The Lorraine DeSalvo Chair's Endowed Award for Outstanding Service

The Lorraine DeSalvo Chair's Endowed Award for Outstanding Service (formerly the Chair's Award) recognizes employees who provide benefit beyond their regular duties, promote positive professional and personal exchanges among colleagues, and work effectively within the Department of Physics and/or with outside contacts. Eligibility: Current staff members who have been employed within the Department of Physics for a minimum of three years.

Chair's Award Recipients: 

• 2022     Clay Daetwyler 
  
  
• 2021     Brian Straughn 
  
  
• 2020     Jesse Anderson 
  
  
• 2019     Mark Conners 
  
  
• 2018     Lorraine DeSalvo 
  
  
• 2017     Bonnie Seal-Filiatreau 
  
  
• 2016     Pauline Rirksopa
  
  
• 2015     Tommy Baldwin
  
  
• 2014     Mark Conners
  
  
• 2012     Jane Wang
  
  
• 2011     Paulina Alejandro
  
  
• 2010     Nicholas Hammer
  
  
• 2009     Jesse Anderson
  
  
• 2008     Clay Daetwyler
  
  
• 2007     Harold "Tuck" Owens, Dan Margulies
  
  
• 2006     Robert Dahms
  
  
• 2005     Tom Payerle
  
  
• 2004     John Cataldi
  
  
• 2003     Mary Ridgell
  
  
• 2002     Joyce Robinson
  
  
• 2001     Margaret Lukomska
  
  
• 2000     Tom Payerle
  
  
• 1999     Pauline Rirksopa
  
  
• 1998     Lorraine DeSalvo
  
  
• 1997     Maurice Pairel
  
  
• 1996     Loretta Robinette
  
  
• 1995     Cassie Jones, Jesse Anderson
  
  
• 1994     Dawn Leavell
  
  
• 1993     Linda O'Hara, Betty Alexander
  
  
• 1992     Bernadine Kozlowski
  
  
• 1991     Geoffrey Elbo
  
  
• 1990     Pam Solomos, Nono Kusuma
  
  
• 1989     Jan Andrews
  
  
• 1988     Karl Harzer, Brenda Dunn
  
  
• 1987     Rose Otto
  
  
• 1986     Pota Floros, Harriet Husman
  
  
• 1985     Jean Clement
  
  
• 1984     Michele Eastman
  
  
• 1983     Elbert Barrett
  
  
• 1982     Delores Knight

Distinguished Alumni

Annually, the Department of Physics selects one of its professionally successful alumni to be honored by the College of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Sciences.

Physics Distinguished Alumni Recipients: 

• 2015     Jordan Goodman
  
  
• 2014     Ana Maria Rey
  
  
• 2013     Richard Isaacson
  
  
• 2012     William R. Bandy
  
  
• 2011     Leopoldo García-Colín Scherer
  
  
• 2010     Clifford Pearson
  
  
• 2009     Joseph Thompson
  
  
• 2008     Norm Bartelt
  
  
• 2007     Mirjam Cvetic
  
  
• 2006     John Quinn
  
  
• 2005     Craig Boyer
  
  
• 2004     George Sterman
  
  
• 2003     Charles Bennett
  
  
• 2002     Miguel Rios
  
  
• 2001     James McGroddy
  
  
• 2000     Robert Fischell

Distinguished Scholar-Teachers of the Department of Physics

University of Maryland Distinguished Scholar-Teachers are tenured faculty members who combine outstanding scholarship with teaching excellence. 

Department of Physics Recipients: 

• 2024-25    Greg Sullivan
  
  
• 2022-23     Michelle Girvan
  
  
• 2021-22     Peter Shawhan
  
  
• 2019-20     Dan Lathrop
  
  
• 2015-16     Steven Anlage
  
  
• 2014-15     Sarah Eno
  
  
• 2012-13     Elizabeth Beise
  
  
• 2010-11     William Dorland
  
  
• 2009-10     Patrick O'Shea
  
  
• 2008-09     Theodore Jacobson
  
  
• 2006-07     Edward Redish
  
  
• 2005-06     Thomas Cohen
                    Howard Milchberg
  
  
• 2002-03     Sylvester James Gates, Jr.
  
  
• 2001-02     Rabindra Mohapatra
  
  
• 2000-01     Christopher Lobb
  
  
• 1999-00     Jordan Goodman
  
  
• 1998-99     Michael Fisher
  
  
• 1989-90     Joseph Sucher
  
  
• 1988-89     George Snow
  
  
• 1986-87     Jogesh Pati
  
  
• 1985-86     J. Robert Dorfman
  
  
• 1984-85     Alex Dragt
  
  
• 1980-81     Gaurang Yodh
  
  

Distinguished University Professors of the Department of Physics

Distinguished University Professors have been recognized nationally and internationally for the importance of their scholarly achievements. 

