A ‘Groundbreaking, Earth-Shattering, Universe-Defining’ Mission This fall, when all the final system checks are done and the countdown ticks to the final second, NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will blast off the launchpad at Kennedy Space Center—and no one will be more geeked than Jackie Townsend (B.S. ’94, physics).… Read More
Kara Hoffman Named Chair of Department of Physics Professor Kara Hoffman was named chair of the Department of Physics, effective July 1, 2026. “Kara Hoffman brings to this role a record of scholarly achievement and an understanding of the department's strengths and aspirations,” said Amitabh Varshney, dean of UMD’s College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences.… Read More
Childhood Physics Fun Leads to Twin PhDs When Sylvester James Gates III (B.S. ’15, biological sciences) graduates from the University of Maryland with his Ph.D. in biological sciences this month, it will be a family affair—and a homecoming. Sylvester grew up near College Park. His father, Distinguished University Professor of Physics Sylvester James Gates… Read More
Barkeshli Selected for Frontiers of Science Award Research by Professor Maissam Barkeshli and colleagues has been selected by the International Congress of Basic Science (ICBS) as a recipient of the 2026 Frontiers of Science Award in Condensed Matter Physics. The paper cited was Symmetry fractionalization, defects, and gauging of topological phases by Barkeshli, Parsa Bonderson, Meng Cheng… Read More