Welcome to Purdue Physics and Astronomy

We had a truly outstanding year at Purdue Physics and Astronomy. Across the department, our faculty, staff and students continued to push the frontiers of discovery while building the kind of collaborative culture that makes ambitious science possible. However, there are colleagues who boosted our momentum that is felt in our growing national profile.

 

As the Department and the College continue to make significant investments in the Quantum Sciences, one faculty colleague stood out in terms of leadership, vision, and achievements. The broader physics community recognized Professor Manfra with one of the field’s top honors: the American Physical Society’s 2026 Oliver E. Buckley Prize in Condensed Matter Physics. This accolade was awarded for breakthrough work connected to anyons and the path toward fault-tolerant quantum computing. At nearly the same time, the President and Provost named Professor Manfra as the University’s first Chief Quantum Officer, a role that will help strategically guide Purdue’s quantum portfolio, partnerships, and educational programs. These milestones reflect an astonishing individual achievement. At the same time, these milestones also signal the Department’s readiness to help shape the next era of quantum technologies and highlight the potential of the whole Department to contribute.

 

We are also celebrating the first colleague hired within the Movable Dream Hire program: the Julian Schwinger Professor Claudio Chamon. I personally view Dr. Chamon’s scientific contributions as exceptional and I fully expect that Dr. Chamon will be a catalyst and will continue to provide leadership in the quantum sciences and condensed matter physics space, further advancing Purdue's academic mission and leadership in these areas.

 

Here are further notable achievements of our senior faculty, enhancing our impact on the national stage. David Nolte, the Edward M. Purcell Distinguished Professor of Physics and Astronomy, was named a 2025 fellow of the National Academy of Inventors. At the same time, Professor Shengwang Du was named a senior member of the same organization. Professor Laura Pyrak-Nolte was named a Fellow of the International Society for Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering. Finally, Professor Qi Zhou was named a Fellow of the American Physical Society.

Purdue’s new comprehensive quantum degrees program is an exciting step forward for our students, our department and the future of quantum science. The Department of Physics and Astronomy is proud to play a central role in this effort by helping students build a strong foundation in the science behind quantum computing, sensing and communications. This program gives Purdue students a clear path into one of the fastest-growing areas of research and technology, while also strengthening the university’s role in preparing the next generation of quantum scientists, engineers and leaders.

 

We also celebrated major early-career recognition that speaks to the strength of our next generation of scientific leaders. There is nothing that makes me prouder than these recognitions.  Assistant Professors Jukka Väyrynen and Jing Liu both received an NSF CAREER Award. Assistant Professor Grace Liang secured a prestigious Air Force Young Investigator Award. Assistant Professor Valentin Walther earned a U.S. Department of Energy Early Career Award, bringing new support for pioneering work at the interface of light and matter in semiconductor environments. And Assistant Professor Nima Lashkari serves as a Principal Investigator for a $1.5 million grant from the John Templeton Foundation, aiming to explore audacious questions at the heart of modern physics: how time itself might emerge from chaotic quantum systems. Furthermore, several faculty members were recognized by University and College level awards. Together, these awards reflect the efforts of senior colleagues in hiring extraordinary talent, the ambition of our junior colleges, and the confidence that national funders place in our faculty’s ideas.

 

Our department’s reach extends well beyond the research enterprise. During January of 2025, the Department hosted a Cu*IP. While we enjoyed financial contributions of various kinds, an emeritus colleague and former department head, Professor Emeritus Andrew Hirsch, has played a pivotal role in providing support for this event.

 

This year, Purdue was proud to serve as a host university during the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, and our community celebrated that spirit of discovery through Quantum Open House 2025. This event brought students, educators and community members into the heart of Purdue science through hands-on demonstrations, lab tours and direct conversations with the people building the future of quantum research. At the same time, our K-12 outreach continues to thrive. Physics Inside Out remains a powerful example of how Purdue faculty and students can make the wonder of physics tangible, connecting big ideas to real experiences for young learners and their families.

 

We are equally proud of the ways we invest in students at every level. Our research groups continue to offer undergraduate experiences. Our undergrads work in teams, learn how to analyze data, and how to communicate results. That is the full training ground for the next generation of scientists and engineers. And, of course, our astrophysics community continues to expand our understanding of the universe. This year included new work synthesizing a decade of progress on how black holes and neutron stars can shine so intensely and change so quickly, with magnetic reconnection emerging as a central engine behind some of the most dramatic flares in the cosmos. In addition, we brought our community together for major moments in astronomy outreach and engagement, including a Rubin First Look watch party that captured the excitement around the next era of sky surveys.

 

In this edition of Interactions, you will see only a snapshot of what is happening in Physics and Astronomy. The pace of discovery across the department makes it difficult to fit everything into a single newsletter, but that is a good problem to have. What I hope comes through, above all, is the character of our community: rigorous, creative, supportive and ambitious. That spirit is what makes breakthroughs possible, and it is what makes Purdue a place where students and researchers can thrive.

 

To our alumni and friends, thank you for the ways you continue to support this department, whether through mentorship, advocacy, partnership or philanthropy. Your commitment is critical in forging our path forward and it helps our students imagine what is possible. To our faculty, staff and students, thank you for the daily work that keeps Purdue Physics and Astronomy moving forward.

Boiler up!