Student Life

We have lots of ways for you to get involved in the department. Participating in student life gives you opportunities to meet friends, network with professionals, and have tons of fun.

Student Organizations

Astronomy Club

We are a student organization that meets bimonthly to share our passion for astronomy in a number of different ways including, but not limited to: presentations, videos, crafts, star-gazing, field trips, and an annual, friendly rocket building competition. It shall be the purpose of the Astronomy Club to provide an outlet for intelligent discussions on subjects pertaining to the study of Astronomy and its advances, and to encourage interest in astronomy throughout the public and student body.

Innovative Design Project (IDP)

This group includes trailblazers and problem solvers. They are the answer to the popular statement, "There's got to be a better way to do this!" Students in IDP have some technical ability and work alongside fellow team members to produce a workable solution to a problem they choose to tackle.

For more information, contact George Rutherford at ghr@IllinoisState.edu or (309) 438-2934.

Physics Club

A place for people interested in physics to discuss, experiment, and share the joy of physics with others in the club, community, and public through discussions, demonstrations, experiments, and free tutoring to students in need.

Members of the Physics Club can also be a part of the Society of Physics Students. This national organization helps students transform themselves into contributing members of the professional community.

Physics on the Road

Take your love of physics to the streets. This group puts on shows for schools and youth groups to promote scientific awareness.

For more information, contact Jay Ansher at jansher@IllinoisState.edu or (309) 438-5247.

Solar Car Team

The Illinois State Solar Car competes across the nation and the world. Students and faculty from a variety of disciplines work on the car and enhance their skills in science, engineering, and technology. The car also serves as an educational program to demonstrate the benefits of alternative energy.

Congratulations to the ISU Solar Car Team on their 3rd-place finishes at both the Electrek Formula Sun Grand Prix and the Electrek American Solar Challenge 2024!

For more information, email Jim Dunham or call (309) 438-8727.

Student Success

In recent years, our students have gone on to receive prestigious national scholarships, enroll in graduate programs in top institutions, as well as secured jobs and internships in reputed private companies after graduation. Here we highlight some of our students' most recent successes.

Scholarship and Awards

Robert Sevik

Named a 2024 Barry Goldwater Scholar. The award is one of the most prestigious national scholarships in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Two Illinois State University students win 2024 Goldwater Scholarships - News - Illinois State.

Amelia Korveziroska

Named a 2024 Barry Goldwater Scholar. The award is one of the most prestigious national scholarships in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Quinn Mackenzie

Named a 2024 Bone Scolar. The Bone Scholarship, the highest university-wide honor given to undergraduate students, includes a monetary award from the Bone Scholarship endowment.

Naomi Satoh

Named a 2023-2024 Bone Scholar. The Bone Scholarship, the highest university-wide honor given to undergraduate students, includes a monetary award from the Bone Scholarship endowment.

Ian Freeman

Named a 2022-2023 Barry Goldwater Scholar. The award is one of the most prestigious national scholarships in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Read More

Hannah Alperstein

Named a 2021-2022 Bone Scholar. The Bone Scholarship, the highest university-wide honor given to undergraduate students, includes a monetary award from the Bone Scholarship endowment.

Experience and Internships

Amelia Korveziroska

Attending Harvard as part of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Experience for Undergraduates(REU) Program in Summer 2022.

Bartels Kameron

Bartels Kameron did a summer internship at the US Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratory in Champaign, IL.

Careem Hunter

Interned summer 2025 for Constellation Energy as a strategic engineer for quad cities clean energy station (nuclear plant).

CUWiP Conference 2023

ISU Physics students attend American Physical Society (APS) The Conference of Undergraduate Women in Physics (CUWiP) held at Argonne National Laboratory in January 2023.

Helen Parker

Helen Parker did Research Experiences for Undergraduates at University of Minnesota.

Ian Freeman

Attending Northwestern as part of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Experience for Undergraduates(REU) Program in Summer 2022.

Josh Nepomuceno

Participating in a Summer 2022 internship at State Farm.

Levi Webb

Levi Webb (MS student) performed summer research at Lawrence Livermore National Lab in California.

Minani Alexis

Participating in a Summer 2022 internship at Fermilab

Graduate Schools

Robert Sevik

Attending Ph.D program in Physics at Emory University, Georgia starting Fall 2025.

Dany Yaacoub

Pursuing Ph.D. in Physics at University of Toronto, Canada from Fall 2025.

Andy Santarelli

Pursuing Ph.D. in Astronomy at Yale University, Connecticut, from Fall 2025.

Prachi Sarwara

Pursuing Ph.D. in Chemistry at University of Nebraska, Lincoln, from Fall 2025.

Carter Herbert

Attending Master's program in Mechanical Engineering at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, Illinois starting Fall 2024.

Amelia Korveziroska

Pursuing Engineering degree in Mechanical Engineering as part of Physics-Engineering dual degree program at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, Illinois starting Fall 2023.

Alex Plumadore

Attending Ph.D program in Mechanical Engineering at Purdue University, Indiana starting Fall 2021.

Brighton Coe

Attending Ph.D program in Physics at University of Wisconsin - Madison starting Fall 2021.

Harold Diaz

Attending Ph.D program in Physics at University of Mizzouri - Columbia starting Fall 2021.

Torrey Saxton

Attending Ph.D program in Physics at University of Notre Dame starting Fall 2019.

Jonathan Unger

Attending Ph.D program in Physics at Cornell University starting Fall 2019.

Career

Marcos Perez

Working as Water Laboratory Technician at Antunes starting June 2022.

Daniel Eggena

Working as Sr. Battery Test Technician at Rivian Automotive, Inc. starting November 2021.

Zach Temple

Working as Software Development Engineer at Amazon starting October 2021.