New ‘Shockwave’ Science Tracks Online Hate Speech
Led by physics professor Neil Johnson, a research team created a formula that demonstrates how, why and when hate speech spreads throughout social media.
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Innovative thinkers pushing
the boundaries of discovery
Preparing the next generation of physicists in the classroom,
the laboratory and the world beyond
Who We Are
At the GW Department of Physics, faculty and students are at the forefront of transformative, interdisciplinary scholarship, as they seek answers to fundamental questions about matter, motion and the mysteries of the universe.
The department engages in collaborative research with some of the Washington, D.C., area's world-renowned centers and institutes, including the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, NASA and the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility.
Through in-depth research, faculty mentorship and unique learning environments, physics students are exploring the countless applications of physics to the working world.
Join the Graduate Programs Virtual Open House: October 17–27
Registration is open for the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences 2023 Open House! The online event includes program-specific information sessions and opportunities to engage with current graduate students, faculty and our admissions team.
The Physics Department is hosting an information session for prospective graduate students on Tuesday, Oct. 24 at 1:00 p.m. EDT.
News from the Physics Department
What Makes a Gamma-Ray Burst the ‘Brightest of All Time?’
Doctoral physics student Brendan O’Connor is the lead author of a new study on the massive cosmic explosion detected last October.
Astrophysics Student Impacts Earth and Sky
Graduate student Sarah Chastain searches space for cosmic transients—a project that is also opening the field to a diverse new generation of students and schola
Research Areas
Astrophysics
Astrophysics explores the evolution of stars, galaxies and the entire universe. Undergraduates can major or minor in the field, and graduate students can join the department's astro group in collaborations with NASA, the Naval Research Laboratory, the University of Amsterdam and more.
Biophysics
The biophysics lab offers expertise in epigenetics, chromatin dynamics, bifurcation of diseases and more. The Physics Department offers a minor and a bachelor's degree in the field, as well as research opportunities for undergraduates, graduate students and postdoctoral researchers.
Nuclear Physics
GW hosts one of the largest university-based nuclear physics groups in the nation. The lab collaborates with top researchers in Virginia, Germany and Switzerland. Both undergraduate and graduate students can choose between Experimental, Theoretical and Nuclear Phenomenology research groups.
"As a physics major, I’m realizing that you can relate what you learn to anything you want to do. You’re not just restricted to doing research, you’re not restricted to academia. The skills that you learn are skills that employers want."
Jason Starita
BS '20, Astronomy and Astrophysics
