Faculty Research
Our faculty are actively involved in exciting research from a variety of areas in Physics and Astronomy. We cultivate engaging research experiences with students, the community, and beyond.
If you have any questions or are interested in exploring with us, contact us!
Current Research Topics
Sarah Formica, Ph.D. and professor of physics, initiated the grant application following her successful implementation of the Learning Assistant (LA) program. The LA program introduces students to physics education as a career path through one-on-one training with a professor, helping other students and learning about pedagogy.
Abby Ledford worked on a fluid dynamics research project under the supervision of Dr. Patrick Bunton, head of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at 1688开奖网.
Amanda Ash and Jessica Hamilton presented research about starspots at the "20th Cambridge Workshop on Cool Stars, Stellar Systems and the Sun" in Boston. They talked about the properties of starspots, computer models created to mimic stars and starspots and the comparison between the computer models and observational data collected from real-time stars.
Dr. Greg Feiden is collaborating with Dr. Wei-Chun Jao, staff astronomer and adjunct professor at Georgia State University, to understand new features they have uncovered about the relationship between a star's brightness and color among the smallest stars.
They wrote and in the Astronomical Journal highlighting their discoveries. Their paper was on the (AAS) , which highlights important papers published in
The fluid dynamics lab gives students hands-on experience replicating experiments, conducting new ones and building their research skills which prepares them to work in other labs.
Mateo Valera completed a Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) at Colorado University-Boulder. Valera worked on creating visualizations of occultations, in which objects in the sky are larger than the objects they block, through OpenSpace software. The project at Colorado came after Valera's research with Dr. Gregory Feiden,
Suzy Steel and Rebecca Corley were selected to participate in the Council on Undergraduate Research's Posters on the Hill. They got to present their research to the U.S. Congress which focuses on collisions between electrons and different nuclei. The two study the collisions and the particle debris field through computer simulations.
Evolution of Galaxies
Amanda Moffett, Ph.D., is researching to understand how galaxies form, growing and changing throughout the history of the universe. Dr. Moffett uses images from research-class telescopes as well as large datasets from galaxy surveys to measure how galaxy structures evolve and change due to their environments.
Planetary Nebulae
Francisco Guzman Fulgencio, Ph.D., studies the remains of dead stars, called Planetary Nebulae, to determine how some of the heavy elements of the periodic table were established. Life on Earth needs many elements of the periodic table in the proportions we find in our solar system. But how did these proportions come to be and how do they change in other stars or galaxies? Dr. Guzman’s work uses telescopes, such as those at 1688开奖网 (North Georgia Astronomical Observatory), to look at how the universe evolved, the creation of the solar system, and the possibilities of life beyond it.
Stars
Gregory Feiden, Ph.D., uses computer models to understand the smallest stars. Small stars are of high interest in the search for habitable planets as they are numerous and long-lived. Dr. Feiden investigates the physics beneath the surface of small stars that affects their likelihood of hosting planets, including convection, electron-plasma waves, magnetic fields, star spots, and rotation. Students working with Dr. Feiden can explore their own curiosity and have searched for hot Jupiter planets using 1688开奖网’s North Georgia Astronomical Observatory, which Dr. Feiden directs. Students have also measured wind strengths of massive stars, predicted dangerous solar flares with machine learning, and investigated stars identified as potential candidates for hosting Dyson Spheres.
Machine Learning Applications in Physics
Dilina Perera, Ph.D., conducts research on using computer simulations and computational methods (such as Monte Carlo, molecular dynamics, and machine learning) to understand the behavior of complex systems, particularly those encountered in condensed matter physics, including magnetic materials, polymers, and spin glasses.
Dr. Perera’s research also explores applied and interdisciplinary topics, including physics-inspired optimization methods and machine learning applications to a variety of problems in physics and astronomy. Students involved gain hands-on experience with high-performance computing, data analytics, and machine learning skills that apply to work in academia or industry.
Coding Heavy Element Synthesis
Francisco Guzman Fulgencio, Ph.D., uses computational methods to tackle astrophysics problems. He studies the remains of dead stars, called Planetary Nebulae, to determine how some of the heavy elements of the periodic table were established. Life on Earth needs many elements of the periodic table in the proportions we find in our solar system, but how did these proportions come to be and how do they change in other stars or galaxies?
Those involved in the research team develop the spectral simulation code Cloudy to perform simulation of the emission of these nebulae and compare them with the observations, looking at how the universe evolved, the creation of the solar system, and the possibilities of life beyond it.
Bio-Inspired Geotechnics
Seth Mallett, Ph.D., takes inspiration from biology to mimic and transfer biological principles onto engineering solutions related to soil and rock. Bio-inspired geotechnics is a powerful design methodology because users can look to nature’s massive repertoire of evolved solutions. For example, Dr. Mallett created an enhanced ground anchor for retaining walls that is inspired by plant roots, taking advantage of geometric characteristics of fibrous root systems, typical of most grasses and grains.
