Texas Tech Department of Physics and Astronomy

06/23/2026

Dr. Robert Duncan has been appointed as an Independent Scientific and Strategic Advisor to American Fusion™ . This appointment recognizes his distinguished research career and his extensive leadership across national laboratories and federal advisory bodies. He is expected to make meaningful contributions to the advancement of next generation fusion energy technologies.

Congratulations, Dr. Duncan!

https://americanfusionenergy.com/news/american-fusion-inc-otc-amfn-appoints-dr-robert-v-duncan-as-independent-scientific-and-strategic-advisor/

06/22/2026

U.S. News & World Report has released the 2026–2027 Best Global Universities rankings, which evaluate institutions based on academic research performance and global and regional reputation. Our department ranked 342nd globally (73rd in the U.S.) in Physics and 157th globally (48th in the U.S.) in Space Science (Astronomy/Astrophysics). https://www.usnews.com/education/best-global-universities/rankings

The Best Global Universities rankings are determined using 13 indicators that measure research performance, including publications, citations, international collaboration, and academic reputation. More information on the methodology is available here:
https://www.usnews.com/education/best-global-universities/articles/methodology

TTU’s overall performance in the global rankings was also highlighted in a recent feature story on Texas Tech Now:
https://www.ttu.edu/now/posts/2026/06/texas-tech-climbs-in-latest-us-news-world-report-best-global-universities.php

I extend my warmest congratulations to all members of the department. Your dedication to high quality research, mentorship, and scholarly excellence continues to elevate our global standing. Thank you—and thanks as well to your research teams—for the exceptional work you have accomplished over the past year.👏

06/12/2026

06/12/2026

Day One and Already Crushing It! ⏰🔬

In her annual address, National Academy of Sciences President Marcia McNutt emphasized the critical need to strengthen the U.S.'s STEM pipeline to remain a global leader in innovation.

Texas Tech University is answering this call to action. As highlighted by Dr. Ramkumar's recent article, through the College of Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Academy (CASURA), Texas Tech provides short-term summer fellowships that connect undergraduates with research labs and hands-on experience, helping build vital skills for future STEM leaders.

This institutional effort aligns perfectly with expert guidance. As Associate Dean Ernest Smith notes: “Building and strengthening a multidisciplinary and STEM pipeline begins with opportunity starting at the undergraduate level of academia... An early start in research is truly the way to go.” (Smith).

This week, we are thrilled to welcome Juan Diego Garcia, a Physics and Mathematics undergraduate, to the Nonwovens & Advanced Materials Laboratory. He joins us supporting the vital research of graduate student Mirza Khyum.

Talk about day-one dedication: Because our new nanotechnology instrument was manufactured in Turkey, our team had to coordinate with the manufacturer at 7:00 AM Texas time. Juan was ready and working alongside Mirza at 7:00 AM sharp on his very first day.

Engaging the next generation of scientists is a true passion for our laboratory. A sincere thank you to Dean Tosha Dupras, Associate Dean Ernest Smith, and Physics Chair Professor Sungwon Lee for their continued support of these vital programs.

Research is the way to go! 🔴⚫️
📸 Pictured: Undergraduate Juan Garcia, left, and graduate student Mirza Khyum, right, setting up the nanotechnology instrument at 7 AM.

Great insights from Dr. Seshadri Ramkumar on fostering research curiosity early. He highlights how programs like CASURA build a vital STEM pipeline for students. Read the full article for more information: https://asttu.com/DrRamkumarTextileResearch

06/12/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Bilal Siddique, who successfully defended his Ph.D. dissertation yesterday!

06/11/2026

Dr. Emilia Järvelä, has received a grant from the NASA–Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory for her proposal titled “Unveiling the Dual Nature of a Hyper Eddington AGN.”

Big Congrats, Dr. Järvelä!

06/11/2026

The 21st International Conference on Calorimetry in Particle Physics (CALOR 2026), jointly hosted by Texas Tech University and The University of Texas at Arlington, was successfully held last week (June 1–5) in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The conference brought together researchers in experimental particle physics, nuclear physics, astroparticle physics, and related fields for in depth discussions on the latest developments and innovations in calorimetry and its applications.

We extend our sincere appreciation to the conference co chairs, Dr. Akchurin (Texas Tech) and Dr. Andrew White (The University of Texas at Arlington), for their outstanding leadership in making this event a success. We also thank Dr. Madrid, Dr. Feng, and SWL for their service on the Local Organizing Committee. In addition, we express our deep gratitude to Dr. Heppert, Vice President for Research & Innovation, and A&S Dean Tosha Dupras for providing financial support from the TTU side for CALOR 2026.

By once again hosting this prestigious international conference—following the highly regarded 2012 meeting—our High Energy Physics group has further strengthened its global reputation and leadership in detector R&D for experimental particle physics. CALOR 2026 showcased not only the vitality of the field but also Texas Tech University’s growing impact on the international research landscape.

Congratulations to the HEP group on this outstanding achievement!

https://web.cvent.com/event/45985898-e3a4-451b-a9f4-cd103944fc32/summary

06/09/2026

Dr. Noah D’Amico, who completed his Ph.D. in our department this past May, has been selected as the 2026 recipient of the Outstanding Dissertation Award in the category of Mathematics, Physical Sciences & Engineering. This prestigious award is one of the highest honors presented by the Graduate School, and he was nominated for this distinction by his Ph.D. advisor, Dr. Duncan.

This recognition highlights Dr. D’Amico’s exceptional scholarly achievements, originality, and the significant impact of his doctoral dissertation, and it stands as a point of great pride for our department and the College of Arts & Sciences.

As the first place awardee, Dr. D’Amico will receive a cash prize, and his dissertation will be advanced by the Graduate School to the national CGS/ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Award competition—one of the most prestigious dissertation awards in the country. Being nominated for this competition is itself a significant honor and underscores the broader impact and promise of his work.

As many of you already know, Dr. D’Amico was also recognized at our Spring Banquet in May as the recipient of the 2025–2026 Outstanding Ph.D. Student Award, further reflecting his outstanding contributions to our scholarly community.

We extend our warmest congratulations to Dr. D’Amico for this remarkable accomplishment and look forward to seeing the continued influence of his research in the years ahead.

Big congratulations to Dr. D’Amico—and to Dr. Duncan as well!

06/09/2026

Dr. Dima Bolmatov and Zack Woodel visited the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where they conducted neutron diffraction experiments. They also carried out complementary spectroscopy measurements at the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences (CNMS) to investigate the structure and dynamics of biological and biomimetic membrane systems. Zack will remain at CNMS through July 31 as a summer research intern, contributing to ongoing studies in biophysics, advanced materials characterization, and data analysis.

This highly competitive program is typically awarded to graduate students and offers the opportunity to conduct research for two months at one of the nation’s premier scientific user facilities. Remarkably, Zack was the only undergraduate student selected for this internship — a testament to his exceptional talent, dedication, and promise as a young researcher. Congrats, Zack!

06/05/2026

We want to see you at our next Star Party at TTUS - 3 Rivers Ranch on June 13th! ✨🔭