Cornell University School of Applied and Engineering Physics

Craig Fennie was an integral part of Applied and Engineering Physics, and we are heartbroken to report this news.

We are sorry to share the news that Craig Fennie, an associate professor in the School of Applied and Engineering Physics whose groundbreaking research opened new pathways for scientists to discover and design materials, died of a heart attack on June 14, 2026. He was 54.

“Craig’s path was unique. In many ways, he modeled our ‘any person…’ founding creed at Cornell,” said Lynden Archer, the Joseph Silbert Dean of Engineering. “He was not just known for his creative mind, but for his kindness and humanity – a brilliant, yet grounded member of our campus community. We will miss him tremendously.”

https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2026/06/craig-fennie-macarthur-fellow-and-materials-discovery-pioneer-dies-54

Congratulations to Himani Mishra ’27, a rising senior in engineering physics and Hunter R. Rawlings III Cornell Presidential Research Scholar and Telluride Scholar, who has been named a 2026 Microscopy & Microanalysis Student Scholar by the Microanalysis Society. Mishra is a student of Professor David A. Muller.

Himani Mishra '27 earns national student scholar award | Cornell Duffield Engineering Mishra earned the award for her paper "Atomic-level, Depth-Resolved 3D Imaging of Voids with Electron Ptychography.”

We are pleased to announce that Chris Xu, the IBM Professor of Engineering, has been reappointed to a two-year term as Director of the School of Applied and Engineering Physics, effective July 1, 2026.

“Chris was first appointed to this position in 2020. He has provided the School with steady, strategic leadership and he has been a valuable contributor to the broader College community, serving as an effective and capable partner with a compelling vision for the future. He is also an excellent scientist and educator. Known for the development of temporal focusing and long-wavelength two- and three-photon microscopy for deep-tissue imaging, his work has found applications in fiber optics and optical imaging, with major thrusts in deep-tissue imaging, laser development, and smart and efficient optical imaging. He holds more than 25 patents on optical communications and imaging, and his work has been recognized with numerous awards. He is a fellow of both Optica (formerly the Optical Society of America) and the National Academy of Inventors.”

-- Lynden Archer, Joseph Silbert Dean of Engineering

Chris Xu | Cornell Duffield Engineering Graduate Field Affiliations Applied Physics Biomedical Engineering Biomedical and Biological Sciences Biophysics Biography Chris Xu’s group at Cornell pioneered the development of temporal focusing and long-wavelength two- and three-photon microscopy for deep-tissue imaging. His current research a...

Congratulations to Ph.D. student Shake Karapetyan for winning the Materials Research Society's Gold Graduate Student Award!

Cornell students win Gold Graduate Student Awards | Cornell Duffield Engineering For their research on atomic-scale 3D imaging and perovskite materials, respectively, two graduate students from the Cornell Duffield College of Engineering have been awarded Gold Graduate Student Awards by the Materials Research Society. These awards recognize exceptional graduate students whose ac...

Congratulations to all graduates! (Can you spot AEP?)
https://www.instagram.com/reels/DYvP9nhvq-l/

Let’s hear it one more time for #Cornell2026! 🎓🐻🎉

Sofia Pereira, a 2023 Cornell physics graduate, found her ideal path to a career by pursuing an M.Eng. in engineering physics.

Sofia Pereira, M.Eng. ’26 merges hands-on engineering with fundamental physics | Cornell Duffield Engineering Sofia Pereira, a 2023 Cornell physics graduate, found her ideal path to a career through pursuing an M.Eng. in engineering physics.

Alumna Judy Cha, Ph.D. '09 (applied physics) mentions how the $9.5 million investment from Cornell Duffield Engineering will allow the Cornell NanoScale Facility to expand its reach.

Duffield Engineering investment in CNF to expand research and training | Cornell Chronicle A $9.5 million investment in the Cornell NanoScale Science and Technology Facility from Duffield Engineering will position the facility for its next era of leadership in semiconductor research, education and workforce training.

Thank you to our Giving Day 2026 donors! We are grateful for your generosity.

Giving Day is today, March 12. Your Giving Day contribution ensures that our students continue to receive an outstanding education and guarantees that we remain at the forefront of education, research, and discovery. Every gift makes a difference!
https://givingday.cornell.edu/campaigns/cu-applied-engineering-physics

Tomorrow is Giving Day! Support the School of Applied and Engineering Physics, and join us in shaping a future where our research and students' talents create world-changing impacts.
https://givingday.cornell.edu/