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Welcoming new assistant professor of physics, Ivy Tan

Kirsten Apodaca — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 21:12:48 +0000

Welcoming new assistant professor of physics, Ivy Tan Kirsten Apodaca Tue, 08/12/2025 - 15:12

Kirsten Apodaca

The Department of Physics at the ��ɫ��Ƶ is thrilled to welcome Ivy Tan as a new Assistant Professor of Physics this fall.

Her interest in the field started with a love for physics and mathematics in high school. “I enjoyed understanding phenomena at a fundamental level,” said Tan.

She went on to major in physics and mathematics at the University of Toronto, where she was introduced to atmospheric and climate physics. She said, “it was a natural fit for me as it allowed me to apply my background in physics to my growing interest in climate change.”

Tan completed her doctoral studies in Earth and Planetary Sciences at Yale University in 2016. After her graduate studies, she was awarded several prestigious research awards at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.

A geophysicist with interests in climate and atmospheric physics, Tan’s research is centered on Earth’s clouds, radiation and climate. She studies the formation and dissipation of small-scale processes associated with clouds, their interactions with radiation and how they in turn influence the large-scale climate system.

For Tan, Boulder presents a vast opportunity for collaboration with other academic departments, institutes, and national laboratories in the area. She added, “from modelling at all scales to satellite remote sensing, there is so much potential for collaboration right here in Boulder with colleagues in atmospheric and oceanic sciences, applied mathematics, LASP and CIRES at ��ɫ��Ƶ, in addition to NCAR and NOAA.”

She’s also looking forward to inspiring more students to pursue climate physics through teaching and research. “��ɫ��Ƶ and its surrounding institutions are a powerhouse in physics and climate science, and I can’t wait to collaborate with its leading researchers,” said Tan.

For more information about Ivy Tan’s research, visit the Climate Physics Group website.

The Department of Physics at the ��ɫ��Ƶ is thrilled to welcome Ivy Tan as a new Assistant Professor of Physics this fall. A geophysicist with interests in climate and atmospheric physics, Tan’s research is centered on Earth’s clouds, radiation and climate.

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In Memoriam: P. Dale Kunz, professor emeritus of physics

Kirsten Apodaca — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 14:52:09 +0000

In Memoriam: P. Dale Kunz, professor emeritus of physics Kirsten Apodaca Tue, 08/12/2025 - 08:52

Peter Dale Kunz, professor emeritus of physics at the ��ɫ��Ƶ passed away in January 2025 at the age of 96.

Kunz earned his Ph.D. at the University of Washington in 1959 and came to Boulder as an acting assistant professor in 1962. He spent his career at ��ɫ��Ƶ, rising through the ranks and retiring as a full professor in 1992.

Kunz was a member of the nuclear physics group, the largest research group in the department during his time here. The group operated a cyclotron on east campus at what was known as the Nuclear Physics Laboratory. The cyclotron was the first built between St. Louis and the West Coast and the experiment enabled more than 25 years of pioneering nuclear physics research.

As a theorist, Kunz worked closely with other members of the group. One of his most significant research contributions was a software package used to analyze experiments about low energy nuclear physics, dubbed “DWUCK” (Distorted wave – University of Colorado – Kunz).

After he retired, Kunz lived in the Pacific Northwest until a few years ago, when he returned to Boulder to be with family. Kunz is remembered as an exemplary colleague by faculty who worked with him.

View Kunz' Obituary

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A milestone year for the Boulder School for Condensed Matter and Materials Physics

Kirsten Apodaca — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 14:30:06 +0000

A milestone year for the Boulder School for Condensed Matter and Materials Physics Kirsten Apodaca Thu, 07/31/2025 - 08:30

Kirsten Apodaca

This year marked the 25th year of the Boulder School for Condensed Matter and Materials Physics (BSS) which brings advanced graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and lecturers from around the world to ��ɫ��Ƶ for the month of July.

The Boulder School for Condensed Matter and Materials Physics was established in 2000 to provide education for advanced graduate students and postdocs working in condensed matter physics, materials science and related fields. Students working at the frontiers of science and technology receive expert training not easily available within the traditional system of graduate education and postdoctoral apprenticeship.

