Cosmic Conversation. Students in freshman “Physics Discovery Series” (PHYS 190) enjoyed a visit from Dean James Bullock, a leading cosmologist, who spoke with instructor Kris Pardo, assistant professor of physics and astronomy, and the class in a podcast-style format. Bullock stayed after the bell to chat with the first-year physics majors. (Photo: Vaidik Vadhavana/El Rodeo.)
On behalf of the AHEPA Educational Foundation, PhD student Antonis Margaritakis has been awarded a 2025 Mavroyannis Scholarship in Theoretical Physics. Antonis, a member of the Chung lab, is in his fifth year studying molecular biophysics with an emphasis in molecular underpinning of amino acid sequences. Antonis will receive an award of $5,000 to support his doctoral research for the 2025-2026 academic year.
Congratulations!
Kelly Luo discovers a better way to detect and tune antiferromagnetic resonance, paving the way for ultrafast, low-power electronics.
Read the USC Dornsife News story to learn more!
What exactly is VSTOL? Dr. Ken Phillips (USC Adjunct Professor of the Practice of Physics and Astronomy) is taking you behind-the-scenes for a VSTOL 101 on the Harrier. Dive into the fascinating world of Vertical/Short Takeoff and Landing technology and discover how it has revolutionized aviation. Plus, catch a sneak peek of how the Harrier will be showcased in the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, our first aircraft installation in the Korean Air Aviation Gallery.
Watch all about it here.
Astrophysicist James Bullock has been named dean of the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, effective July 1, 2025. Bullock will be the 23rd dean to lead USC Dornsife since its founding in 1880. He succeeds Amber Miller (Cosmology), and takes the reins from interim Dean Moh El-Naggar. (Physics and Astronomy).
Meet James Bullock here.
FACULTY UPDATE: Martin Gundersen
Until retirement in 2022, Martin Gundersen was Lloyd Hunt Professor of Electrical Power Engineering and Professor of Electrical Engineering (EE), and held secondary appointments in Physics and Astronomy, and Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, at the University of Southern California, which he joined in 1980.
He completed his PhD in Physics under Walter Faust at USC in 1972, served as Post-Doc under John Marburger at USC, and joined Texas Tech University in 1973 to 1980. He was Chair EE–Electrophysics, 1998 – 2003, has published >300 papers in laser, solid state, pulsed power, combustion and other areas and has over 10 patents. He graduated 31 PhD students and mentored many undergraduates, among the first was Arati Prabhakar, an undergraduate from Lubbock TX who is the current Science Advisor to President Biden.
Research included laser science and technologies, solid state device physics, nanosecond pulsed power concepts and generators, engine ignition and combustion technologies for emissions reduction and improved efficiencies in a range of engines, advancing public science and engineering interest through popular media. He was PI on ≈100 grants and contracts. He is Life Fellow of the IEEE, Fellow of the Optical Society of America, received the Germeshausen Award of the IEEE Power Modulator Conference, Sol Schneider award of the 2010 IEEE Power Modulator and High Voltage Conference, the 2015 USC Associates Award for “Creativity in Research and Innovation”, 2018 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Plasmadynamics and Lasers Award, and the Dunbar Award of the 2021 IEEE Power Modulator Conference.
Technical meetings chaired and organized include the 1980 OSA Topical Meeting on IR Lasers, 1989 NATO Advanced Research Workshop, the Power Modulator Symposium 1990 and 1998, and Workshops at the American Film Institute for the purpose of improving science portrayals in film.
He currently serves as an advisor for a Community College with the purpose of improving transfer rates for students into upper division and advanced education programs in engineering and science.
