Research

Research combines your knowledge and skills from the classroom and applies them to the real world.

We offer cutting-edge research experiences to our physics majors. You have the opportunity to work alongside talented faculty to research the topics that inspire you.

Over the last five years, the department faculty members have published more than 70 peer reviewed articles in reputed journals, and made more than 100 presentations in prestigious conferences. ISU physics faculty members also have an exceptional track record of securing external funding - a total amount ~ $2M secured in the last five years. Some of the faculty/research accomplishments are highlighted below. For more information, please visit individual research group pages.

Faculty/Research Spotlights

Manna and Biswas receive $288,202 National Science Foundation grant to unravel novel nanophotonic effects in mid-index micro-sized dielectric materials (07/2022)
Harris receives $170,895 National Science Foundation grant to study atomic physics with a twist (05/2022)
Biswas receives Launching Early-Career Academic Pathways in the Mathematical and Physical Sciences (LEAPS-MPS) Award from National Science Foundation for Nanopatterning Nitride Based Nanostructures ($179,285) (04/2022)
Biswas and Manna receive $403,900 National Science Foundation grant for acquisition of state-of-the-art electron microscope (03/2022)
Caplan receives University Research Initiative Award (02/2022)
Caplan receives Next-Generation Fellowship to strengthen diversity in Nuclear Weapons Policy Field (10/2021)
Grobe and Su receive $310,000 National Science Foundation Grant to study spatial and temporal dynamics of matter in intense laser fields (05/2021)
Rosa and Rutherford become the first Illinois State research team in 25 years to publish a paper in the American Journal of Physics (AJP) (02/2021)
Manna receives University Research Initiative Award (02/2021)

View previous faculty/research spotlights

Research Groups

Applied Nanomaterials Research Lab

Fabrication of nanometer scale materials for emerging technologies, structural and optical properties of these nanomaterials, perovskite solar cells fabrication with these nanomaterials.
Atomic Physics with a Twist

This research uses state-of-the-art high performance computing techniques to a model various collision processes.
Biophysics: Computational Neuroscience and Nonlinear Dynamics

Study the physics of living systems. Our approach uses computational and nonlinear dynamics methods to investigate how neurons operate individually as well as in the collective of networks.
Chaotic Waterwheel

Experiment the investigation of a simple, mechanical, chaotic system.
Condensed Matter Theory

Investigate the quantum mechanical aspects of the heat, charge, and spin currents at the nanoscale with an emphasis on strongly correlated and molecule-based systems.
Experimental Nanophotonics Laboratory

Research light-matter interactions at the nanoscale.
Experimental Solid State Physics Lab

This lab is devoted to the synthesis and characterization of bulk, thin film, and nanocrystalline materials.
Intense Laser Physics Theory Unit

Research the interaction of laser light with matter.
Physics Education Research

Explore the major questions when it comes to teaching physics. Any students interested in teaching or learning are welcome to join.
Relativistic Quantum Mechanics

From sub-atomic particles to astrophysics, research in relativistic quantum mechanics, or quantum field theory, expands our knowledge of matter and interactions.
Space and Plasma Physics

Perform computational research in space physics and nonlinear dynamics.