Physics

Faculty

D. T. Petkie, Department Head and Professor; Ph.D., Ohio State University. Photonic Integrated Circuits, Millimeter-wave and Terahertz sensing, spectroscopy, electromagnetic scattering and propagation, photonics, optics and imaging.
P. K. Aravind, Professor; Ph.D., Northwestern University. Quantum information theory.
N. A. Burnham, Professor; Ph.D., University of Colorado. Mechanical properties of nanostructures, instrumentation for nanomechanics.
G. S. Iannacchione, Professor; Ph.D., Kent State University. Soft condensed matter physics/ complex fluids, liquid-crystals, calorimetry, and order-disorder phenomena.
R. Kafle, Associate Professor of Teaching; Ph.D., Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Physics Education Research with a focus on active learning and multimedia in physics and astronomy.
W. C. McCarthy, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Nuclear Science and engineering, Fusion Sciences, Plasma Physics, Medical Imaging.
D. C. Medich, Professor; Ph.D., University of Massachusetts – Lowell. Nuclear science and engineering, medical and health physics, radiation biology.
R. Murenzi, Professor; Ph.D., Catholic University of Louvain. Wavelets, Groups, Phase Space Representations, Coherent States: Links Between Quantum Physics; and Signal Processing in One and More Dimensions. 
B. Pollard, Assistant Teaching Professor; Ph.D., University of Colorado Boulder.  Physics Education Research with a focus on physics laboratory courses.
L. R. Ram-Mohan, Professor; Ph.D., ­Purdue University. Field theory, many body problems, solid state physics, and finite-element modeling of quantum systems.
I. Stroe, Associate Professor of Teaching; Ph.D., Clark University. Experimental biophysics, protein structure, dynamic, and functionality.
L. V. Titova, Professor; Ph.D., University of Notre Dame. THz spectroscopy of nanomaterials for energy applications; optical excitations and ultrafast carrier dynamics in nanomaterials.
R. Trubko, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., University of Arizona. Quantum physics, Nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond, magnetic microscopy and imaging for biosciences and geosciences, machine learning, optics.
Q. Wen, Associate Professor, Ph.D., Brown University. Experimental biophysics, mechanical properties of tissue cells and biological materials, cell-ECM interactions.
K. Wu, Associate Professor, Ph.D., New York University. Experimental soft matter and biophysics, active matter systems driven by motor proteins; nonequilibrium fluid dynamics, emergent flows and self-organization in energy-consuming complex fluids
R. Zekavat, Professor; Ph.D., Colorado State University. Wireless Localization and Communications, Propagation Channel Modeling, Statistical Signal Processing, Sensor Data Analysis and Machine Learning.
A. Zozulya, Professor; Ph.D., Lebedev Physics Institute. Nonlinear optics, photorefractive materials, atom pipes.

Affiliated Faculty

C. Furlong, Professor; Ph.D., WPI, 1999. MEMS and MOEMS, micro- /nano-technology & -fabrication, mechatronics, laser metrology & applications, holographic and ultrasonic imaging and NDT, computer modeling of dynamic systems, acoustics.
Y. Liu, Associate Professor; Ph.D., University of Maryland, 2011. Fiber optical tweezers, silicon nanophotonics and nanomechanics, optofluidics, fiber optic sensors, cell mechanics, biomimetics.

