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Faculty and Staff

OSU astrophysicist Xavier Siemens wins coveted Bruno Rossi Prize for gravitational wave discovery

Xavier Siemens, a renowned astrophysicist and professor at Oregon State’s College of Science, has been awarded the prestigious 2025 Bruno Rossi Prize, one of the highest international honors in high-energy astrophysics, for his groundbreaking work uncovering evidence of binary supermassive black holes.

Two men stand in front of a background of space on a green screen.
Physics

NANOGrav paper named one of 2024's 'Most-Cited in Astronomy'

Two College of Science physics faculty members were instrumental in a groundbreaking study honored by IOP Publishing as one of 2024’s most-cited articles in astronomy. Xavier

Solar flares as seen from space
Physics

Scientists make Wile E. Coyote observation, confirming theory of how solar flares are created

An international collaboration that includes a College of Science astrophysicist has identified a phenomenon, likened to the quick-footed movements of an iconic cartoon predator, that proves a 19-year-old theory regarding how solar flares are created.

A man in a black suit stands in front of a green background.
Physics

Astrophysicist Xavier Siemens elected 2024 fellow of the American Physical Society

The College of Science is proud to announce that Xavier Siemens, a distinguished astrophysicist and renowned leader in the field of gravitational wave research, has been elected a 2024 Fellow of the American Physical Society.

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Teaching Innovation

Black holes devour light — except when they create it, finds physics undergrad

When physics senior Phia Morton flew to Italy to do research, she couldn’t have imagined what she’d find hidden in the stars: the first strong candidate of a black hole merger emitting light. This discovery deepens knowledge on the cosmic structures and may even give a new opinion on how quickly the universe is expanding.

Astrophysicist Jeffrey Hazboun stands in front of an graphic of Earth surrounded by satellites and other cosmic bodies.
Events

Gravitational waves discovery topic of Dec. 6 Oregon State Science Pub

The discovery related to gravitational waves which made international headlines earlier this year and was predicted by Albert Einstein more than a century ago will be the topic of Oregon State University’s Science Pub on Dec. 6. Jeff Hazboun, an astrophysicist in the College of Science and one of the researchers who led the project that resulted in the gravitational wave astronomy breakthrough, will talk about the discovery and future directions for the research at 6 p.m. Dec. 6 at the Old World Deli in Corvallis.

Department of Physics head Davide Lazatti sits in a well-lit office space.
Research

When stars burst: Oregon State astrophysicist's predictions confirmed by new findings

An international research group confirmed College of Science predictions about exploding stars located at the center of galaxies.

Xavier Siemens, left, and Jeff Hazboun of the College of Science
Physics

Astrophysics collaboration led by Oregon State finds 'chorus' of gravitational waves

The detection of gravitational waves opens a whole new window onto supermassive black holes – a vitally important step in advancing human knowledge and helping to unlock the mysteries of how structures are formed in the cosmos.

Davide Lazzati sitting in office.
Physics

Astrophysicist wins award for revolutionary research and international collaboration

Department of Physics Head Davide Lazzati has received an international award for his revolutionary paper on gamma-ray bursts and neutron star mergers.

Nima Laal headshot
Graduate students

Martin O'Neill fellow Nima Laal changing the picture of modern physics

Physics Ph.D. candidate Nima Laal has a poster on his wall of an alien spaceship. The text on the bottom reads “I want to believe.”

To Laal, the poster isn’t referencing creatures from another planet, but instead the search for elusive gravitational waves.

Researchers perform tests in ProtoDUNE’s electric field cage.
News

Particle physicist probes secrets of the universe with Department of Energy grant

Professor of Physics Heidi Schellman is leading an international experiment to explore the existence of the universe. The project, titled “Essential Computing and Software Development for the DUNE experiment,” has received a $3M grant from the Department of Energy.

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Faculty and Staff

University Day awards recognize astrophysics discoveries and service during the pandemic

Physicist Davide Lazzati and Chemstores storekeeper Sierra Hansen win 2021 University Day awards.