LSU Department of Physics and Astronomy

09/04/2026

Join the LSU Department of Physics & Astronomy for our upcoming Colloquium Lecture Series featuring “Quantum invariants of multitudes on manifolds”
📅 Thursday, September 3 | 🕒 3:30 PM
📍 Nicholson Hall, Room 109
🎤 Speaker: Dr. Scott Baldridge
☕ Reception with refreshments at 3:00 PM in the Physics Library
All are welcome!

08/25/2026

LSU Physics & Astronomy Assistant Professor Ahana Chakraborty has received a single-PI National Science Foundation grant to study how repeated measurements affect quantum entanglement in complex systems.

The project will support LSU student researchers, a new graduate course in Open Quantum Systems, and plans for a statewide Louisiana Quantum Summer School for undergraduates—advancing discovery while strengthening Louisiana’s quantum workforce.

Read more: https://www.lsu.edu/physics/news/2026/08/chakraborty.php

08/25/2026

From supernovae to smart parking 💫 🚗

Join us for the next LSU Science Café featuring Dr. Manos Chatzopoulos, associate professor in the LSU Department of Physics and Astronomy. Dr. Chatzopoulos will share how the skills he developed as a computational astrophysicist helped him launch and scale ParkZen, an AI-driven smart parking technology company.

Learn how scientific problem-solving can open unexpected paths beyond the laboratory.

📅 Tuesday, August 25, 2026
5-7 PM
📍 Pastime Restaurant

Presented by LSU ORED

Learn more: https://www.lsu.edu/research/events/science_cafe/index.php

08/25/2026

07/09/2026

🎉 Congratulations to LSU Physics & Astronomy Ph.D. graduate Becker on receiving a prestigious dissertation award recognizing outstanding doctoral research and scholarly achievement! This honor reflects the impact of their research, dedication to discovery, and the excellence of LSU's graduate programs. We are proud to celebrate this remarkable accomplishment and the bright future ahead. 🐯🔬✨
Join us in congratulating Becker on this well-deserved recognition!

Read more 🔗: https://www.lsu.edu/physics/news/2026/becker_dissertation_award.php

LSU College of Science LSU Graduate School LSU Alumni Association The City College of New York

06/23/2026

🌍🎉 A global leader in quantum gravity with strong LSU ties is taking the helm.
Kristina Giesel, former LSU Physics & Astronomy faculty member and longtime collaborator, has been elected president of the International Society of Loop Quantum Gravity (ISLQG)—a major honor recognizing her leadership in one of the world’s leading approaches to understanding space, time, and gravity.
Her election highlights LSU’s continued impact on the international stage and its role in advancing groundbreaking research in fundamental physics.
🔗 Read more: https://www.lsu.edu/physics/news/2026/geisel-slqg.php


LSU College of Science LSU Center for Computation & Technology

Kristina Giesel, PhD, who began her faculty career as an assistant professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at Louisiana State University before returning to Germany, has been elected president of the International Society of Loop Quantum Gravity. The election is a significant recognition....

06/23/2026

🌍✨ Before Zoom and virtual meetings became the norm, LSU Physics was already connecting scientists across the globe.
Hearne Chair Jorge Pullin helped build one of the most enduring collaborations in theoretical physics—the International Loop Quantum Gravity Seminar—now officially adopted by the International Society on Loop Quantum Gravity (ISLQG). For nearly 20 years, this pioneering effort has brought researchers together to push the boundaries of our understanding of space, time, and the universe. [lsu.edu]
This milestone highlights the power of innovation, collaboration, and LSU’s global impact in advancing fundamental science.
🔗 Learn more: https://www.lsu.edu/physics/news/2026/islqg_pullin.php


LSU College of Science LSU Center for Computation & Technology

06/09/2026

Research funding is more than a number. It is a direct investment in Louisiana’s future, and the momentum is only accelerating from here. Learn more about our historic rise: https://www.lsu.edu/researchmomentum/index.php

06/09/2026

🎉 Join us in celebrating Kevin Becker, recipient of the 2025 LSU Distinguished Dissertation Award in Science, Engineering, and Technology! 🏆 This highly competitive award recognizes truly exceptional doctoral work across the university.
Kevin’s dissertation, “How the Inter-Nucleon Force Shapes Emergent Collectivity and Imparts Uncertainties in Ab Initio Nuclear Observables,” highlights the outstanding research that earned this prestigious honor. LSU College of Science LSU Graduate School

06/04/2026

Please join us in congratulating the recipients of the Medical Physics Program’s graduate student scholarships for the 2026–2027 academic year! 🎉
👏 Morgan Aire, MS (Hogstrom Superior Graduate Student Scholarship) – advisor: Krystal Kirby
👏 Murtuza Taqi, MS (Smith Superior Graduate Student Scholarship) – advisor: Joyoni Dey
👏 Joshua Jones (Smith Superior Graduate Student Scholarship) – advisor: Krystal Kirby
These scholarships are awarded in honor of two incredible champions of our program Dr. Ken Hogstrom and Dr. Charles M. Smith Jr. We are deeply grateful for their lasting impact, as well as the generosity of all who continue to support these funds.
This year is especially exciting, as we are able to award two Smith scholarships for the first time!
Congratulations again to these outstanding students on this well-deserved recognition! 🎓