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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 researchfaculty mentorship and unique learning environments, physics students are exploring the countless applications of physics to the working world.

 
 

News from the Physics Department

Prof. Andrei Alexandru

Andrei Alexandru was named a Fellow of the American Physical Society

Andrei Alexandru was named a Fellow of the American Physical Society

The lower half of a man's face is photographed here. He is wearing a medical face mask that reads, "COVID-19 Misinformation" in all red text

Study: Online Battle Lost Early in COVID Crisis

A team led by Physics’ Neil Johnson revealed mainstream Facebook communities were already intertwined with anti-science groups before COVID-19 vaccines arrived.

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Exploring Cosmic Extremes

In a conversation with CCAS Dean Paul Wahlbeck, Physics Professor Alexander van der Horst discusses gamma-ray bursts and more.

Research Areas

A planet and stars

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.

A DNA double helix

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.

an atom

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

Faculty by Research Area

 


"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

 

Jason Starita