Loyola University Chicago

Department of Physics

Research

The Department of Physics has active research in several areas, including astroparticle physics, biophysics, computational physics, cosmology, optics, and quantum theory. You can explore the faculty webpages and publications to learn about their research.   

FacultyFieldResearch Interests
Rasha Abbasi Astroparticle Physics Origins of terrestrial gamma rays and cosmic ray anisotropy 
Tareq Abuzayyad  Astrophysics  Experimental cosmic ray physics
Jonathan Bougie Computational Physics Granular media and supersymmetric quantum mechanics
Brian Cannon Experimental Biophysics Single-molecule imaging of DNA structural dynamics
Asim Gangopadhyaya Quantum Theory Supersymmetric quantum mechanics and physics education
Mahvand Khamesian Computational Biophysics Modeling stochastic behavior of hair cells in the ear
David Klinger Applied Physics Physics in history and neurovascular intervention 
Robert McNees Particle Physics and Cosmology General Relativity, black holes, string theory, and quantum field theory
Robert Polak Optics Optical systems, holography, and physics education
Constantin Rasinariu Quantum Theory Supersymmetric quantum mechanics and probability theory
Walter Tangarife Particle Physics and Cosmology Model building for dark matter and black holes 
Stuart Wick Particle Physics High-energy astrophysics and cosmology

Undergraduate research is a great way for students to deepen their understanding of physics and to become involved in the research community.  We encourage students to work with physics faculty on research projects. Often, this work results in presentations given by the students at various physics meetings on the local and national level. Some of this work results in publications. Students can use these experiences to secure summer internships and coveted undergraduate research opportunities like REUs. To apply for undergraduate research, please contact the professor you are interested in working with. Our faculty is more than happy to discuss their research and any potential opportunities available to students.

Loyola University Chicago offers several scholarship awards for Loyola students to be sponsored for their work. These awards are through the Loyola Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (LUROP). This program seeks to foster one-on-one mentoring relationships in which the student works closely with the faculty member on a project of scholarly significance. Students mentored by physics faculty have often been the recipients of these awards, including Carbon, Mulcahy, and Provost Fellowships.