BSS is directed by Leo Radzihovsky, Professor of Distinction in Physics at ��ɫ��Ƶ. He is one of the school’s original co-founders, along with Steve Girvin (Yale), Matthew Fisher (UCSB) and Cristina Marchetti (UCSB). Each year, Radzihovsky and colleagues, along with an Advisory Board of distinguished scientists select a topical area for the July school.

This year’s BSS was titled “Dynamics of Strongly Correlated Electrons,” with scientific organizers Debanjan Chowdhury (Cornell), Sean Hartnoll (Cambridge), Minhyea Lee (��ɫ��Ƶ), Andrew Lucas (��ɫ��Ƶ) and Leo Radzihovsky (��ɫ��Ƶ). Participants (65 graduate and postdoctoral students) and international lecturers explored the profound and long-standing challenges in the field of correlated quantum materials through theoretical, experimental and computational frameworks.

Public lecture presented by Prof. Margaret Murnane.

Margaret Murnane, Distinguished Professor, gave the school’s annual public lecture, “Building the Quantum Microscopes of the Future: From Star Wars to Quantum Sculpting.” Her lecture focused on how advances in quantum physics have led to the development of next-generation microscopes and what this means for the future of imaging, materials, and related areas.

“It has been 25 rewarding years of hosting the Boulder Summer School every July – meeting, interacting and getting to know some of the most brilliant young physicists from around the world, the future of our condensed matter physics community,” said Radzihovsky. “It’s also a pleasure to host and reconnect with many of my dear friends and colleagues lecturing at BSS and to discuss the diverse frontiers of condensed matter physics."

When not attending lectures or poster sessions, participants explored Boulder and the surrounding area, taking organized hikes, exploring Pearl Street, and joining other social activities.

The school is supported by the National Science Foundation, with additional funding provided by the ��ɫ��Ƶ.

Next year’s Boulder School for Condensed Matter and Materials Physics will focus on “Geometry and Topology in Soft Matter Physics.” Applications for the 2026 school will open in mid-fall and interested students should apply by January 1, 2026.

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Mihaly Horanyi and Xu Wang win prestigious NASA prize for dust mitigation instrument

Kirsten Apodaca — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 16:06:05 +0000

Mihaly Horanyi and Xu Wang win prestigious NASA prize for dust mitigation instrument Kirsten Apodaca Tue, 07/29/2025 - 10:06

Space Dust Research & Technologies LLC, co-founded by LASP researchers Xu Wang and Mihaly Horanyi, has been awarded one of ten NASA TechLeap Prizes in the Space Technology Payload Challenge for their Electron Beam Dust Mitigation (EBDM) system.

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Special Competitive Studies Project commits funding for Quantum Scholars

Kirsten Apodaca — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 15:00:00 +0000

Special Competitive Studies Project commits funding for Quantum Scholars Kirsten Apodaca Mon, 07/28/2025 - 09:00

Kirsten Apodaca

Ryan Carpenter speaks at a Quantum Scholars meeting.

The Quantum Scholars Program at the ��ɫ��Ƶ has gained new support through a partnership with the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP). Approximately 25 Quantum Scholars will receive SCSP quantum scholarships over the next two years, allowing the program to support the growing student demand. The gift also includes travel funding for several Quantum Scholars to attend SCSP’s AI+ Expo planned for May 2026 in Washington, DC.

Quantum Scholars provides scholarships and opportunities for undergraduates at ��ɫ��Ƶ to learn about the quantum field through professional development, co-curricular activities and industrial engagement. Scholarship support and engagement with partner organizations, industry and alumni is critical to the program’s success.

“We are grateful for this new partnership with SCSP — it’s a win-win-win,” said Noah Finkelstein, professor of physics and co-director of Quantum Scholars. “SCSP is providing essential funding for Quantum Scholars along with great speakers and perspectives for our monthly seminar series; SCSP is connecting to leading scholars of the next generation; and the students are exposed to applications of AI, quantum sciences, and a rich network of industry, national labs, and government sector leaders.”

What is SCSP?

The Special Competitive Studies Project is a non-profit, non-partisan organization founded by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt and Ylli Bajraktari. The organization was inspired by the Rockefeller Special Studies Project of the 1950s and builds upon the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence, incorporating guidance for technologies beyond artificial intelligence.

