Department of Physics & Astronomy | College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences

Neutron Star Merger

Welcome to the Department of Physics and Astronomy

Research Areas

Research Areas

World leaders in physics & astronomy

Dr. Jing Shi (c) UCR

Multidisciplinary Research

Expertise across disciplines

Nobel Laureate Dr. Barry Barish

Distinguished Faculty

Including Nobel laureate Barry Barrish

UCR PA Diversity

Equity

Committed to diversity and inclusion in science

NGC 2014 and NGC 2020 (c) NASA

Videos

Recordings of recent colloquia, currently held over Zoom

Virtual telescope viewing, moon (YouTube)

Community Outreach

Including Cosmic Thursdays (now via YouTube)

W.M. Keck twin telescopes on Maunakea, Hawai'i (c) Laurie Hatch)

Major in Physics

We are leaders in several subfields of physics & astronomy. We infuse that leadership into education and service. Our research foci include the origin and structure of the universe, the microscopic and macroscopic description of condensed matter and biological systems, and the physics of the environment.

Chair's Welcome

Undergrad Program

Graduate Program

Outreach

December 16, 2024

Distinguished Emeritus Award

Ernest Ma received the 2024 Distinguished Emeritus Award given by the UCR Emeriti Association. Congratulations, Ernest!

December 16, 2024

UCR STEM Summer Camp inspires future innovators to explore STEM careers

UC Riverside faculty and staff hosted the second annual STEM Summer Camp in late June 2024, bringing dozens of high school students to campus for an immersive, hands-on STEM experience and a taste of college life.

December 05, 2024

Blending art and science with UCR physicist Nathaniel Gabor

As part of the “Particles and Waves” exhibit at the Palm Springs Art Museum, Nathaniel Gabor, a professor of physics and astronomy at UCR, was invited to present and perform on Nov. 17. The free event was open to the...

December 05, 2024

Cub scouts learn physics on campus

Local cub scouts who visited campus on Nov. 3 got an early education in physics and astronomy. The two-hour event was arranged by Robert Sanderson, an instructional lab manager and lecture demonstration specialist in the Department of Physics and Astronomy.

Astronomy square

Atomic square

Atomic, Molecular, and Optical

Particle Theory

Graphene square

Condensed Matter Experiment

Graphene

Condensed Matter Theory

Large Hadron Collider

High-Energy Experiment

Electron-Ion Collider square

Heavy Ion & Spin Physics

Optics square

Physics 2000, courtesy of Ming-Feng Ho

Physics Education Research

Gravitational Waves

Experimental Gravity & Cosmology

Black Holes and the Universe

SHINES is a new Energy Frontier Research Center

Living Histories: Tom Kuhlman