Award News
Carl R. Hagen Wins 2010 J. J. Sakurai Prize for Theoretical Particle Physics
093009: Carl R. Hagen, Professor of Physics at the University of Rochester, was both thrilled and surprised today when he learned that he is one of six recipients of one of the most prestigious prizes in his field: the 2010 American Physical Society's J. J. Sakurai Prize for Theoretical Particle Physics. The annual prize recognizes and encourages outstanding achievement in particle theory.
Hagen was honored by the American Physical Society for "elucidation of the properties of spontaneous symmetry breaking in four-dimensional relativistic gauge theory and of the mechanism for the consistent generation of vector boson masses." He shares the prize with Robert Brout and Francois Englert of the Université Libre de Bruxelles, Gerald S. Guralnik of Brown University, Peter W. Higgs of the University of Edinburgh, and Tom W. B. Kibble of Imperial College.
"Hagen is one of the most important theoretical particle physicists of his generation," says Nicholas P. Bigelow, Chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy. "This prize is long overdue. I cannot express strongly enough how proud we are to have Carl Hagen on our faculty."
A March 2008 article ("Nobelist Steven Weinberg Praises Professor Carl Hagen and Collaborators for Higgs Boson Theory") on the Department website describes the crucial contribution regarding the Higgs boson theory made by Hagen with his collaborators Guralnik and Kibble. It points out that three independently formulated papers describing the theoretical mechanism appeared in Volume 13 of Physical Review Letters in 1964. They were by Gerald Guralnik, Carl Hagen, and Tom Kibble; by Peter Higgs; and by Francois Englert and Robert Brout. All three papers were written from different perspectives, and each made a distinct contribution.
And now, all six professors are sharing the 2010 J. J. Sakurai Prize for their suggested methods that give mass to vector bosons.
Gregory S. Bentsen Wins 2009 Physics Honors Prize
092309: The Department of Physics congratulates Gregory S. Bentsen, the 2009 recipient of the Physics Honors Prize, which is awarded annually to the top-performing undergraduate in the freshman/sophomore Honors Physics sequence. In consultation with the Chair of Undergraduate Awards Committee, Gregory's instructors in PHY 141, 142, 143, and 237 selected him for the honor, which includes a copy of The Feynman Lectures in Physics volumes, a paid membership in the AAPT, and a subscription to Physics Today.
Jamie M. Dougherty Receives Jane and Frank Warchol Scholarship from the Society of Vacuum Coaters
092309: A member of the Class of 2011, Jamie M. Dougherty has received a one-year Jane and Frank Warchol Scholarship from the Society of Vacuum Coaters (SVC). Since Fall 2008, Jamie has been doing research for The Optics MANufacturing Group in the Laboratory for Laser Energetics, under the supervision of Senior Manufacturing Engineer Nelson LeBarron and Senior Laboratory Engineer Pete Kupkinski.
Riccardo Betti Wins Edward Teller Medal for Fusion Research
092309: Riccardo Betti, senior scientist in laser energetics, professor of mechanical engineering and physics and astronomy at the University of Rochester and director of the Fusion Science Center for Extreme States of Matter, has won the Edward Teller Medal for his research into laser-driven fusion at the University's Laboratory for Laser Energetics. The award is named after Edward Teller, the co-founder of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and one of the key designers of the hydrogen bomb. Only two honorees are chosen to receive the award every other year. Betti was presented with a silver medal and $2,000 on Sept. 10 at the International Conference on Inertial Fusion Sciences and Applications in San Francisco, Calif.
Class of 2009 Graduates with Many Honors
060109: Congratulations to the 2009 graduates of the Department of Physics and Astronomy! In the graduation ceremony held today:
- 21 students earned BS degrees in Physics (up from last year's 15)
- 3 students earned BA degrees in Physics
- 1 student earned a BS degree in Physics and Astronomy
- 1 student earned a BA degree in Physics and Astronomy
- 11 students earned MA degrees in Physics
- 6 students earned PhD degrees in Physics
- 4 students earned PhD degrees in Physics and Astronomy.
Bachelor's Degrees
(Click here for a high-resolution image.)
SUNY Geneseo Confers Honorary Doctorate to Professor Esther Conwell
052909: At its graduation ceremony on May 16, SUNY Geneseo awarded an honorary Doctor of Science degree to Esther Conwell, University of Rochester Professor of Physics and Chemistry. Conwell is best known for her research in semiconductor physics and transistor design, efforts that propelled her to the forefront of the birth of the computer revolution.