Research Areas

Soft Matter and Biophysics

Active Matter – Non-equilibrium statistical physics, dynamics of confined active fluids, self-organization of energy-consuming materials, self-propelled particles, self-pumping fluids, biopolymers (microtubules, actins), molecular motors (kinesin, myosin), bio-mimetic materials.
Biomaterials – Hydration effects on protein dynamics, thermodynamics of proteins and DNA, self-assembly of biomaterials, dielectric relaxation spectroscopy, relaxation calorimetry, resonant ultrasound spectroscopy, studies of tissue cells, theory and simulations of bio-polymers and molecular motors.
Biomechanics – Locomotion of living organisms, cellular structure and motion, computational biophysical fluid dynamics.
Cellular Biophysics – Cell mechanics and intra-cellular transport, physics of the cytoskeleton (cellular skeleton), cargo transport in cells, super-resolution imaging, correlation spectroscopy, simulations of cellular processes.
Complex Fluids – Diffusion and transport properties of complex fluids, light scattering spectroscopy of liquids and polymer melts, mesoscale simulations of liquids, capillary wave theory, theory and simulations of phase transitions in multi-component mixtures, active fluids.
Glasses – Theory and simulation, thermodynamics and relaxation dynamics.
Liquid Crystals – Thermotropic/lyotropic/colloidal systems, phase transitions and critical phenomena, cooperative behavior and self-assembly, quenched random disorder effects, calorimetry instrumentation.
Polymers – Molecular properties at the single molecule level, polymer and bio-macromolecular solutions, surfactants, colloids.

Nanoscience and Condensed Matter

Cold atoms – Bose-Einstein Condensation of bosons and fermions, atom wave guides and interferometers.
Magnetic Solids – Magnetic impurities in semiconductors: diluted magnetic semiconductors and the onset of ferromagnetism in spintronic materials.
Nanomechanics – Mechanical properties of nanostructures, instrumentation and metrology for nanomechanics.
Photonics – Photonic Integrated Circuits development, Fiber optics sensing, Nonlinear optics, interactions with photons and matter.
Quantum Information – Foundations of quantum mechanics, quantum algorithms.
Semiconductors – Optical properties of super-lattices, heterostructure laser design, spintronics in diluted magnetic semiconductors,devices.
Spectroscopy – Laser spectroscopy of impurity ions in glasses, quasi-elastic/inelastic light scattering and excitation/ modulation spectroscopy of super-lattices, thin films, surface phenomena and gas phase molecular spectroscopy.
Ultrafast optical spectroscopy – Terahertz science and technology, optical properties of nanomaterials for energy conversion.
Wavefunction Engineering – Nanostructures, finite-element modeling of quantum systems and wells, field theory.

Nuclear Science and Engineering

Health Physics: radioactive particle resuspension, effects of active dosimetry on radiation safety, development of instrumentation for neutron imaging, nuclear security, material and contaminate characterization via Neutron Activation Analysis, development of a compact neutron collimator for enhanced planar neutron flux.
Medical Physics: development of ultrahigh resolution physiological imaging with neutrons, intensity modulated brachytherapy using Yb-169, development of Gafchromic film dosimetry for uses in high-gradient brachytherapy
Plasma Sciences: Magnetic confinement fusion, Electrostatic confinement fusion, plasma material interactions, basic plasma sciences
Radiation Dosimetry: Dosimetric analysis and calculations; Monte Carlo radiation transport and energy deposition simulations

Program of Study

The Department of Physics offers programs leading to the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Physics and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Applied Physics with concentrations in Biophysics and Soft Condensed Matter, Medical Physics, Nanoscience and Technology, Photonics, and Radiological Sciences. The Department of Physics also offers a Master of Science program in Physics for Educators (MPED) and a Graduate Certificate in Nuclear Science and Engineering (NSE) and an accelerated B.S./M.S. program.
Research opportunities are available in experimental, theoretical, and computational studies of biophysics and soft condensed matter physics, materials science, medical physics, nanoscience, optics, photonics, atomic physics, and radiological sciences. In addition to coursework and research opportunities, professional development opportunities also exist for students interested in a career pathway in academia, industry, federal laboratories, and education. The Physics program reserves its financial aid for graduate students in the Ph.D. program.

Physics Program (Ph.D. and M.S.)

WPI Physics graduate program provides students with a broad background in the core areas of fundamental physical sciences and prepares students for careers in research in an academic, industry, or national laboratory setting. In addition to core courses, students are encouraged to acquire breadth by choosing special topics courses to complement their studies. Students carry out rigorous research in theoretical and experimental physics areas including: biophysics, condensed matter physics, optics, quantum physics, atomic, and nuclear physics. The M.S. program provides a suitable foundation for the pursuit of a Ph.D. degree in physics, or a related field, or for a career in industry immediately after graduation.

