Big science at the smallest scale
GW experimental physicists are pioneering big science at the smallest scale. With cutting-edge tech and state-of-the-art systems, faculty and students are on the frontlines of a subatomic revolution.
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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.
What We Offer
Undergraduate Research Opportunities
Outside the classroom, undergraduates participate in research through faculty projects, internships and special honors projects.
Graduate Research Opportunities
Graduate research is collaborative by design, and includes experimental and theoretical nuclear physics, biophysics and high-energy astrophysics.
State-of-the-Art Facilities
Our on-campus facilities include Science and Engineering Hall and historic Corcoran Hall, as well as access to several affiliated research institutions in the D.C. area.
Supportive and Diverse Community
The department strives to create a community-oriented environment in which everyone has a sense of belonging.
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News from the Physics Department
GW Recognizes Top Scholars at 2025 Academic Honors Ceremony
President Granberg and Provost Bracey congratulated the students who earned Outstanding Academic Achievement Awards, as well as nine Distinguished Scholars. Quinn Stefan, Physics major, was one of...
CCAS Showcase Spotlights Student Research: 20 physics projects were presented
More than 200 undergraduate and graduate students across disciplines displayed their scholarly work at the third annual CCAS Research Showcase.
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.
Physics of Living Systems
The physics of living systems 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.
“One of the main reasons I came to GW was the Physics Department. Once I met with them, I knew this was where I belonged. After four years, I know that I was right.”
Gabriel Grauvogel
BS '23, Physics
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