Kelly Luo is one of the recently named U.S. Department of Energy Early Career Research Program Awardees. This award, at the total amount of $875,000, allows Prof Luo’s Ultrafast Quantum Opto-Spintronics Group and their collaborators to conduct basic energy science research in Ultrafast Spin Torque Dynamics in van der Waals Magnetic Heterostructures within her Ultrafast over the next five years.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the selection of 91 early career scientists from across the country who will receive a combined $138 million in funding for research covering a wide range of topics including artificial intelligence, fusion energy, and quantum. These awards are critical to DOE’s efforts to develop the next generation of STEM leaders to solidify America’s role as the driver of science and innovation around the world.
In this month’s edition of USC Dornsife in the News, Vahe Peroomian is highlighted for his op-ed in The Conversation explaining the upcoming nova event and how to observe it. “The stars aren’t fixed and unchanging, unlike what many ancient people thought. Once in a while, a star appears where there wasn’t one before, and then it fades away in a matter of days or weeks”. Yahoo News Australia and Foreign Affairs republished the article.
Congratulations to senior student, Miguel Mercado, who received the Astronaut Scholarship award from the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation. Miguel will graduate in May 2025 with two degrees, Physics and Computer Science, and Mathematics.
Read more about Miguel’s accomplishments on the USC Dornsife Website.
LEAPS AND BOUNDS – QUANTUM COMPUTING
View the latest episode of Coffee with Ish!
Stephan Haas and Daniel Lidar sit down with Ishwar Puri, Senior Vice President from the USC Office of Research and Innovation, to discuss the frontier of Quantum Computing.
Congratulations to Peter Chung for being awarded the Robert D. Beyer (’81) Early Career Chair in Natural Sciences. The Chair’s Installation Ceremony was held on March 14, 2024 where Peter was presented with his “official chair” by Bob Beyer (photo) and Dornsife Dean, Amber Miller.
Peter is the second faculty from Physics and Astronomy to be bestowed with this prestigious honor. The inagural first holder of the endowment was Moh El-Naggar in 2015.
Congratulations to Moh El-Naggar for his recent election to the Fellowship in the American Academy of Microbiology. The Academy is the honorific leadership group within the American Society for Microbiology, and recognizes excellence, originality, service, and leadership in the microbial sciences.
Read more from the USC Dornsife Office of Research Advancement Newsletter from February 19, 2024.
Our very own Kenneth Phillips, Adjunct Professor of the Practice of Physics and Astronomy, has spearheaded an enormous effort at the California Science Center. On January 29, 2024, the retired shuttle, Endeavor, made its very last “flight” over Exposition Park in order to be lowered into place in a launch-ready vertical display.
Ken Phillips adds, “It’s fantastic to see the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center progress to the point that Endeavour can be placed in its launch configuration which is something that our team has envisioned for the past 34 years. We have an awesome crew led by some of the same NASA engineers and technicians that were responsible for the 135 launches of the space shuttle fleet so, weather permitting, we will very slowly lift Endeavour into launch position this evening between the hours of 10p and 4a. If the team is satisfied with the “soft mating” that we hope will take place later this evening, we will then torque all connections to flight specifications and remove the crane and the shuttle vertical lifting sling in the next 24 hours.”
Congrats, Ken & Team!
Kelly Luo was recently elected to the APS Forum on Early Career Scientists (FECS) as a Member-at-Large.
Congratulations, Kelly, on this new role and for receiving the highest vote count among the other nominees! Kelly’s 2-year term begins in January 2024.
We were pleasantly pleased with a surprise visit by Werner Däppen, Professor Emeritus, in late April 2023. Dr. Däppen’s visit was a breath of fresh air to all faculty and staff who have had the great pleasure and honor to work with him during his 25 years in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at USC. After he shocked the department admins with his unexpected arrival, Dr. Däppen was thrilled to tour the new Cosmology suites on ACB’s 5th floor, chat with previous colleagues in SSC, and attend the monthly Happy Hour where he engaged with and met newer faculty and current graduate students. He has lived in his birth country of Switzerland since his retirement with his lovely and amazing wife, Veronika.
Werner Däppen (right) is pictured here with Krzysztof Pilch in SSC.