In Physics we proudly educate and support our pioneers of science!
Our Physics students learn core concepts of science, which encourages critical and innovative thinking, quantitative analysis, and problem-solving skills.
Our Bachelors, Masters, and PhD students join faculty in leading-edge research, attend research conferences, and assist in teaching in the classroom. They help share our excitement about Physics with schools and the broader community.
The Department of Physics conducts cutting-edge research, probing the structure of matter, fundamental symmetries, and forces of nature through complementary experiments and theoretical studies. The major research areas are:
- Experimental Particle and Nuclear Physics
- Fundamental Interactions Theory
- Quantum Matter and Quantum Information
- Soft Matter and Bio-inspired Materials
Sanford Underground Laboratory
An experiment hall nearly one mile underground at Sanford Underground Laboratory, being refurbished for the LUX and LZ experiments. Great depths are required to reduce background radiation from cosmic rays and make sensitive neutrino and dark matter searches possible.
Our Graduate and Undergraduate Award programs are continuously growing! Our creative and hardworking students are always striving to achieve their goals with the support of our outstanding faculty, staff, and peers.
Your generous support would continue to assist in the following growth activities of:
- Undergraduate Research Travel Fund
- Summer Undergraduate Research Fund
- On-Ramp Program for entering PhD students.
- Newfound Curricular and Research opportunities for students
- Graduate and Undergraduate Student Awards
- Society of Physics Students
- Womens+ Physics Group
- Physics Community Organization
We strongly encourage all our undergraduates to participate in a research internship to enhance their college learning experience beyond the classroom. Your support would help us bring this possibility to a greater number of students!
“When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”
Max Planck
| Rank | Prize | Department/Group/RSO | Donors |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2,000 | Student Alumni Association | 128 |
| 2 | $500 | UMass Women into Leadership | 90 |
| 3 | $500 | Professional Writing and Technical Communication | 36 |
| 4 | College of Education Student Emergency Fund | 10 | |
| 5 | Men's Lacrosse | 8 |
| Rank | Prize | Department/Group/RSO | Donors |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2,000 | Protect Our Breasts | 112 |
| 2 | $500 | University Without Walls | 69 |
| 3 | $500 | Landscape Architecture & Regional Planning | 31 |
| 4 | Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences | 29 | |
| 5 | Indian Classical Arts Society | 27 |
| Rank | Prize | Department/Group/RSO | Donors |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2,000 | Minuteman Marching Band | 87 |
| 2 | $500 | Fencing Club | 74 |
| 3 | $500 | Active Minds | 65 |
| 4 | Climbing Club | 60 | |
| 5 | HackUMass | 33 |
| Rank | Prize | Department/Group/RSO | Donors |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2,000 | The Massachusetts Daily Collegian | 277 |
| 2 | $500 | Men's Ultimate Frisbee | 134 |
| 3 | $500 | UMass CHAARG | 99 |
| 4 | Mark H. McCormack Department of Sport Management | 85 | |
| 5 | The Boltwood Project | 75 |
| Rank | Prize | Department/Group/RSO | Donors |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2,000 | Stonewall Center | 160 |
| 2 | $500 | Model UN | 71 |
| 3 | $500 | Women for UMass Amherst | 48 |
| 4 | Film Studies Program | 41 | |
| 5 | Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | 13 |
| Rank | Prize | Department/Group/RSO | Donors |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2,000 | Men's Rugby | 167 |
| 2 | $500 | Women’s Rugby Football Club | 122 |
| 3 | $500 | Student Care & Emergency Response Fund | 52 |
| 4 | UMass EMS | 46 | |
| 5 | UMass Hillel | 33 |
| Rank | Prize | Department/Group/RSO | Donors |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2,000 | Men's Club Rowing | 216 |
| 2 | $500 | Women's Club Ice Hockey | 123 |
| 3 | $500 | Spanish and Portuguese Studies | 78 |
| 4 | Filipino Student Association | 69 | |
| 5 | Nursing Study Abroad Scholarships | 25 |
| Rank | Prize | Department/Group/RSO | Donors |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2,000 | Duly Noted | 270 |
| 2 | $500 | Women's Ultimate Frisbee | 148 |
| 3 | $500 | Boxing Club | 80 |
| 4 | Engineers Without Borders | 40 | |
| 5 | Cape Verdean Student Alliance | 32 |
