Physics and Biophysics Distinguished Speaker Series

Come hear from Jacob Luhn about Stellar Variability.

Come hear from Dr. Soichiro Yamada about Mechanobiology.

Miriam Bell, PhD, will explain how she ended up as a computational scientist working in biotech.

Quantum technologies are a major growth area for both fundamental research as well as engineering applications in sensing, computation and communications. As part of this collection of efforts, quantum simulation involves using a model quantum system to emulate phenomena in more complicated, hard to control systems. In this talk, Adjunct Assistant Professor Sean Mossman, PhD, will describe his work in engineering trapped clouds of ultracold atoms to experimentally realize novel quantum states of matter, from supersolids to soliton gases, and their applications as quantum simulators for systems as diverse as electronic materials to neutron stars. Pizza included!

Come join the Physics and Biophysics Department on October 9 to learn from Amherst College's Dr. Kate Follette. One of the most important and exciting recent advancements in astronomy is the ability to directly image planets that are still forming around other stars. These newborn exoplanets, so-called "proto"-planets, are exciting because they offer clues about the physics of planet formation, including how the universe assembles planets that are very different from those in our own solar system. In this talk, Follette will walk the audience through a variety of observations of planet-forming systems using both ground-based and space-based telescopes, paying particular attention to the challenges and opportunities inherent in the process, as well as the bright future of this field. Pizza included!