PAS Graduate Student Amy Wakim Attends Meeting of 26 Physics Nobel Laureates
050809: Amy Wakim, now a fourth-year graduate student in Professor Bigelow's lab, won the honor of attending the 58th Meeting of Nobel Laureates at Lindau, Germany in June of 2008. Nominated by the University, Amy was selected by the Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) from a large pool of applicants sponsored by the Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation, Mars, Inc., and ORAU.
Of the week Amy spent with 26 Physics Nobel Laureates in Germany, she says, "It was extremely inspiring. For example, Professor Dr. Douglas D. Osheroff of Stanford University, who won the Nobel in 1996, told us about his experiences in graduate school. He also said that while it's important to immerse ourselves in physics, it's also important to maintain a balance in life." The key point that Amy took home with her is that, to do well in research, luck is involved but ninety-nine percent of success is due to dedication and hard work.
Four Undergraduates Elected to Phi Beta Kappa
040709: Three seniors and one junior have been elected to Phi Beta Kappa this year:
 Samuel T. Harrold (class of 2009), BS Physics, BS Mathematics |
 Theodore Allan Rapach (class of 2009), BS Physics |
 Katrina Marie Sliwa (class of 2009), BS Physics, BA Mathematics |
 Bradley Christensen (class of 2010), BS Physics |
Patrick Sheehan (2011) Named 2009 Barry M. Goldwater Scholar
040609: Sophomore Patrick Sheehan, student of Professor Dan M. Watson, has won a prestigius Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship. Endowed by the U.S. Congress to honor the late Sen. Barry M. Goldwater, the Scholarship is designed to provide a continuing source of highly qualified scientists, mathematicians, and engineers by awarding scholarships to college students who intend to pursue careers in these fields.
Sheehan also received a Phi Beta Kappa Iota Book Award earlier this year. He currently has a GPA of 4.00, ranking him in the top 99% of the Class of 2011. He has been doing research for Professor Watson since he was a freshman in fall 2007, and he's also a member of the Society of Physics Students.
Undergraduate Awards Announced
031609: The Department of Physics is pleased to announce the winners of this year's undergraduate awards, including the National-level Winston Churchill Foundation Scholarship, the Honors Physics Prizes, the John Castle Jr. and John Radu Scholarships, and on behalf of Phi Beta Kappa, the Iota Book Awards.
Winners include:
- Winston Churchill Foundation Scholarship: Kristin Beck
2009, BS Physics, Honors BA Mathematics, Minor in Music - Honors Physics Prize: John Golden
2010, BS Physics, BS Mathematics - Honors Physics Prize: Brad Christensen
2010, BS Physics, BA Mathematics - Honors Physics Prize: Tyle Stelzig
2010, BS Physics, BA Mathematics - John Castle Jr. Endowment Scholarship: Jonathan Kurvits
2010, BS Physics, BS Mathematics - John Radu Endowment Scholarship: Timothy DeHaas
2011, BS Physics, BA Mathematics - Iota Book Award: Gregory Bentsen
2011, BS Physics, BS ECE - Iota Book Award: Stephen Keeley
2011, BS Physics - Iota Book Award: Donald Polaski
2011, BS Physics, BA Philosophy - Iota Book Award: Marek Slipski
2011, BS Physics & Astronomy - Iota Book Award: Patrick Sheehan
2011, BS Physics & Astronomy
Professor Emil Wolf Receives Award for 50 Years as a Faculty Member
030309: Wilson Professor of Optical Physics and Theoretical Physics Emil Wolf stood before a packed Sloan Auditorium on March 2nd. He greeted the audience of approximately 175 people and the lights dimmed. The first slide of his presentation, Unified Theory of Coherence and Polarization of Light and Some of Its Applications, appeared on the drop-down screen.
He was about to begin his talk when the lights suddenly went on again. Professor Wayne Knox, the Director of the Institute of Optics, rose from the front row of seats, smiled broadly, and told a startled Professor Wolf that he had a surprise for the distinguished faculty member. And then, Department Chair and Lee A. DuBridge Professor of Physics (and Professor of Optics) Nick Bigelow rose from his seat, smiled just as broadly, and joined the two professors by the podium.
On behalf of both the Department of Physics and the Institute of Optics, Knox presented Emil Wolf with a plaque to honor his 50 years as a University of Rochester faculty member. Both he and Bigelow congratulated Professor Wolf and thanked him for his long and very distinguished career at the University.
