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Undergraduate Research

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Undergraduate research is one of the best ways to learn what the day-to-day life of a physicist is like and a vital component of a graduate school application. Students are encouraged to seek involvement in research as early as possible, including their freshman year.

Students who are interested in seeking research opportunities are encouraged to view the list of Research Areas studied at the University of Maryland. Students should meet with professors face-to-face to gain a better understanding of what Physics faculty do at a university.

If you have questions about how to get involved in research, feel free to email Tom Gleason (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or Stephanie Williams (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

Submit Student Research Papers to the OSES Office! 

Have a recent research paper you want to share with other people in the physics department? Submit your paper to the OSES office below! 

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Research Profile: Brianna Wachter
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Brianna Wachter is a senior physics major.

What kind of research are you doing at UMD?
Currently designing and building a device for microparticle manipulation of biological samples with acoustic trapping.

How did you get involved in your research?
The summer before transferring to UMD I had the opportunity to intern with an immunology lab at NIH. The excitement of carrying a project from experimental setup to performing experiments to answering questions with our data confirmed that I absolutely wanted to be a part of research at UMD. I was really intrigued by the biophysics program and when [my advisor] made some suggestions of PIs to contact I started sending emails asking to learn more about their labs.

Why are you majoring in Physics/What do you want to do after you graduate?
After graduation I plan to apply to MD/PhD programs. I believe the intersection between medicine and physics has amazing potential for improving patient outcomes. I want to explore clinical applications for physics research and work to bridge the gap between scientists and physicians.

What advice do you have for other undergraduates who are considering getting involved in research?
If you are curious about a topic, don't let your lack of knowledge or experience stop you from reaching out to a professor and seeing if you can be a part of their work. One of the best things about being an undergraduate researcher is that we are not expected to be an expert on anything - we are here to learn! So just be honest about where you are and enthusiastic for the chance to grow as a scientist.

Undergraduate Research in the News:

Junior Kate Sturge Discovers Love for Research—and Experimental Particle Physics
Senior Jorge Ramirez is Passionate About Inspiring Future Latinx Physicists
Goldwater Scholar Scott Moroch Explores Accelerator Physics
Anna Grafov's Unexpected Challenges
Nastac to Receive University Medal
Zic, Poniatowksi Named Outstanding Undergraduate Researchers

Degree Requirements and Policies

Office of Student and Education Services

About the Office of Student and Education Services

At Maryland Physics, students enjoy both the benefits of a large research university and the supportive environment of a close-knit department. More than 75 renowned faculty and 35 research groups open the doors to discovery. Small classes, mentoring faculty, and an active Society of Physics Students create a close, comfortable atmosphere for learning. And after a rigorous curriculum and research opportunities at the undergraduate and graduate levels, our alumni explore various careers in academia, government, and private industry.

The Office of Student and Education Services provides assistance to students from pre-admission through graduation. This includes recruitment, admissions, registration, financial aid, scholarship information, event coordination, and other programs that address the needs of our physics students. The office also supports instructional staff.

The staff cares about every physics student's well-being and is committed to a mission that encourages and supports academic, career, and personal goals. The office invites students to visit and is ready to help each student prepare for future roles in a diverse, dynamic, and global society. 

Staff:

Donna Hammer
Donna Hammer (she/her)
Director
1309 Physics Building
P: 301.405.5958
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Tom Gleason
Tom Woycheck-Gleason (he/him)
Associate Director and Academic Advisor 
1309 Physics Building
P: 301.405.5979
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 josiland chambers
Josiland Chambers (she/her)
Graduate Coordinator
1309 Physics Building
P: 301.405.5982
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
 

headshot_Stephanie_Williams.png
Stephanie Williams (she/her)
Academic Advisor
1309J Physics Building
P: 301.405.5949
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Angel Torres (he/him)
Outreach Coordinator
1309 Physics Building
P: 301.405.6094
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

  IMG 0548 Clay Daetwyler (they/them)
Phys Sci Tech III
0408 Physics Building
P: 301.405.5995
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
       

 

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Academic Support

If you are experiencing any difficulties with your physics courses or if you would like to learn more about the physics major, below are links to some resources that you may find helpful.

SPS Tutoring

Want to tutor?

Looking to get community service hours for applications? (You need it for the NSF fellowship! And it always looks good on your CV and other applications!) Want to review the fundamentals of physics? (You need it for the GRE! Or just as a refresher, for those of you who already survived the GRE!) Just want to give back to the UMD physics community? (You need it for the warm, fuzzy feeling it gives you!)

The physics department has a volunteer tutoring program. Any student who has taken at least PHYS272 (or an equivalent course) and is able to effectively tutor introductory subjects is eligible to become an SPS tutor. If you wish to become a tutor, you should contact Aneesh Anandanatarajan at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

If you have any questions about the program or your eligibility to become a tutor, reach out to Aneesh Anandanatarajan at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Math Resources
The University of Maryland offers many resources for students looking for support in their math courses.

Math Tutoring Room - TAs available on a daily basis for most of the introductory math courses 
Math Test Bank - Archive of old exams
Math Success Program - Math tutoring in Oakland Hall for most of the introductory math courses

Counseling Center Academic Resources

Slawsky Clinic 

(Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Slawsky Clinic is currently closed.)

1214 Physics Building
301.405.5984

The Slawsky Clinic has been helping students since the mid-1970s. The Physics Department and Milton and Zaka Slawsky established the clinic in 1975. Milton and Zaka were identical twin brothers with PhDs in physics. After they retired, they contacted the Physics Department looking for a way to volunteer their services. This resulted in the Mollie and Simon Slawsky Memorial Tutoring Clinic for Physics, named for their parents.

The grades in physics depend largely on the student’s ability to solve problems. In order to get good grades in the physics course, the student must be able to get a reasonable solution to a reasonable problem in about 15 minutes. This is the average time you have in an exam or a quiz. This means that knowing the subject matter is necessary but it is not enough. You must earn a systematic efficient strategy in order to use the knowledge with speed and accuracy. The clinic helps you develop a strategy and with supportive supervision trains you to improve your ability and confidence.

 The clinic operates primarily for the 100 and 200 level physics classes. The tutors can answer additional physics questions as their time and knowledge permit. The tutors are retired professors, scientists, and engineers.

Tutors for Non-UMD Students

The Physics Department does not coordinate student tutors for non-UMD students. 

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