Department of Physics | May 11, 2026

Happy Monday! 🎉  During the summer months, the Chronicle will be sent less often than usual. We'll still share important updates and any upcoming events. Have a great week! 

Graduate Hooding & Recognition Ceremony

Wednesday, May 13th at 3pm | Graham Chapel

College of Arts & Sciences Recognition Ceremony

Thursday, May 14th at 8:30am | Francis Olympic Field

University Commencement: Class of 2026

Friday, May 15th at 9am | Francis Olympic Field

We are excited to invite you to the Department of Physics Commencement Reception in celebration of our graduates! All members of the department are welcome to attend, and graduates are encouraged to invite their family and friends to join us in honoring this important milestone. 

📅 Date: Friday, May 15
🕒 Time: 1:00 PM
📍 Location: Compton Library

Senior prize, Shull prize, Sigma Pi Sigma, and distinction awards will also be announced. See you there!

Class Acts: Izzy Caffarelli, a senior majoring in applied mathematics and minoring in astrophysics

After years of studying black holes, Caffarelli is pivoting to another complex computational task: using advanced algorithms to sort and understand neurological data in a more coherent way.

How WashU researchers are using AI to transform discovery

Trevor GrandPre and his team use computation and AI tools in work that bridges physics and biology. He is especially interested in cellular phase transitions, where molecules such as proteins and RNA clump together to form liquid-like droplets known as condensates. 

Physics Alum Jordan Russell interviewed by the St. Louis Business 500

Russell, who earned his doctorate in physics at WashU in 2019, launched Gateway Quantum Electronics in 2023 to simplify one of quantum tech’s most difficult barriers: quantum amplifiers. 

Home is where the heart is: A story featuring Physics alum Tom Shoup and his wife Ellen Barker

On Tower Grove Place, a quiet St. Louis street just steps from the Missouri Botanical Garden, sits a beautiful home with a surprising WashU connection: it’s where two alumni couples exchanged vows more than 40 years apart.

On Friday, May 8, nearly two dozen faculty discussed their research that incorporates innovative uses of data and technology. These brief presentations provided a glimpse into the breadth of digital innovation efforts taking place across WashU and offered an ideal entry point for new transdisciplinary collaborations. Our very own Mikhail Tikhonov, Trevor GrandPre, and Judith Hoeller gave presentations alongside other Rules of Life colleagues in Biology & Chemistry!

Faculty from the department of physics gathered last week for a Teaching Retreat hosted in the Compton Library! The program included presentations by Kurt Thoroughman on the WashU STEM Exchange initiative and Emily Boyd on Team-Based Learning. There was also an "Ideas Blitz" round where our faculty gave quick presentations on a teaching practice, experiment or idea from their classrooms. It was a morning packed full of innovative ideas and thoughtful discussion around ways to improve teaching, student learning, and enhance engagement in the classroom!

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