Physics and Astronomy Research

Most of our students choose to engage in real-world research during their degree. Research is an essential and rewarding part of their experience. We highly encourage all students to talk to our faculty about getting involved, apply for scholarships, and engage in the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP). 

Theoretical High Energy and Cosmology

Cosmology Group

Quantum gravity

Quantum physics has successfully described the constituents of matter at subatomic scales. On the other hand, Einstein’s theory of gravity dominates the behavior of matter at the largest known scales in our universe. While it is well-tested at large scales, gravity is the only known force for which we do not know the quantum description. A quantum description is important for describing regimes of extreme gravity, such as deep inside a black hole. Claire Zukowski's group at UMD studies quantum gravity using theoretical tools at the intersection of holography, quantum information and mathematics, with a particular focus on applications to our known universe.

Physical Limnology and Oceanography

Sunset on R/V Blue Heron

Fluid dynamics

Sam Kelly studies fluid dynamics in large water bodies. Much of his work focuses on subsurface waves generated by winds and tides, and the turbulent mixing they produce as they break. He approaches research questions through a combination of fieldwork, remote sensing, theory, and numerical modeling.

LimnicEruption

Living systems

Diffusion and turbulence transport substances in aquatic environments and control metabolisms of micro-organisms and rates of geochemical reactions. Verifying mathematical modeling with observations from lakes around the world, Sergei Katsev studies physical laws behind the functioning of ecosystems. This interdisciplinary research probes fundamental reasons behind the broad patterns of observations in lakes and oceans, and the development of early life on Earth and possibly on Mars. 

Buoy Lab

UMD Buoy lab

Jay Austin is a lake physicist, specializing in making observations of physical processes in large lakes worldwide, studying topics like thermal structure, the role of ice, convection, climate change, and the impact of physics on ecological processes. He is particularly interested in how information about thermal structure in deep lakes gets passed from one season to the next. He maintains a significant array of subsurface instrumentation in Lake Superior that collects temperature and current data. His lab also operates a fleet of meteorological buoys in western Lake Superior. lab studies phenomena such as the role of ice and the effects of climate change on lake systems. The lab provides students with hands-on experience in oceanographic fieldwork and data analysis.

Astronomy

Transiting Exoplanets & Eclipsing Binary Stars 

Dan Stevens' research group characterizes transiting exoplanets and eclipsing binary stars by combining observations from NASA's Transiting Exoplanets Survey Satellite (TESS) with data from ground-based observatories of all sizes -- soon to include UMD's own rooftop observatory and the planned Landolt "artificial star" satellite. The group uses their results to better understand the demographics of exoplanets, the physics of stellar evolution, and the dynamical history of the Milky Way galaxy.
 

Our research areas at a glance

 

Cross-disciplinary research

Our students also work with faculty from other departments: Electrical Engineering, Biology, Chemistry, Math, Computer Science, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Civil Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. These are the current external members of the Physics Graduate Program who can advise graduate students and supervise MS theses. Others can be added as needed.