CU Boulder Physics

Ok physics buffs, time to shine ✨ (now without typos!)

Describe your research using only emojis and see if your fellow buffs can decode it 👀🦬

CU Boulder Arts & Sciences University of Colorado Boulder CU Boulder Engineering 🦬

🧩 How does nature build complex structures from tiny parts?

Can we teach nanostructures to build themselves? 🔬

Join us for a free public lecture exploring the science of self-assembly and the remarkable possibilities emerging at the nanoscale.

Tuesday, July 21
7:00 p.m.
Duane Physics building, room G1B30
🎟️ free and open to the public!

Sponsored by the 2026 Boulder School for Condensed Matter and Materials Physics and supported by the National Science Foundation.

More info: https://calendar.colorado.edu/event/free-public-lecture-nanostructures

CU Boulder College of Arts & Sciences University of Colorado Boulder CU Boulder Engineering

A new twist on entanglement could make quantum sensors way more powerful.

By linking particles in a different way, a team of researchers led by CU Boulder and JILA physicists found a way to filter out shared noise and boost precision measurements. 📡

Their results were just published in Physical Review X.

Advancing the future of quantum sensing.

Learn more: www.colorado.edu/physics/2026/06/10/new-kind-entanglement-helps-quantum-sensors-tune-out-noise

CU Boulder College of Arts & Sciences | JILA | University of Colorado Boulder

A new kind of entanglement helps quantum sensors tune out noise New research led by Professors and JILA Fellows Ana Maria Rey and James Thompson published in Physical Review X proposes a new entangled state for atoms in a

Congratulations to Alexander Aeppli (PhDPhys’25) on receiving the Deborah Jin Thesis Award – a prestigious honor named for the late CU Boulder professor, JILA fellow, and pioneering physicist who helped shape the field.

A well-deserved recognition of outstanding doctoral research. 👏

“It’s a wonderful honor to receive this award in recognition of my PhD. I have looked up to many of the past thesis prize winners, so joining their ranks is indeed humbling,” said Aeppli.

Read more: https://www.colorado.edu/physics/2026/06/11/alexander-aeppli-phdphys25-receives-deborah-jin-thesis-award

Forever Buffs: University of Colorado Boulder Alumni | CU Boulder College of Arts & Sciences | JILA | CU Boulder Graduate School

Alexander Aeppli (PhDPhys’25) receives Deborah Jin thesis award Alexander Aeppli (PhDPhys’25) receives Deborah Jin thesis awardPublished:6/11/2026 6/11/2026 • By Kirsten ApodacaPhysics alumnus Alexander Aeppli (PhDPhys’25) is the recipient of this year’s Deborah Jin Award for Outstanding Doctoral Thesis Research, a national honor awarded by the Division ...

Congratulations to CU Boulder’s Margaret Murnane – named an honorary member of Optica! 🎉

🏆 The designation is the most distinguished member category bestowed by Optica.

🤩 Since 1916, only 63 individuals have been named honorary members.

Murnane, a distinguished professor of physics and electrical engineering and fellow of JILA, was recognized for her pioneering advances in ultrafast laser technology and extreme ultraviolet science, as well as sustained mentorship and leadership to the optics community.

Congratulations, Professor Murnane! 👏

Read more: https://www.colorado.edu/physics/2026/06/01/margaret-murnane-named-opticas-newest-honorary-member

Image credit: Boulder Daily Camera

University of Colorado Boulder | CU Boulder College of Arts & Sciences | CU Boulder Engineering

25+ undergrad presenters. Big ideas. Industry execs. 💫

Recap from our spring physics & quantum research expo 🔬🚀

https://www.colorado.edu/physics/2026/04/27/physics-research-expo-highlights-undergrad-research-industry-connections

CU Boulder College of Arts & Sciences | University of Colorado Boulder | CU Boulder Engineering

Big congratulations to University of Colorado Boulder alum Hanqing Zhao (PhDPhys’25) 🎉

🏆 Glenn H. Brown Prize from the International Liquid Crystal Society, recognizing his outstanding PhD research in liquid crystals and visible time crystals

Zhao is the third graduate from Professor and RASEI Fellow Ivan Smalyukh’s group to receive the prize, joining Benny Tai and Angel Martinez.

Congratulations, Hanqing! 👏

Read more: https://www.colorado.edu/physics/2026/05/27/hanqing-zhao-phdphys25-awarded-prestigious-glenn-h-brown-prize

Image: Professor Ivan Smalyukh and Hanqing Zhao

CU Boulder College of Arts & Sciences | CU Boulder Graduate School | Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute (RASEI)

Join us for a TASI Public Lecture on “The Promise of Quantum Computing,” where we’ll discover what makes a quantum computer quantum, where we stand in realizing this potential, and what challenges remain.

This public lecture will be presented by Christian Bauer (LBNL) and is part of the longstanding Theoretical Advanced Study Institute (TASI), a program that brings leading researchers to Boulder each summer to explore the frontiers of physics.

🗓️ Wednesday, June 3
⏰ 7:30 p.m.
📍 Duane Physics Building, Room G1B30, University of Colorado Boulder

Learn more: https://calendar.colorado.edu/event/tasi-public-lecture-promise-quantum-computing

CU Boulder College of Arts & Sciences | JILA | CU Boulder Engineering

TASI Public Lecture, "The Promise of Quantum Computing" The Theoretical Advanced Study Institute in Particle Physics (TASI) presents a Public Lecture, “The Promise of Quantum Computing” Presented by: Christian Bauer, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Abstract: Quantum computers offer a fundamentally different approach to computation, one that har...

Congratulations to physics graduate student Alex Doner, named the inaugural recipient of the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics Frank J. Crary Fellowship! 💫

The award recognizes exceptional graduate students pursuing research in planetary space environments. Doner leads the Venetia Burney Student Dust Counter (SDC), he’s developing the Lunar Meteroid Monitor for a future lunar mission, and is involved in the recent Interstellar Dust Experiment (IDEX). 🚀

Congratulations, Alex!

https://lasp.colorado.edu/2026/05/22/lasp-awards-inaugural-frank-j-crary-fellowship-to-alex-doner/

CU Boulder College of Arts & Sciences | University of Colorado Boulder | CU Boulder Graduate School

LASP awards inaugural Frank J. Crary Fellowship to Alex Doner The Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at the University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder) has announced Alex Doner as the inaugural 2026 recipient of the Frank J. Crary Endowed Graduate Fellowship, an annual award recognizing exceptional graduate students pursuing research in planet...