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Physics at Oregon State University

Mission

The department has strong research programs in optics and condensed matter physics and an emerging emphasis on biophysics. Experimental, theoretical, and computational research seeks to understand the physics and applications of new materials and to answer fundamental questions about the dynamical behavior of biological and nanoscale systems. As home of the Paradigms in Physics upper-division curriculum project and an expanding program of reform in the lower-division service courses, our department has a strong culture of shared responsibility for curriculum development supported by physics education research. We particularly value collaborative interdisciplinary projects that span departments within the College of Science and with other colleges, especially Engineering and Education.

Prospective graduate students

We are now accepting applications for our graduate program for Fall term 2015. Please visit our information page for more details. The dead-line to apply for full TA support is January 15, 2015. 		Apply-Button

Events scheduled for today

There are no events scheduled for today! See the calendar for complete list of events

Next three scheduled events

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Date-Timesort icon Location Type Speaker Title
2015-01-26 16:00 Weniger 116 Colloquium PER candidate 1 Colloquium PER candidate 1
2015-01-27 09:00 Weniger 304 Special Lecture PER candidate 1 Seminar PER candidate 1
2015-01-29 16:00 Weniger 153 Colloquium PER candidate 2 Colloquium PER candidate 2

Announcements

View all department announcements.

Datesort icon
2015 Jan 20

Congratulations to Zhong Chen, who was given a URISC award to work with Prof. Weihong Qiu on the proposal "Mechanism of the Enhanced Long-Distance Transport by Kinesin-4."
2015 Jan 12

Who said physics is not fun? Prof. Ethan Minot certainly had some 50 elementary school children very engaged in physics activities, see the Corvallis Gazette Times on Monday January 12, 2015.
2015 Jan 2 Starting January 1, 2015, the chair of the Department of Physics is Prof. Heidi Schellman. She can be reached at Physics.Chair@science.oregonstate.edu by e-mail. If you need to reach the previous chair, Prof. Henri Jansen, please use jansenh@physics.oregonstate.edu for the e-mail address.
2014 Dec 18

OSU Physics has been selected to host one of the 2016
Conferences for Undergraduate Women in Physics. We look forward to an exciting program in January 2016.
2014 Nov 25

Congratulations to Brian Johnson, who was selected to receive the Graduate Student Travel Award, to be used to fund travel to the 2014 Materials Research Society Fall Meeting and Exhibit in Boston, MA.
2014 Nov 21 Congratulations to Prof. Janet Tate, who was one of seven international scientists and former Technical University of Munich research alumni awarded the title of "TUM Ambassador" for 2014. See https://www.together.tum.de/en/research-alumni-forum/ for more information.
2014 Nov 14

Faculty Position at Oregon State University
Physics Education Research


The Physics Department at Oregon State University invites applications for a full time, 9-month, tenure-track faculty position at the Assistant Professor level, with an anticipated start date of Sept 16, 2015. Candidates should apply online at https://jobs.oregonstate.edu/ , job# 0013332. Go here for more information.
2014 Jul 3

We owe many thanks to Bill and Anne Hetherington, who have established a new scholarship in our department. Bill has often worked with students who were focusing on developing excellent experimental skills that would lead them to employment in industry. While in college, many of these students have to work as well as take classes. The Hetherington scholarship will allow students to reduce their work load while taking classes. This scholarship is now ready to be awarded in the 2014-2015 academic year.