• 2024     Howard Milchberg 
• 2022     Rick Greene
• 2018     Theodore Jacobson
• 2017     Thomas Antonsen
• 2016     Xiangdong Ji
• 2016     Rabindra Mohapatra
  
• 2015     Jordan Goodman
• 2015     Christopher Monroe
• 2014     James Drake
• 2014     Sylvester James "Jim" Gates, Jr.
• 2014     Christopher Jarzynski
• 2012     Hassan Jawahery
• 2011     Raman Sundrum
• 2003     Ramamoorthy Ramesh
• 2001     William D. Phillips
• 2001     Katepalli R. Sreenivasan
• 2000     Ellen Williams
• 1998     George Gloeckler
• 1997     Richard Webb
• 1995     Sankar Das Sarma
• 1995     Edward Ott
• 1995     John D. Weeks
• 1990     Roald Z. Sagdeev
• 1988     Michael Fisher

The Richard A. Ferrell Distinguished Faculty Fellowship

The Richard A. Ferrell Distinguished Faculty Fellowship supports ongoing research of an exceptional faculty member early in his/her career.

Established in 2001, the Fellowship honors Dr. Dick Ferrell, a deeply-respected physicist who joined our faculty in 1953, served 40 years, and remained active in the department even after his retirement. Dr. Ferrell died in 2005 at his nearby University Park home.

Eligibility extends to any Assistant or Associate Professor of Physics who has made significant contributions to the department through research, teaching and service.

Ferrell Fellowship Recipients: 

• 2020      Anson Hook
  
  
• 2019      Maissam Barkeshli
  
  
• 2018     Alberto Belloni
  
  
• 2017     Michelle Girvan
  
  
• 2016     Peter Shawhan
  
  
• 2015     Jay Sau
  
  
• 2014     Ki-Yong Kim
  
  
• 2013     Arpita Upadhyaya
  
  
• 2012     Johnpierre Paglione
  
  
• 2011     Victor Galitski
  
  
• 2010     Carter Hall
  
  
• 2009     Kara Hoffman
  
  
• 2008     Bill Dorland
  
  
• 2007     Alessandra Buonanno
  
  
• 2006     Wolfgang Losert
  
  
• 2005     Michael Fuhrer
  
  
• 2004     Daniel Lathrop
  
  
• 2003     Victor Yakovenko
  
  
• 2002     Greg Sullivan
  
  
• 2001     Fred Wellstood

Graduate Advising Award

A crucial factor in the success of every graduate student is their relationship to their advisor. The UMD Physics Graduate Advising Award, established in 2015 by the Graduate Student Committee, recognizes outstanding mentors of physics graduate students.

Graduate Advising Award Recipients:

• 2018-19     Steve Anlage
• 2017-18     Matt Landreman
• 2016-17     Benjamin Palmer and Fred Wellstood
• 2015-16     Paulo Bedaque
• 2014-15     Adil Hassam

The Richard E. Prange Prize and Lectureship in Condensed Matter Theory and Related Areas

The University of Maryland Department of Physics and Condensed Matter Theory Center host the annual Richard E. Prange Prize and Lectureship in Condensed Matter Theory and Related Areas.

The Prange Prize honors Professor Prange, whose distinguished career at Maryland spanned four decades. He died suddenly on September 24, 2008, at age 76. The prize, which carries a $10,000, honorarium, was made possible by the generosity of Dr. Prange’s wife, Dr. Madeleine Joullié of the University of Pennsylvania.

Prange Prize Recipients: 

• 2020     Charles Kane, University of Pennsylvania
  
  
• 2018     Juan Maldacena, Institute for Advanced Study
  
  
• 2016     Frank Wilczek, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  
  
• 2014     Klaus von Klitzing, Max Planck Institute
  
  
• 2013     David Gross, University of California Santa Barbara and Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics
  
  
• 2012     Andre Geim, University of Manchester
  
  
• 2011     Daniel C. Tsui, Princeton University
  
  
• 2010     Walter Kohn, University of California Santa Barbara and Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics
  
  
• 2009     Philip Anderson, Princeton University
  
  

Sibylle Sampson Award

The Sibylle Sampson Award was established by Sibylle Sampson, a long-time Physics employee and valued assistant to former Chair John S. Toll. It spotlights an employee whose one-time accomplishment otherwise might go unrecognized. The employee’s undertaking will have benefited the entire Department or a specific unit, and shown creativity, initiative or self-motivation. Eligibility: Current staff members who have been employed within the Department of Physics for a minimum of one year.