Applied Physics Program (Ph.D. and M.S.)

The Applied Physics program provides a flexible set of interdisciplinary skills to prepare students for careers at national and international laboratories, industry, education, and academia. It combines a core physics curriculum with cross-cutting research in areas at interface of physics and other scientific disciplines. Applied Physics Ph.D. and M.S. students are required to select a research concentration and a corresponding set of thematically related courses from the following five options: Biophysics and Soft Condensed Matter Physics, Medical Physics, Nanoscience and Technology, Photonics, and Radiological Sciences.

Master of Science in Physics for Educators (MPED)

The Master of Science in Physics for Educators is designed specifically for middle school, high school, and community college in-service educators. The emphasis of the program is put on physics courses designed for educators and is combined with courses in assessment and evaluation theory and a participant-designed project. The physics content courses are intended to give educators a deep but applicable understanding of physics that makes advanced physics topics easily accessible to educators and the students they teach. Topics covered will include modern physics, methods in physics and physics for citizens and leaders. Support for degree candidates extends beyond the specific coursework and projects as participants will become part of a network of physicists which ranges from local individuals to a much broader community. The program may be used to help middle and high school educators move from Initial to Professional Licensure in Massachusetts. For information about admissions and requirements, see the listing under STEM for Educators.

Graduate Certificate in Nuclear Science and Engineering (NSE)

The Graduate Certificate in Nuclear Science & Engineering requires the successful completion of 12-18 graduate credit-hours) with an overall GPA of 3.0. Credits are chosen from the NSE 510-50 course listing or by approval of the NSE Program Committee. Courses cover such topics as nuclear power, radioactivity, chain reaction physics, nuclear reactor safety, power plant design and operation, and case studies of nuclear accidents. These courses are offered on campus, and online through Graduate & Professional Studies. The faculty in the certificate program hold a full-time position in a WPI academic department or are affiliated faculty approved by an academic department and NSE program review committee.

Combined B.S./M.S. Program

The Department of Physics offers a combined B.S./M.S. degree option in Physics and Applied Physics for undergraduate students currently enrolled at WPI. The university rules for B.S./M.S. programs are described in the undergraduate catalog and graduate catalog. It is recommended that the M.S. application be submitted at the beginning of the student’s junior year of undergraduate study at WPI.

Admission Requirements

M.S. and Ph.D. Physics and Applied Physics Programs

Admission to the M.S. or Ph.D. program requires a B.S. in Physics, Applied Physics, or an equivalence. The Applied Physics M.S. and Ph.D. programs also allow students to be admitted with B.S. degrees from other areas, such as engineering, materials science, or other natural sciences. Candidates who do not meet this minimum academic requirement may be required to take additional undergraduate courses, which do not count towards coursework to meet graduate degree requirements. Ph.D. candidates entering with an M.S. degree in Physics, Applied Physics or its equivalent can be considered by the Physics Department Graduate Committee (PDGC) for admission with Ph.D. 60 status, as described in the Degree Requirements section under General Requirements for the Doctorate. All applications must include a Statement of Purpose describing the applicant’s motivation for pursuing a graduate degree in Physics or Applied Physics at WPI and identifying potential research advisors. Applicants are encouraged to contact faculty directly to discuss research opportunities. Students applying to the Applied Physics program are required to identify a specific concentration. The available concentrations are: Biophysics and Soft Condensed Matter, Nanoscience and Technology, Photonics, Radiological Sciences, and Medical Physics. Additional required materials include transcripts from every previously attended college or university, a curriculum vitae, and three letters of reference.

MPED and NSE Programs

A B.S. in Physics is preferred. However, applicants with comparable backgrounds will also be considered.

B.S./M.S. in Physics or Applied Physics

The Department of Physics offers a combined B.S./M.S. degree option in Physics and Applied Physics for undergraduate students currently enrolled at WPI. The university policies for B.S./M.S. programs are outlined in the undergraduate and graduate catalogs. Students are encouraged to submit their M.S. application at the start of their junior year.