SCSP provides recommendations to bolster America’s competitiveness in key technologies that are playing a role in national security, the economy and society at large. They bring together industry leaders, policy makers, venture capitalists and academia to forge connections and drive innovation.

SCSP visit inspires the Quantum Scholars

At their March meeting, Quantum Scholars heard from Ryan Carpenter, special advisor at SCSP, and Olivia Armstrong, associate director for future technology platforms. They shared insights about SCSP’s mission and work in six main areas including foreign policy, intelligence, defense, economy, society and future tech platforms.

SCSP’s visit gave the scholars a new perspective on why quantum technology is critical as one of the main platforms of future technology. Along with SCSP’s Vice President of Strategy, P.J. Maykish, Carpenter and Armstrong also held a workshop for the scholars on the landscape of entrepreneurship and engagement in critical technologies for advancing society.

"Our visit with CU's Quantum Scholars program was truly inspiring,” said Carpenter. “I am always encouraged about our future when I meet students and seeing these emerging leaders' passion and innovative approaches to tackling hard problems gives me great optimism."

Quantum Scholars attend national conference

Building on SCSP’s visit, three Quantum Scholars represented ��ɫ��Ƶ at the 2025 AI+ Expo hosted by SCSP in Washington, D.C. The group included Mason Hergert, Nate Moretsky and Joey Pontiff. Quantum Scholars co-director Noah Finkelstein also joined the group at the Expo.

In its second year, the national-level conference brought together leaders from all sectors to explore breakthrough technologies, focusing on the United States and its allies’ competitiveness in these areas. According to SCSP, the AI+ Expo hosted over 15,000 attendees, more than 500 speakers, and over 350 sessions.

The sheer scale of the conference was remarkable according to the Quantum Scholars. The conference put on display just how many innovations and emerging technologies are under development, and how all sectors play a role in the global tech race.

“The expo exposed me to perspectives on technological advancement in ways I never would have had the opportunity to see otherwise,” said Hergert.

The scholars heard impactful talks from CEOs and CTOs of tech companies, governmental leaders and venture capitalists – and how they are all working together to chart the best path forward in this period of rapid technological development.

“The biggest takeaway was that in the time and place we’re in right now, we as Quantum Scholars have the ability to shape the future,” said Pontiff.

Looking ahead

Calling the AI+ Expo one of the “most inspirational events” he’s ever attended, Hergert hopes to encourage more Quantum Scholars to attend next year’s expo.

Partnerships with industry and organizations like SCSP are critical as Quantum Scholars continues to grow.

“We are very optimistic about the future of this partnership and look forward to growing opportunities with SCSP and our remarkable Quantum Scholars,” said Finkelstein.

New funding from the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP) will support growing demand for the Quantum Scholars program, providing approximately 25 new scholarships for the innovative program.

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2025 TASI students explore “Threads in a Theory Tapestry”

Kirsten Apodaca — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 21:00:00 +0000

2025 TASI students explore “Threads in a Theory Tapestry” Kirsten Apodaca Thu, 07/17/2025 - 15:00

Kirsten Apodaca

The Theoretical Advanced Study Institute (TASI) recently held their summer intensive program, bringing 65 advanced graduate students in theoretical high energy physics to Boulder for the month of June.

This year’s program focused on topics around symmetry, quantum field theory, black holes and quantum gravity.

TASI is supported by local organizers and co-directors Oliver DeWolfe and Ethan Neil, both professors of physics at ��ɫ��Ƶ. This year’s scientific organizers were Clay Córdova (Chicago), David Poland (Yale), and Sasha Zhiboedov (CERN). The program is sponsored by the National Science Foundation and the ��ɫ��Ƶ.

“Every summer, 65 of the most promising and accomplished graduate students from around the country and around the world come to Boulder for the TASI summer school, a four-week program where they learn about cutting-edge developments in theoretical high energy physics from some of the field’s most accomplished researchers,” said DeWolfe and Neil.

Each year the school also hosts a lecture for the general public. This year’s lecture was presented by Luca Iliesiu, University of California, Berkeley.

