Orange Alert

Department of Physics

Satisfy your curiosity about the universe, from the largest astronomical scale to the smallest subnuclear particle. Physics will help you strengthen your quantitative reasoning skills and problem-solve through experimentation, simulation and analytical tools.

Imagine yourself exploring the galaxy, building the next quantum computer, dissecting how cells crawl, or shining light on how atoms and the world itself comes together. These exciting experiences can be found within the world of physics. Physics is concerned with the most basic principles that underlie all phenomena in the universe from sub-atomic particles to whole universes and everything in between. In Physics, you will learn about these exciting phenomena along with important skills in logic, problem solving, quantitative reasoning, and experimental design that employers in all fields are seeking. Our graduates from both our PhD and bachelor’s programs go on to work in academia, national labs, engineering industries, data science, in Silicon Valley and on Wall Street.

The Mission of the Physics Department is to create a community of physics scholars dedicated to excellent research and teaching that is welcome to all! We are thrilled to have you on the team for this important mission.

Faculty research areas include:

Upcoming Events

Recent PHY News

Person sitting in a lab room lit with red light inspecting a sample.

(Oct. 8, 2026)

Fellowship Funds A&S Student’s Study on How Brains Combine Senses

College of Arts and Sciences senior Taylor Powell explores how brains merge conflicting sensory signals. This research earned her a prestigious McKnight Pecot Fellowship.

Three people sitting on a panel with one talking into a microphone.

(Sept. 28, 2026)

A&S Faculty Featured in Syracuse.com Coverage of Syracuse University’s Future-Focused Summit

College of Arts and Sciences researchers highlighted the power of interdisciplinary scholarship, emerging technologies and community impact at Syracuse University's "Into the Future" summit.

Person giving a poster presentation.

(Sept. 15, 2026)

Syracuse City Students Train as Physicists, One Summer at a Time

For six weeks, students traded summer break for hands-on research and a chance to discover their future in STEM with physics mentors.

Artist rendering of a A hydrodynamical simulation of a star being ripped apart by the tidal forces of a supermassive black hole.

(Aug. 19, 2026)

The Spin Behind Fading Black Hole Flares

Stellar spin may solve a long-standing puzzle about repeating encounters between stars and supermassive black holes.

Person being interviewed by a news crew.

(Aug. 13, 2026)

Physics Lab Manager Featured in NewsChannel 9 Story on Partial Solar Eclipse

The story highlighted a partial solar eclipse visible across Central New York and encouraged community members to embrace curiosity and engage with rare astronomical events.

portrait of a person

(July 28, 2026)

How Physics Could Improve IVF Success

Physics professor Colm Kelleher is Syracuse University's first recipient of a grant from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, supporting his research using imaging to assess egg quality and improve fertility outcomes.