Physics Research Opportunities
Undergraduate physics majors are given the opportunity and are encouraged to conduct research early in their undergraduate careers. The smaller size of the USA Physics Department creates a natural environment for students to interact with the department’s highly accomplished physics faculty members and generates opportunities for students to gain experience in the field in their undergraduate academic adventures.
Our faculty at the Department of Physics are actively conducting research collaborate with leading National and International facilities to drive groundbreaking research at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab), National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (Mag-Lab), Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in US, and High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK) in Tsukuba, Japan.
Our research faculty are listed below with a description of their research interest.
Email: adahal@southalabama.edu
My research interests lie in the field of nanotechnology, particularly synthesizing metal oxide nanoparticles and measuring the properties as a function of their stoichiometry, crystallinity, thermal stability, interface charge transfer, band gap energy, and photocatalytic activity. Photocatalyst nanoparticles have the potential to enable utilization of an abundant and clean energy source (natural sunlight) for clean energy production (H2 production, CO2 utilization) and environmental remediation (pollutant degradation). My research goal is to develop novel photocatalyst materials and improve the photocatalytic efficiency under visible light illumination. I am always looking for motivated and hardworking students in my research group.
Email: mfrank@southalabama.edu
My general research interest is in experimental high energy particle physics, and I am currently pursuing searches for exotic particles and phenomena with Fermilab’s NOvA and Mu2e experiments.
Email: gapud@southalabama.edu
Superconductivity, dynamics of superconducting vortices, transport properties of nanowires, self-assembly and growth of film and nanostructures.
Email: godang@southalabama.edu
My research interests are precision measurements of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa (CKM) matrix elements aimed for understanding the source of asymmetry between matter and antimatter in the universe, testing the Standard Model, making precision measurements that could reveal dark sector particles or other fundamental interactions and discovering New Physics (NP) beyond the Standard Model (SM). The Big Bang produced equal amount of matter and antimatter. However, observations indicate that we live in a universe of matter not antimatter. Why is there more matter than antimatter? The source of undiscovered phenomenon may lie in dark matter, dark energy, supersymmetry particles, and/or gravitons. What are the nature of dark matter and dark energy?
Email: jhan@southalabama.edu
As temperature lowered, steam can condense to liquid and then to ice. These phase transitions have been studied by measuring the macroscopic properties such as temperature, pressure. I am interested in studying these microscopic phase transitions. Specifically, my research focuses on tracing the behavior of a single atom or a few atoms and the coherent properties of those atoms. I am always looking for curiosity-driven students. Please contact me, if you are interested in these topics.
Email: mjenkins@southalabama.edu
Experimental High Energy Physics; fixed target B Physics and charmed quark production.