Scientist to Help Understand Redistricting , and on WBEZ: Redistricting No Mystery to General Assembly Scientist , and in Ohio: New legislative district lines in Ohio can be drawn fairly .
NIU Observatory featured in Daily Chronicle article
Prof. Blazey accepts 2-year post at White House Office of Science and Technology