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

Artists impression of two neutron stars merging

Welcome to the Department of Physics and Astronomy

CNAS Students sitting at a table with laptop computers.

CNAS Scholarships

CNAS Student Scholarships are open. Apply now!
The deadline is May 1, 2026.

Visit cnasscholarships.ucr.edu

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

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

Cosmology Lecture Brad Marston

January 29, 2026

Frontiers of Cosmology Lecture: February 26, Brad Marston

Waves are Everywhere: How Oscillations Shape Technology, Earth, and the Universe Featuring introductory remarks by 2017 Nobel Laureate Prof. Barry Barish Thursday February 26th, 5pm - 8pm, University Lecture Hall

October 17, 2025

Frontiers of Cosmology Lecture: October 17, Kate Scholberg

How to see a star explode from underground Featuring introductory remarks by 2017 Nobel Laureate Prof. Barry Barish Friday October 17t, 5pm - 8pm, University Theatre

Frontiers of Cosmology: Quantum

Frontiers of Cosmology Quantum Edition: June 13th 5pm, Ramamurti Shankar

When you come to a fork in the road, take it: Yogi Berra's guide to quantum mechanics.

Frontiers of Cosmology Lecture: Prof. Michael Turner

Frontiers of Cosmology Lecture: Friday March 14th, 5pm. Prof. Michael Turner

What we know about the Universe, the big mysteries confronting us, and why it all matters

Astronomy square

Atomic square

Atomic, Molecular, and Optical

Image of a chalkboard containing various equations connected with dark matter.

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