Several Department of Physics and Astronomy students were candidates for degrees at the University of Iowa Fall Commencement ceremonies on December 19 and 21. 

Fall 2025 Doctoral Degree Recipients 

(Listed with dissertation title and advisor)

Kenneth Buffo 

Characterizing Thin-Film Adjustable X-Ray Optics Using Optical Interferometry

Advisor: Casey DeRoo

Zheyue Hang

Resonances Scattering with Universal Quantum Computers

Advisor: Yannick Meurice

Colin Packard

Measuring Soft X-Ray Quantum Efficiency: CMOS Sensors Proportional Counters, and a Methodology for Determining the Transmission of X-Ray Transparent Windows

Advisor: Casey DeRoo

Maryam Vaghefi Esfidani

Enhancing Light-Matter Coupling Using Long-Wavelength Infrared Metamaterials

Advisor: Tom Folland

Summer 2025 Doctoral Degree Recipents

(Listed with dissertation title and advisor)

Michael Connolly

On the General Projective Theory of Matter and Gravitation

Advisor: Vincent Rodgers

Mehdi Maleki Sanukesh

Quantum Coherent Interaction of Molecular and Defect Spins with Phonons and Magnons

Advisor: Michael Flatté                 

Fall 2025 Master's Degrees

Luke Kupari – MS Physics

Mohit Pradhan – MS Physics

Phillip Griffin – MS Astronomy

Jodie McLennan – MS Astronomy

Aidan Moore – MS Astronomy

Rachel Pauline – MS Astronomy

Jacob Payne – MS Astronomy

Yuanzheng Wen – MS Astronomy

Summer 2025 Master’s Degrees

Patrick Langer – MS Physics

Anas Saleh – MS Physics

Candidates for Bachelor's Degrees

Fall 2025

Ryan Dunn – BS Physics, BS Astronomy, BS Mathematics (Program C)

Colin Gebel – BS Astronomy, BS Physics

Krisham Prasai – BA Computer Science, Minor: Physics

Maxwell Roberts – BA Physics, BA Astronomy

Brett Wasick – BS Physics