Among all of his many publications, Professor Wolf is perhaps most well known for his classic book Principles of Optics: Electromagnetic Theory of Propagation, Interference and Diffraction of Light, which he wrote with Nobel Laureate Max Born. This book was first published in 1959 and is now in its seventh edition, which was published by Cambridge University Press in 1999.
American Institute of Physics Cites UR SPS Chapter as One of the Nation's Best
021609: The American Institute of Physics has selected the University of Rochester Society of Physics Students (SPS) as "an Outstanding SPS Chapter for the 2007-2008 school year." Gary D. White, the Director of the SPS national program, awarded this honor to our SPS chapter based on the depth of our activities in "physics research, public science outreach, physics tutoring programs, hosting and representation at physics meetings and events, and providing social interaction for chapter members." The award, he added, is a testament to the UR chapter's personal leadership skills and superior performance.
Kristin Beck Awarded Prestigious Churchill Scholarship
021709: Kristin Beck, a senior double degree student in physics and mathematics at the University of Rochester, has been named a 2009 Churchill Scholar and will advance her studies at the University of Cambridge this fall. Beck is the third University of Rochester student in as many years to receive a Churchill Scholarship and, as it happens, the third to major in the rigorous Honors B.A. Mathematics program. The prestigious scholarships, offered this year to just 14 students nationally, enable recipients to pursue graduate work at Cambridge in engineering, mathematics, or the physical and natural sciences. While at Cambridge, Beck will study quantum optics in the Cavendish Laboratory under the tutelage of Michael Kohl.
"I have had the privilege of working with our Churchill nominees since 1982," said Suzanne O'Brien, associate dean of undergraduate studies and director of the College Center for Academic Support, "and Kristi is clearly extraordinary even in this extraordinary group."
Alumnus Florencia Canelli (PhD, 2003) Awarded 2009 Sloan Research Fellowship
030409: Alumnus Florencia Canelli (PhD, 2003) has received a Sloan Research Fellowship for 2009. The Sloan two-year fellowships are awarded annually to 118 researchers based on their performance and "potential to make substantial contributions" to their fields. Thirty-eight Sloan Fellows have gone on to win Nobel Prizes.
Currently, Canelli is an Assistant Professor of Physics at the University of Chicago, and she also has a joint appointment at Fermilab.
At Rochester, she studied with Professor Tom Ferbel, and in 2004, she won the University Research Association Thesis Award for the best PhD Thesis at Fermilab. Her thesis, "Helicity of the W boson in single lepton p-pbar events," described a new method for extracting parameters from the decay of particles observed in the DZero experiment.
Lynne Orr Named C.E. Kenneth Mees Professor of Physics
120608: Chair Nicholas P. Bigelow recently announced that Lynne Orr has been named C.E. Kenneth Mees Professor of Physics. Orr, who has been with the Department since 1993, is a Theoretical High-Energy Physicist. Her research in collider phenomenology focuses on the physics of the top quark and Higgs boson (in the Standard Model and in Supersymmetry) and on Quantum Chromodynamics.
Professor Orr received her B.S. in Physics and Math (1982) and M.S. in Physics (1985) from the College of William and Mary, and her Ph.D. in Physics (1991) from the University of Chicago. After a postdoctoral position at the University of California at Davis, she joined the University of Rochester as an Assistant Professor of Physics in 1993.
Orr has been the recipient of an SSC Postdoctral Fellowhip, a University of California President's Postdoctoral Fellowship, a U.S. Department of Energy Outstanding Junior Investigator Award, and a National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development Award. She received the Department Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching twice (2000 and 2004), the Curtis Award for Nontenured Faculty Teaching Excellence in 1999, and Goergen Award for Distinguished Contribution to Undergraduate Learning (shared with P. Auchincloss, A. Bodek, and C. Jones) in 1998. She was promoted to Associate Professor in 1999 and to Professor in 2004. She was elected fellow of the American Physical Society in 2005.
For more information, please see Professor Orr's webpage.
Professor Robert W. Boyd to Receive Willis E. Lamb Award for Laser Science and Quantum Optics
100908: M. Parker Givens Professor of Optics and Professor of Physics Robert W. Boyd will receive the Willis E. Lamb Award for Laser Science and Quantum Optics at the Physics of Quantum Electronics (PQE) Winter Colloquium in January, 2009. This annual award honors Willis E. Lamb, Jr., the laser scientist who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1955. Along with Professor Boyd, the 2009 winners are Robert L. Byer of Stanford University and Norbert Kroo of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.