Sibylle Sampson Award Recipients:

• 2022    Rob McIntire
  
  
• 2021    Naomi Russo
  
  
• 2020    Dannielle G. Watkins
  
  
• 2019    Samantha Suplee
  
  
• 2018    Ayla Hurley
  
  
• 2017     Paulina Alejandro
  
  
• 2016     Logan Anbinder
  
  
• 2015     Donna Hammer
  
  
• 2014     Allen Monroe
  
  
• 2012     Anne Suplee
  
  
• 2011     Xiao Ning Zhao
  
  
• 2010     Pauline Rirksopa
  
  
• 2009     Bonnie Seal-Filiatreau
  
  
• 2008     Doug Bensen, Scott Lasley
  
  
• 2007     Loretta Robinette
  
  
• 2006     Aaron McQueen
  
  
• 2005     Kari Aldridge
  
  
• 2004     Randy Holder
  
  
• 2003     Donna Hammer
  
  
• 2002     Sherri Menoes
  
  
• 2001     Margaret Lukomska
  
  
• 2000     Allen Monroe
  
  
• 1999     Al Godinez
  
  
• 1998     Tuck Owens
  
  
• 1997     Ruth Zerwitz
  
  
• 1996     Delores Knight
  
  
• 1995     Norman Reese
  
  
• 1994     Betty Alexander
  
  
• 1993     Pauline Rirksopa
  
  
• 1992     Pat Byrdsong

The George A. Snow Memorial Award

The George A. Snow Memorial Award recognizes an individual who helps to advance the representation of women in the field of Physics. Dr. Snow was a professor of physics at the University of Maryland from 1957-1992. From 1970 through 1971 he served as acting chair of the Department of Physics. In addition to his work at the University, Dr. Snow's research contributions in experimental and phenomenological high-energy physics had a considerable impact on the field. In 1958, he established the High Energy Physics Group at Maryland, and led this group until his retirement from the University in 1992. He died in 2000 at the age of 73.

Throughout his tenure at the University, Dr. Snow remained committed to advancing and expanding the participation of women in the sciences. Dr. Snow and his wife, Lila, taught the first Women's Studies course at the University in the Spring semester of 1972. In order to honor Dr. Snow's commitment to assisting women in the sciences, his wife and children established, through the University of Maryland College Park Foundation, Inc., an endowed fund at the University of Maryland, College Park, to help advance women in physics.

Snow Award Recipients: 

• 2019-20     Sarah Burentt, Gretchen Campbell, and Anna Grafov
  
  
• 2018-19     Monica Gutierrez, Kate O'Neill
  
  
• 2017-18     Alison Duck
  
  
• 2016-17     Caroline Figgatt
  
  
• 2015-16     Rachel Lee
  
  
• 2014-15     Hilary Hurst
  
  
• 2013-14     Lora McMurtrie Price, Megan Marshall
  
  
• 2012-13     Michelle Groce
  
  
• 2011-12     Donna Hammer
  
  
• 2010-11     Bernie Kozlowski
  
  
• 2009-10     Beatriz Burrola-Gabilondo
  
  
• 2008-09     Elizabeth Beise
  
  
• 2007-08     Meredith Brenner
  
  
• 2006-07     Nicholas Chant
  
  
• 2005-06     Ellen Williams
  
  
• 2004-05     Sarah McKenney

Staff Excellence Award

The Staff Excellence Award recognizes employees who excel in job performance, provide a friendly and supportive atmosphere, and display a personal commitment to the Department and to positive workplace morale. Eligibility: Current staff members who have been employed within the Department of Physics for a minimum of three years.

Chair's Certificate of Excellence Recipients:

• 2022    Josiland Chambers, Naomi Russo, Bonnie Seal-Filiatreau
  
  
• 2021    Lea Bartolome, Melanie Knouse, Allen Monroe
  
  
• 2020    Melissa Britton, Josiland Chambers, Bonnie Seal-Filiatreau, Tom Woycheck-Gleason, Ayla Hurley
  
  
• 2019    Janet Das Sarma, Donna Hammer, Kristin Stenson
  
  
• 2018    Heather Markle, Don Lynch, Jane Wang
  
  
• 2017    Jessica Crosby, Claudia Key and Kelly Phillips
  
  
• 2016     Margaret Lukomska, Naomi Russo and Melissa Britton
  
  
• 2015     Eliot Hammer
  
  
• 2014     Amy Streets
  
  
• 2012     Julie Callis