News

Colorado physics conference brings 120 undergraduates to Boulder

Kirsten Apodaca — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 22:02:43 +0000

Colorado physics conference brings 120 undergraduates to Boulder Kirsten Apodaca Fri, 11/07/2025 - 15:02

Kirsten Apodaca

A conference for physics students, organized by physics students.

On Saturday, October 4, about 120 undergraduates from universities across Colorado and Wyoming put their research on display at the Colorado Undergraduate Physics Conference in Boulder.

The one-day conference featured short talks by undergraduate researchers in parallel sessions and an afternoon poster session. Three distinguished faculty gave plenary talks including University of Denver Professor Mark Siemens (PhDPhys’09), and ��ɫ��Ƶ Professors Ed Kinney and Margaret Murnane.

25 students gave talks in parallel sessions grouped by research area, and 31 students presented posters during the afternoon poster session.

“The Colorado Undergrad Physics Conference was a wonderful opportunity for the many outstanding undergraduate researchers in our state to present their work and interact with each other,” said Keith Ulmer, associate professor of physics and faculty advisor to ��ɫ��Ƶ’s Society of Physics Students chapter. “The quality of the presentations was exceptional.”

Organized entirely by student leaders from ��ɫ��Ƶ groups SPS and CU-Prime, and supported by the Department of Physics and Quantum Scholars, the conference gave students the chance to present their research and practice scientific communication skills. The best speaker and best poster award recipients were selected by faculty and graduate student volunteers.

Motivated by the energy he drew from attending his first conference a year prior, co-organizer and physics undergraduate student Ben Braun was driven to provide that same opportunity to fellow undergraduates. That experience made Braun realize the impact such conferences can have on individuals. “Opportunities like this are incredibly important as they help develop the scientists of tomorrow through scientific communication and networking.”

Luke Adams, co-organizer and physics graduate student, said he was inspired to help organize this conference because his undergrad institution held a similar event. “I found it very impactful to see what ‘real’ research looked like early in my education,” said Adams.

Ulmer praised the conference’s leadership team for their outstanding work putting the conference together. “They saw a real need for a conference like this focused on undergraduate research topics and filled it in a spectacularly successful way,” he said. “The ambition to take on such a large organizational effort is impressive and the results more than justified all of the effort that went into organizing the event."

One of the primary goals of the conference was to eliminate standard barriers for undergraduate attendance, making it more approachable and accessible. “Amazingly we were able to host this conference with no registration fees for attendees,” said Braun. “We are incredibly grateful for the organizational, financial and logistical support provided by the Department of Physics, and we look forward to collaborating on opportunities like this again in the future.”

The organizing team hopes this conference will continue on an annual basis, and they already have plans to host it again at ��ɫ��Ƶ next year.

Quick Facts

By the numbers

120 undergrads attended

8 universities represented: Colorado School of Mines, Regis University, ��ɫ��Ƶ, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, University of Colorado Denver, University of Denver, University of Wyoming, US Air Force Academy

25 undergrads presented talks in parallel sessions

31 poster presentations

16 student volunteers from ��ɫ��Ƶ SPS

Check out the Colorado Undergraduate Physics Conference

A conference for physics students, organized by physics students. On Saturday, October 4, about 120 undergraduates from universities across Colorado and Wyoming put their research on display at the Colorado Undergraduate Physics Conference in Boulder.

Off

Traditional

White

Noah Finkelstein honored as Distinguished Professor by University of Colorado

Kirsten Apodaca — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 13:49:02 +0000

Noah Finkelstein honored as Distinguished Professor by University of Colorado Kirsten Apodaca Thu, 11/06/2025 - 06:49

Noah Finkelstein has been named a Distinguished Professor, CU’s highest honor for faculty across the four-campus system. Finkelstein was selected for his exceptional contributions to research, teaching and service.

Off

Traditional

White

Mihály Horányi honored as 2025 professor of distinction

Kirsten Apodaca — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 22:19:41 +0000

Mihály Horányi honored as 2025 professor of distinction Kirsten Apodaca Fri, 10/24/2025 - 16:19

Mihály Horányi, a ��ɫ��Ƶ professor of physics, has been named the 2025 College Professor of Distinction by the College of Arts and Sciences in recognition of his exceptional service, teaching and research.

Off

Traditional

White

Arabella Quane wins award at APS 4 Corners Conference

Kirsten Apodaca — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 21:04:33 +0000

Arabella Quane wins award at APS 4 Corners Conference Kirsten Apodaca Tue, 10/21/2025 - 15:04

Kirsten Apodaca

Undergraduate physics major Arabella Quane received an “Outstanding Oral Student Presentation” award at the recent American Physical Society 4 Corners Section Conference held at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley.

The conference, held annually in one of the four-corners states – Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, or Utah – draws about 150 students who present their research through oral presentations or poster sessions.

“There are evaluators from multiple institutions, and they judge based on the quality of the presentation and the presenter’s ability to answer questions,” said John Cumalat, professor of distinction in physics and honors council representative. “��ɫ��Ƶ doesn’t have a winner every year, but this year we are fortunate to have Arabella Quane chosen for one of these awards.”