Professor Boyd's breakthroughs on slowing light ranked #87 in Discover magazine's Top 100 Science Stories of 2006. As reported by Kenneth Chang in The New York Times (Impressive New Tricks of Light, All Within the Laws of Physics, May 16, 2006), "...in the latest example of logic-defying tricks that physicists can now perform with light, Dr. Boyd and his colleagues demonstrated an optical fiber -- a glass strand that transmits pulses of light --with a couple of odd characteristics...A pulse of light shot into the fiber departs before it enters...Within the fiber, the pulse travels backward -- and faster than the speed of light. Perhaps most amazingly, Dr. Boyd's results do not violate any law of physics. The effect is indeed predicted by the equations describing the propagation of waves."
Professor Emil Wolf Wins OSA/SPIE 2008 Joseph W. Goodman Book Writing Award
073008: Wilson Professor of Optical Physics and Theoretical Physics Emil Wolf has won the 2008 Joseph W. Goodman Book Writing Award presented by the Optical Society of America (OSA) and the International Society for Optical Engineering (SPIE). His winning book is Introduction to the Theory of Coherence and Polarization of Light, which was published in September 2007 by Cambridge University Press.
According to Jose M. Sasian, the Chair of the Award Committee, "The joint Committee from both Societies made the decision based on [the observation that Professor Wolf's book provides] the first truly unified treatment of coherence and polarization, as well as the extremely high potential for the volume to become a widely adopted textbook worldwide."
The Joseph W. Goodman Book Writing Award is funded by J.W. and H.M. Goodman, and recognizes a recent and outstanding book in the field of optics and photonics that has contributed significantly to research, teaching, or the optics and photonics industry. Professor Wolf will be honored at an upcoming OSA or SPIE meeting of his choice. (lhg)
Class of 2008 Graduates with Many Honors
051808: Congratulations to the 2008 graduates of the Department of Physics and Astronomy! In the graduation ceremony held today:
- 15 students earned BS degrees in Physics
- 5 students earned BA degrees in Physics
- 8 students earned BS degrees in Physics and Astronomy
- 1 student earned a BA degree in Physics and Astronomy
- 7 students earned MS degrees in Physics
- 20 students earned MA degrees in Physics
- 18 students earned PhD degrees in Physics
- 3 students earned PhD degrees in Physics and Astronomy.
Bachelor's Degrees
Undergraduates earned several national and international honors, including 3 Goldwater Scholarships and a Fulbright Scholarship. (lhg)
Benjamin Schmitt Wins Fulbright Award
042508: Benjamin Schmitt (BS, Physics; BA, Mathematics; BA, German) is one of five UR students who recently earned 2008-2009 Fullbright Awards, national scholarships that foster international academic and research collaborations. The Fulbright Awards are among the most prestigious honors in the world, with international collaborations in well over a hundred countries.
Benjamin will spend his Fulbright year in Germany conducting physics research at the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics in Heidelberg and pursuing a master's degree in astronomy and astrophysics at Heidelberg University. He is a Renaissance Scholar, recipient of the German Book Award, and member of the Sigma Pi Sigma National Physics Honor Society. He has previously conducted research at UR's Laboratory for Laser Energetics, Cornell's Laboratory for Elementary Particle Physics, and the Max Planck Institute in Heidelberg; Schmitt has also co-authored several scientific papers. He intends to pursue a PhD in physics and a research career in a government or academic laboratory setting. An Eagle Scout, Schmitt has participated in the UR Sailing Club and College Bowl Team and has also served as a volunteer event coordinator for local and regional Science Olympiad competitions. He attended Greece Arcadia High School in Rochester, New York and has studied voice since childhood, including private vocal lessons with Eastman's Jane Gunter-McCoy. Benhamin has had the lead vocal roles in several Eastman Opera Theatre performances, including The Merry Widow. (lhg)
John K. Golden and Samuel T. Harrold Win 2008 Goldwater Scholarships
032908: University of Rochester Physics sophomore John K. Golden and junior Samuel T. Harrold have been named 2008 Barry M. Goldwater Scholars.