DeWolfe and Neil added, “now in its 37th year at CU, TASI has become an institution in the field. It is always a joy to meet the lively and inquisitive students, knowing they will go on to be among the future leaders of theoretical physics.”

Visit the TASI 2025 website to learn more about this year’s program and view lectures. Applications for TASI 2026 open in January and will be due March 1, 2026.

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Recent grad reaches new heights in aerospace

Kirsten Apodaca — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 14:49:22 +0000

Recent grad reaches new heights in aerospace Kirsten Apodaca Thu, 07/17/2025 - 08:49

Andrew Sapuppo (AeroEngr, EngrPhys'24)

Andrew Sapuppo graduated in May 2024 with dual Bachelor of Science degrees in aerospace engineering and engineering physics from the ��ɫ��Ƶ. Learn more about his undergraduate research experiences, career path, favorite CU memory, and advice for future students.

From the nanoscale to black holes

While an undergrad, Andrew worked at the CU Aerospace Nanoscale Transport Modelling (CUANTAM) Laboratory with Professor Sanghamitra Negoi, where he contributed to improving the robustness of potential quantum computer storage systems. He also worked as a space plasma instrumentation analyst at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP), where he evaluated the accuracy of instruments aboard NASA’s Magnetospheric Multiscale Satellites (MMS).

In addition to his engineering experience, Andrew wrote and successfully defended an honors thesis on Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) feedback and galaxy formation by simulating plasma accretion flows around supermassive black holes.

Career takes flight

After graduating from CU, Andrew became a computational plasma physicist at Thea Energy. Here, he helped develop technology for fusion reactors by optimizing diverter systems.

Now, Andrew works directly in the field of human spaceflight. He works as a propulsion systems engineer at NASA’s Marshall Spaceflight Center as a contractor. His work entails analyzing the Main Propulsion Systems (MPS) on the Exploration Upper Stage (EUS) of the Space Launch System (SLS) block 1B. Specifically, he creates thermal models of the liquid oxygen (LOx) and hydrogen tanks to benchmark performance for various stages of flight.

Additionally, Andrew oversees the main propulsion systems for the Commercial Crew Program (CCP) for SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. His work ensures Falcon 9 meets mission requirements to send NASA astronauts to the International Space Station safely.

Favorite ��ɫ��Ƶ memory

Andrew recalls his favorite memory was hiking to the Royal Arch the first weekend he moved there with people he barely knew. That group would become great friends throughout all of college.

Advice for future students

Get involved with as many different groups after school as possible, both academic and recreation based. Use them to really figure out what you like and surround yourself with people who have similar goals, so you can all help each other accomplish them.

Andrew Sapuppo (AeroEngr, EngrPhys’24) shares how his education and research at ��ɫ��Ƶ led to his career as a propulsion systems engineer.

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Quantum Forge students gain industry experience with Xairos

Kirsten Apodaca — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 20:18:06 +0000

Quantum Forge students gain industry experience with Xairos Kirsten Apodaca Tue, 07/15/2025 - 14:18

Four seniors in the Quantum Forge class at ��ɫ��Ƶ recently completed their year-long project with Xairos Systems, Inc., giving them an inside look at working in the industry.

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Jun Ye (PhDPhys'97) and Steve Swanson (EngrPhys'83) featured in Coloradan Alumni Magazine

Kirsten Apodaca — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 17:05:43 +0000

Jun Ye (PhDPhys'97) and Steve Swanson (EngrPhys'83) featured in Coloradan Alumni Magazine Kirsten Apodaca Tue, 07/15/2025 - 11:05

The Coloradan Alumni Magazine highlights five CU innovators – two of whom are ��ɫ��Ƶ Physics alumni. Their stories were written by equally outstanding CU affiliates, who personally know and understand the importance of their work.

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A space instrument built by students, now at the edge of the solar system, celebrates a major milestone

Kirsten Apodaca — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 15:51:27 +0000

A space instrument built by students, now at the edge of the solar system, celebrates a major milestone Kirsten Apodaca Mon, 07/14/2025 - 09:51

Ten years ago, a pioneering spacecraft flew past Pluto, sending startling images of the dwarf planet back to Earth. Current and former students at ��ɫ��Ƶ reflect on their time working on the mission.

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