Quane, a junior double-majoring in physics and anthropology, presented research from her work in Professor Gang Cao’s condensed matter physics lab. Her talk was titled “Magneto-Synthesis of Metastable Metallic States in a Spin-Orbit-Coupled Trimer Iridate.”

"I’m honored and grateful for this award,” said Quane. “It’s been an incredible opportunity to share my research and hear so many fascinating talks."

Cao said Quane is an exceptionally dedicated student who embraces challenges with enthusiasm. “Arabella can now solve unknown crystal structure, a highly valuable skill that many professionals build their careers upon,” he added. “Her commitment and intellectual drive exemplify the kind of thoughtful, determined young scientist this country needs for its future.”

Off

Traditional

White

Diddams elected to the National Academy of Engineering

Kirsten Apodaca — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 23:12:10 +0000

Diddams elected to the National Academy of Engineering Kirsten Apodaca Fri, 10/17/2025 - 17:12

Scott Diddams, Professor in Department of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering and the Department of Physics, was elected to the National Academy of Engineering for his outstanding contributions in optical frequency combs and their applications.

Off

Traditional

White

Physics graduate student explores fluid-based laser scanning for brain imaging in Gopinath Lab

Kirsten Apodaca — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 00:00:14 +0000

Physics graduate student explores fluid-based laser scanning for brain imaging in Gopinath Lab Kirsten Apodaca Tue, 10/14/2025 - 18:00

Physics PhD student Darwin Quiroz is co-first author of a new study that demonstrates how a fluid-based optical device known as an electrowetting prism can be used to steer lasers at high speeds for advanced imaging applications.

Off

Traditional

White

2025 Nobel Laureate in physics once served as mentor to grad students at ��ɫ��Ƶ

Kirsten Apodaca — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 20:56:36 +0000

2025 Nobel Laureate in physics once served as mentor to grad students at ��ɫ��Ƶ Kirsten Apodaca Thu, 10/09/2025 - 14:56

Like many rockstar scientists, 2025 physics Nobel Laureate John Martinis spent time in Boulder’s rich scientific ecosystem mentoring graduate students and inspiring others in quantum computing.

Off

Traditional

White

Josephine Meyer (PhDPhys’25) awarded 2025 Boeing Quantum Creators Prize

Kirsten Apodaca — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 17:19:28 +0000

Josephine Meyer (PhDPhys’25) awarded 2025 Boeing Quantum Creators Prize Kirsten Apodaca Thu, 10/09/2025 - 11:19

Kirsten Apodaca

Josie Meyer

Recent graduate Josephine Meyer (PhDPhys’25) has been named a recipient of the prestigious Boeing Quantum Creators Prize. The national award recognizes early-career researchers who have pushed the field of quantum information science and engineering in new directions.

According to the list of prior recipients, Meyer is the first to receive the award specifically for quantum education and ethics research.

Meyer’s research focuses on the teaching and learning of quantum computing and quantum information science. Her underlying goal is to ensure the coming generation of quantum researchers receive the education they need to succeed both professionally and personally.

Meyer is also an internationally recognized advocate for the responsible development of quantum technologies. She promotes holistic approaches to education that prepare students not only to design, but to think critically, about the technologies they’re developing.

“Receiving this award is a powerful acknowledgement that the work I’m doing in quantum education and ethics is just as important – and just as much “quantum” – as the people building quantum devices or developing algorithms,” said Meyer.

Bethany Wilcox, associate professor of physics and Meyer’s research advisor, described Meyer’s impact on developing the field of quantum information science (QIS) education. “Josie’s early work was critical to establishing quantum information science education research as a solid and impactful educational research tradition,” said Wilcox.

Image Credit: Chicago Quantum Exchange

When the field was emerging, research was scattered across many disciplinary journals with little collaboration. To address this, Meyer routinely published outside her home discipline of physics education research and became an “instrumental leader in forging a dedicated international QIS education research community,” according to Wilcox.

Although her postdoctoral fellowship was cancelled due to a National Science Foundation grant termination, Meyer is making strides – continuing to publish research and receiving broad recognition for her work. Working closely with her professional network and collaborators at George Mason University, Meyer says this year might be her most productive yet in terms of scholarly work.

The Boeing Quantum Creators Prize carries a monetary honorarium, and Meyer will be recognized along with this year’s recipients at the annual Chicago Quantum Summit, taking place Nov. 3-4.

Recent graduate Josephine Meyer has been named a recipient of the prestigious Boeing Quantum Creators Prize. The national award recognizes early-career researchers who have pushed the field of quantum information science and engineering in new directions.

Off

Traditional

White

Building the quantum workforce of the future: A new study seeks the way

Kirsten Apodaca — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 16:11:50 +0000

Building the quantum workforce of the future: A new study seeks the way Kirsten Apodaca Wed, 10/01/2025 - 10:11

A team of physicists and education researchers including Professor and JILA Fellow Heather Lewandowski and Postdoctoral Research Associate Shams El-Adawy, is spearheading the largest study of its kind exploring how the United States can meet the needs of the rapidly growing quantum technology industry.

Off

Traditional

White

14er science: Quantum physicists measure whether time moves faster on a mountaintop

Kirsten Apodaca — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 18:28:52 +0000

14er science: Quantum physicists measure whether time moves faster on a mountaintop Kirsten Apodaca Wed, 09/24/2025 - 12:28

Off

Traditional

White