The Goldwater Scholarship, which is endowed by the U.S. Congress to honor the late Sen. Barry M. Goldwater, is designed to provide a continuing source of highly qualified scientists, mathematicians, and engineers by awarding scholarships to college students who intend to pursue careers in these fields.
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| Sophomore John K. Golden (class of 2010), left, is earning a BS in Physics and a BA in Mathematics. John is the Social Coordinator and a member of the Society of Physics Students and won the 2007 Iota Book Award. Currently, he is doing research with Prof. Nicholas Bigelow. | Junior Samuel T. Harrold (class of 2009), right, is earning a BS in Physics and a BS in Mathematics. He is the Secretary and a member of the Society of Physics Students, and in 2007, he won a Department of Energy National Undergraduate Fellowship in Plasma Physics and Fusion Energy Sciences while an REU undergraduate at Rochester. Currently, he is doing research with Professor Daniel Watson. |
(lhg)
Five Physics Professors Honored as APS Outstanding Referees
032908: The American Physical Society (APS) has honored five University of Rochester Physics Professors as Outstanding Referees:
- R. W. Boyd
- Esther M. Conwell
- C. R. Hagen
- Y. R. Shapir
- C. R. Stroud
The APS chose only 534 Outstanding Referees from a list of 42,000 active referees. This is the first year of the Outstanding Referee Program, which will anually recognize approximately 130 additional Outstanding Referees.
According to the 2008 APS press release, "The highly selective award program recognizes scientists who have been exceptionally helpful in assessing manuscripts for publication in the APS journals." In addition, "Like Fellowship in the APS, this is a lifetime award. " (lhg)
Professor Judith Pipher Inducted into National Women's Hall of Fame
100607: Professor Judith Pipher was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame on October 6, 2007 for her excellence as a teacher, her role as mentor to a new generation of young female scientists, and for the exceptional advances she's made in the field of infrared astronomy. (Photo: Judith Pipher, right, receives her award from National Women's Hall of Fame Board President Barbara DeBaptiste.)
A 2002 recipient of the University's Susan B. Anthony Lifetime Achievement Award, Pipher has been a member of the University of Rochester faculty since 1971, just after earning her doctorate from Cornell University in the newly emerging field of infrared astronomy. (lhg)
Professor Esther M. Conwell Wins Prestigious ACS Award for Encouraging Women into Careers in the Chemical Sciences
082007: The American Chemical Society (ACS) announced on August 20, 2007 that Esther M. Conwell, Professor of Physics and Chemistry at the University of Rochester, is the winner of the 2008 ACS Award for Encouraging Women into Careers in the Chemical Sciences. The award recognizes one scientist each year who has significantly encouraged the education and professional development of women as chemists and chemical engineers. Funded by The Camille & Henry Dreyfus Foundation, Inc., it consists of $5,000 to the scientist and $10,000 to an academic institution of her choice. Professor Conwell will receive the award in New Orleans on April 8th. (lhg)
Alexander Mitov (2003 UR Physics PhD) Awarded the First Large Hadron Collider Theory Initiative Postdoctoral Fellowship
011708: Alexander Mitov, who earned his PhD in theoretical particle physics from the University of Rochester in 2003, has received the first $150,000 National Science Foundation Large Hadron Collider (LHC) Theory Initiative Postdoctoral Fellowship. Mitov was a researcher in the Department of Theoretical Physics at Liverpool University until December 1, 2007, when he moved to the University of Hamburg. During the Fellowship, he will collaborate and be hosted by Stony Brook University's C. N. Yang Institute for Theoretical Physics starting in Spring 2008.
In a Stony Brook University press release, Institute director George Sterman states that Mitov "has already made important contributions to the theory of the strong interactions, known as quantum chromodynamics, which is a part of the Standard Model."
The Postdoctoral Fellowship, the result of an international competition, will support Mitov's reaseach on higher-order corrections to LHC processes such as heavy flavor production and precision top-quark studies. Mitov's specialties include predictions about how particles known as heavy quarks will be produced at the LHC. (lhg)
Kristin M. Beck Wins 2007 Physics Honors Prize
012008: The Department of Physics congratulates Kristin M. Beck, the 2007 recipient of the Physics Honors Prize, which is awarded annually to the top-performing undergraduate in the freshman/sophomore Honors Physics sequence. Kristin's instructors in PHY 141, 142, 143, and 237 selected her from a pool of six qualified candidates. (left: Kristin receives her award from Professor Frank Wolfs, Physics Undergraduate Advisor) (lhg)