Kansas State University Department of Physics

06/04/2026

Imagine being laser-focused on crew safety while sitting down the hall from the historic 1960s Apollo Mission Control rooms. That was reality during the recent Artemis II lunar flyby for K-State Physics alum Erik Stalcup (’10), who is now helping write the next chapter of space history!

Working in the intense, high-stakes Mission Evaluation Room in Houston, Erik monitored critical systems to ensure a successful flight. Before he became a NASA engineer, Erik was building a technical foundation here in Manhattan, researching ionic liquids under our very own now Professor Emeritus Bruce Law.

Today, Erik is already looking forward—engineering the thermal systems for the upcoming Artemis III, IV, and V missions to help permanently reestablish humanity's lunar capabilities. We are incredibly proud to count him among our alumni! 🚀🌕

Read the full, incredible feature by the K-State Alumni Association below! 👇

There wasn’t much time to bask in the success of NASA’s Artemis II mission for Erik Stalcup ’10, an engineer at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. The mission successfully allowed a crew of astronauts to do a flyby of the moon, the first since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.

“I think overall we were very happy with how things went,” Stalcup said. “I think there's things we can improve and get better on, but we do that every time. So it's definitely a good feeling to have it behind us, but I think we're in really good shape going forward.”

He’s already working on projects for the Artemis III, IV and V missions. https://loom.ly/T71hx6s

06/03/2026

Today marks an incredible milestone: Kim Coy is celebrating her 40th anniversary with our department! 🎉

Four decades of service is a remarkable achievement. Kim has guided us through massive changes—from the early days of electric typewriters and 5.25" floppy disks used to store department exams (which eventually found a home in those classic gray Steelcase file cabinets still tucked away in a few Cardwell Hall offices) to the digital world of 2026. Through it all, Kim has brought a wealth of knowledge, invaluable institutional memory, and steady dedication to our team.

For Kim, supporting the students as they journey through the graduate program is her most cherished role and, as she calls it, "the best fringe benefit K-State offers." 💜

Thank you, Kim, for your 40 years of hard work, reliability, and unwavering commitment to our department and the university's mission.

06/02/2026

The paperwork is official! Shalauddin entered the room as a graduate research assistant last month and is now officially a PhD Candidate.

Passing the prelim takes focus and the ability to think on your feet under pressure. Shalauddin's dedication to the science and sharp problem-solving were on full display.

The department and the AMO group is proud to watch him take on this next phase of his research.

05/29/2026

We love nothing more than catching up with our alumni!

We were thrilled to welcome back Rajesh Thapa (PhD ‘08) for a visit recently. During his time with us, he specialized in Atomic, Molecular, and Optical physics under the mentorship of Professor Kristan Corwin, now Chief of the Applied Physics Division in the Physical Measurements Laboratory at National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Today, Rajesh is doing fantastic work at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory. It’s incredibly rewarding to see our graduates taking their expertise out into the world and shaping the future of scientific research.

Thanks for stopping by, Rajesh! To all our alumni out there - please keep in touch. We love to see you, hear your updates, and celebrate your successes. Once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat! 💜

Rajesh Thapa, PhD 2008

05/26/2026

We're thrilled to welcome our 2026 cohort of National Science Foundation (NSF) REU students to the Kansas State University campus! These undergraduate researchers have traveled from all across the country to join us for a summer of hands-on discovery.

Please join us in giving a Wildcat welcome to:

Ryan – Miami University
Andrew – Bowdoin College
Seren – Bucknell University
Efstratia – UConn
Sam – Reed College
Jack – Oklahoma State University
Drew – Kansas State University
Aliya – University of Mary Washington
Sean – The University of Kansas

One more student, Sophia, will be joining us from University of Denver when her semester ends.

We can't wait to see what these students accomplish this summer.

Welcome to K-State! 💜

05/25/2026

Today, we pause to remember and honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. Their selflessness and bravery are never forgotten. 🕊️

"Land of the free, because of the brave." ❤️🤍💙

Wishing the entire community a safe, peaceful, and meaningful Memorial Day.

05/22/2026

In honor of Memorial Day, the department will be closed on Monday, May 25.

As we enjoy the long weekend, we want to pause and express our deepest gratitude for the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country.

We will reopen and resume regular hours on Tuesday, May 26. Wishing everyone a safe, peaceful, and meaningful holiday weekend.

05/21/2026

Big machinery and tiny clearances!

Department machine shop supervisor Andy Thurlow was happy to welcome a brand-new computer-controlled milling machine recently. He was even happier once it safely made its way through the outer shop doors—passing through with just millimeters of clearance to spare! 😮

The acquisition of this cutting-edge CNC mill expands the shop's capabilities to support high-level research across the department and the Kansas State University campus at large.

This upgrade was made possible through a grant of One K-State funds by Vice Provost for Research Hans Coetzee, with coordination by Director of Core Facilities Ruth Welti. Andy also received guidance throughout the process from the Physics Machine Shop Committee: Charles Fehrenbach, Brett DePaola, and Bret Flanders.

The entire project went from initial proposal to delivery on the shop floor in just 118 days—a testament to the efficiency of the Office of the VPR and the K-State Purchasing Office.

We can't wait to see what Andy and the team build with it!

05/19/2026

🎉 Congratulations to Shabnaz Afrin on reaching an academic milestone!

On May 6, she officially passed her preliminary oral examination and advanced to graduate candidacy!

We can't wait to see where her doctoral research takes her next.

05/18/2026

Congratulations to recent graduate and newly commissioned Second Lieutenant Andrew Frick (Physics '26) on his official swearing-in ceremony! 🎓🇺🇸

Andrew received his Commission certificate and the prestigious Distinguished Military Graduate Award from ROTC Commander Lt. Col. Heather Barton. This distinguished honor recognizes his exceptional leadership, academic achievement, and dedication.

Next stop: Vicenza, Italy, where Second Lieutenant Frick will join the historic 173rd Airborne Brigade. We are incredibly proud of you, Andrew, and grateful for your service. Sky Soldiers! 🪂🦅