News

Faculty and Staff: Submit grant awards, honors, research publications, accepted talks, and other news items through the Physics and Astronomy Faculty and Staff News Form.

EPPIC_Science_Diagram

UI Heliophysicists to Study How Charged Particles Affect Earth’s Atmosphere

Thursday, July 14, 2022
The National Science Foundation has awarded Associate Professor Allison Jaynes and Associate Research Scientist/Engineer Kristine Sigsbee a $586,504 grant to study how charged particles from space affect the Earth’s atmosphere and climate.
Stephan's Quintet: Webb telescope

Gazette: Hoadley says Webb images ‘just scratching the surface’

Amid her own NASA-funded work on a telescope meant to unwrap galactic mysteries of how the universe evolved, University of Iowa physics and astronomy professor Keri Hoadley joined the rest of the world this week in marveling at inaugural images from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope.

Toor Appointed Chair of UI Research Council

Tuesday, July 12, 2022
Dr. Fatima Toor has been appointed Chair of the University of Iowa Research Council, a UI Charter Committee that meets regularly each semester to advise the Vice President for Research on matters pertaining to the University's research enterprise.
Landsat 9

Astronomy MS Alum Jacob Richardson Works to Improve USGS Satellites

University of Iowa Astronomy MS alumnus, Jacob Richardson, works to improve Landsat Earth observation satellites at the USGS Sioux Falls location. 
Nachman CRP module DUNE detector

Onel and Nachtman Win Award for DUNE Detector R&D

Monday, July 11, 2022
Professors Yasar Onel and Jane Nachtman have received a $178,093 award from the Fermi Research Alliance for research and development of detectors for the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE). 
onel nachtman

Gazette: UI scientists reflect a decade after ‘God particle’ discovery

Friday, July 8, 2022
UI Professors Yasar Onel and Jane Nachtman reflect on the ten-year anniversary of the discovery of the 'God particle.' Their UI team contributed to the detector that made the science-altering discovery.
Voyager NASA

Record-Breaking Voyager Spacecraft Begin to Power Down

The work of the late Professor Donald Gurnett is highlighted in this Scientific American article about the Voyager spacecraft, which are still running after nearly 45 years in space but will soon lose some of their instruments. Gurnett was one of the original scientists on the Voyager team, designing and building plasma wave instruments on both the Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 spacecraft.

Reno Wins NASA Funding for Simulation Package

Mary Hall Reno, a professor in the UI Department of Physics and Astronomy, has received an award from NASA as part of a simulation package that will aid in the design of new instruments aboard balloons and satellites.

Gazette: NASA report finds vast diversity leadership gap, suggests solutions

Assistant Professor Allison Jaynes was on a 14-member National Academies committee that wrote a new report titled “Advancing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the Leadership of Competed Space Missions.”