#11
Physics major in the nation
College Factual (2018)
A powerful attraction keeps physics alumna Diana Hart ’92 in the energy industry. Read more about Diana in the Fall 2017 issue of the WPI Journal.
Physics is the most fundamental of all sciences. At WPI, we encourage the curiosity physicists have about how the world works by giving them the resources and the tools to further the study of the nature and properties of matter and energy. Physicists are problem solvers. They are always looking for new ways to approach questions and challenges and develop solutions based on our observations and experimentations.
We want students to follow their passions so a physics degree from WPI is apt to look different for each person. The program is structured so you can take the path that appeals to your natural curiosity. Through project work, students explore everything from developing more protective equipment for athletes to exploring nanoparticles. Students in our specialized master’s in physics education program work in classrooms to improve physics education and teaching methods.
WPI’s world-renowned faculty members inspire both undergraduate and graduate students to become engaged in research projects—which often leads to students making important contributions and writing articles for research journals before graduation. Our faculty works collaboratively with students across disciplines, making discoveries in nuclear and particle physics, modern and classical optics, statistical and solid state physics, electromagnetism, and astrophysics.
Degrees & Certificates
| Area of Study | Bachelor | Minor | Certificate | Master | PhD | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| {{department.departmentName}} | |||||||
The Annual Goddard Cup - Water Rocket Competition
June 5, 2019
The Annual Goddard Cup - Water Rocket Competition is hosted by the Department of Physics and honors the legacy of Robert Goddard at WPI.
This event is open to middle to high school student teams. We look forward to you joining us in striving for the Cup!
Enriching Summer Programs
Now is the time to start planning for enriching pre-collegiate summer STEM programs hosted by the Department of Physics. Registration for our various programs opens on February 4, 2017. Students of many ages are invited to find out why STEM fields are so exciting and how they can turn their interests into a career.
SPARK is for rising 4th, 5th, and 6th graders.
IGNITE is for rising 7th and 8th graders.
LAUNCH is for rising 9th and 10th graders.
Frontiers is an on-campus residential program for rising 11th and 12th graders.
The Department of Physics also hosts summer programs for Girls Inc. Eureka!® -- a year-round STEM-focused cohort program for girls in 8th through 12th grades.
Facts and Figures
31
current faculty members have won the NSF Career Award
National Science Foundation (2018)
#6
Best Career Placement
Princeton Review (2019)
#18
for mid-career salary earning potential of undergraduates
PayScale.com (2016)
News
Researchers say 5G is a key enabling technology of the “Smart World.”
March 28, 2019
Billiar works in the lab with Monica Leigh Whitehorn, a junior majoring in biomedical engineering.
March 18, 2019
Announcements
June 27, 2019
Media Coverage
The Worcester Business Journal is the latest to report on research by Kristen Billiar, professor and head of the Department of Biomedical Engineering, who hopes to close an important gap in the understanding of physical factors that help regulate the life and death of cells in our bodies, and the important roles they play in the development of a wide range of disorders. Co-principle investigators include Nima Rahbar, associate professor of civil & environmental engineering, and Qi Wen, associate professor of physics.
The Associated Press interviewed Associate Research Engineer Dr. Marco Kaltofen, nuclear science and engineering, for this article. He explained how mining contaminants can become airborne if floodwaters deposit them on a riverbank, where they can dry out and blow away.
