Physics Research
Focus on developing and understanding advanced materials with applications in energy, electronics, magnetism and quantum computing.
Explore nuclear processes, radiation detection and applications in energy and medicine using computational modeling and instrumentation.
Combine education research, instructional innovation and student-led astronomy investigations, including exoplanet analysis and pulsar searches.
Yung Huh
My research interests lie in Materials Science, focusing on the following areas. (1) Thin Film Fabrication: Multilayered thin film deposition including magnetron sputtering, and chemical vapor deposition (CVD). (2) Magnetic Materials: Thin film and bulk materials with tailored properties for applications in spintronics, magnetic refrigerators, data storage and magnetic sensors. (3) Solar Cells: Next generation solar cells including perovskites and organic solar cells. (4) Superconductivity: Novel materials and design for building qubits, the basis of quantum computers.
Parashu Kharel
Our research focuses on the exploration of novel magnetic materials across various forms such as bulk ingots, singlecrystals, thin films and nanostructured particles, targeting diverse technological applications including permanent magnets, magnetic refrigeration and spintronic devices. Our primary objective is to unravel the intricate structure-property relationships inherent in these materials, thereby identifying candidates best suited for practical applications.
Robert McTaggart
I computationally model a variety of nuclear processes, including the detection of solar neutrinos in space and the assay of soils with naturally occurring radiation. I also have broad interests in health physics, including radioisotopes in medicine, radiation shielding, particle detectors, the irradiation of materials and devices, and other applications for nuclear energy.
Judy Vondruska
Although my primary role is teaching, I have undertaken research projects related to the use of student response systems in the classroom, the evolution of engineering identity in undergraduate students, and novice vs. expert learning. My current interest is in the application of AI to student learning. I also work with first-year physics majors in entry-level research projects in astronomy. These have included exploring physical properties of exoplanets, identifying binary stars, searching for pulsars and development of a radio telescope.