Engineering for Water Quality and Soil Management
Redi Sileshi, Ph.D., researches engineering solutions for water quality analysis and stormwater management, largely focusing on small and large-scale infiltration studies. A main area of focus has been on impacts of compaction on infiltration capacities for different types of urban soils, along with methods to restore soils to their natural capacities.
Sensor Design for GPS and Animal Tracking
Al Walters has a project modifying Arduino-based GPS low-voltage sensors that can be attached to box turtles to monitor their movements and nesting behavior. In another project, his student debugs the GPS sensor/Arduino communication protocol and may test alternative devices to the Arduino. Mr. Walters works with students to develop their own ideas for engineering projects.
The study of fluids, their structure, behavior, and the forces affecting them has valuable applications across many fields.
Fluid Imaging Lab
Patrick Bunton, Ph.D., directs the fluid imaging lab where he researches hydrogen flows and polymer science. Using hydrogen experiments to investigate viscous fingering with application to large-scale underground hydrogen storage for renewable energy. Hydrogen is allowed to flow into a porous medium as a model for underground flows. Flows are characterized by their fractal dimension. Dr. Bunton’s polymer experiments are currently investigating the relative roles of bulk and surface flows in frontal polymerization.
Anota Ijaduola, Ph.D., and Hoang “Long” Pham, Ph.D., both study materials through experimental condensed matter physics. Material physics looks at the physical properties of materials, often with great significance to the advancement of technology and industry.
Applications for Vanadium Dioxide (VO2)
They focus on the synthesis and characterization of vanadium dioxide (VO2). VO2 is one of the most promising materials used for optical and electrical modulation. It exhibits metal insulator transition near 68 degrees Celsius. This transition is accompanied by abrupt changes in electrical resistivity and infrared transmission. These transition properties make it suitable for technological applications such as electrical switches and electro-optical modulators.
They have started synthesizing VO2 in sol-gel form. After perfecting this process, they will explore how to use this in applications (e.g. as a passive means of cooling as a coating on windows). They are also setting up a laser system to be used in characterizing and studying the made samples. The system has a 1.3- and 1.5-micron infrared laser.
Student researchers will get hands-on laboratory experience.
The early universe was a primordial soup of elementary particles (the Big Bang) such as quarks, leptons, gluons, electroweak gauge bosons, Higgs bosons, and other particles such as dark matter that are yet to be discovered. Their properties and interactions, coupled with General Relativity help describe the dynamics of space-time, help us understand the evolution of the universe from the moment of the Big Bang to the present day where we see more complex structures such as galaxies, stars, and planets.
Particles in Astrophysics
Mark Spraker, Ph.D., researches low-energy, nuclear astrophysics (the reactions that happen in the sun-like stars and proto-stellar clouds) and gamma ray-induced reactions (fundamental particle physics).
Particle Phenomena Across the Energy Spectrum
Sonny Mantry, Ph.D., uses analytic, computational, and simulation methods to study a variety of particle physics phenomena across the energy spectrum. His has been relevant to experiments ranging from the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) to table-top tests of the weak equivalence principle of General Relativity. He has tackled physics in high energy colliders like the Tevatron and the LHC, medium energy experiments at facilities like the Jefferson Laboratory (JLAB), and future proposed colliders such as the Electron-Ion Collider (EIC) and the next linear collider. His work ultimately applies to unraveling nuclear structure and probing physics beyond the electroweak scale.
Exploring New Paradigms in Physics Education
Sarah Formica, Ph.D., is revolutionizing how we teach and learn physics. Her approach is grounded in resources theory and values students' ideas - both correct and incorrect - as essential building blocks for learning. Implementing a unique "ungrading" system that replaces traditional grades with comprehensive feedback, allows students to learn from mistakes without penalty and revise their work to deepen understanding. This system fosters self-assessment skills crucial for lifelong learning.
Student researchers assist by investigating how different types of teacher feedback affect learning, exploring the impact of various teaching methods on learning gains across genders, and studies how evidence-based study strategies influence students' beliefs about learning physics.
Dr. Formica also runs the Physics Secondary education Initiative (awarded the PhysTEC research grant) at 1688开奖网 to address the national shortage of qualified high school physics teachers. The program has already produced eight new physics teachers.
Student researchers won't just study physics – you'll be at the forefront of understanding how physics is learned and taught, making a real impact in the world of science education.
Designing Physics Experiments for the Classroom
Al Walters is starting a new project to create a laboratory exercise for 1688开奖网’s Physics courses that will involve studying the of a magnet falling down a copper pipe.
A research student will need to develop sensors using Arduino to measure the Eddy Current—which will involve calibrating and testing the sensor. They will need to assess a falling magnet to determine what students will be able to learn about the magnet, its properties, and other factors, such as friction.
Student-Driven Projects
Ted Forringer, Ph.D., is working with students on several renewable energy projects such as optimizing the electronics in a solar powered lantern, investigating growing algae for bio-diesel production, and making “papercrete” from recycled paper and cement.
We welcome any ideas for projects across physics and renewable energy from sources that are plentiful and re-supplied on a fast timescale in nature.