RCSA Welcomes 2026 Class of Cottrell Scholars   Top row: Ilsa Cooke, Meaghan Deegan, William Gilpin, Cassandra Hall, Anna Ho, Megan Jackson. 2nd row: Na Hyun Jo, Jinghua Li, Zhou Lin, Subhasish Mandal, Yao-Yuan Mao, Arnold Mathijssen. 3rd row: Asja Radja, Devleena Samanta, Derek Schaeffer, Arnab Sengupta, Edgar Shaghoulian, Olja Simoska. 4th row: Daniel Tamayo, Jamie Tayar, Erin Teich, Sarah Wellons, Yizhi You, Tianyu Zhu.…

By Michael Terrazas Since coming to UGA in 2020, Cassandra Hall has published a cluster of research papers that have made a big impact in astronomy. The assistant professor of astrophysics has seen her predictions regarding planet formation verified by evidence gathered from 500 light years away and also put forth the compelling idea of a “photosynthetic habitable zone” that could help narrow down the search for life on other planets. (Photo by…

This October marks a major milestone for the University of Georgia’s Small Satellite Research Lab — the fifth anniversary of launching UGA’s first satellite into orbit — with the lab’s 10th anniversary fast approaching in 2026. To celebrate, the lab welcomed UGA President Jere W. Morehead; Marisa Pagnattaro, vice president for instruction and senior vice provost for academic planning; and Anna Stenport, dean of the Franklin College of Arts and…

University of Georgia faculty member Cassandra Hall is a co-principal investigator on a new project supported by $450,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to learn more about planetary formation by studying a star system over 500 light-years away. The grant funds a three-year collaborative research project between principal investigator New Mexico State University Astronomy Associate Professor Wladimir Lyra, co-principal investigator…

University of Georgia research professor Yiping Zhao combined his experience teaching a seminar course for graduate students and his curiosity with artificial intelligence to create a set of ChatGPT cartoonslide desks that help guide doctoral students through their schooling. The cartoons, titled “Thoughts on PhD Training,” can be found on his research website. “Designed to help PhD students navigate their academic journey — from research…

On behalf of the UGA Physics Club, it is our pleasure to announce that we are officially renewing and accepting applications for the 2025-26 Society of Physics Students (SPS Chapter)! The Society of Physics Students is a national organization for college and university students with an interest in physics, mathematics, engineering, and other scientific fields that gives its members exclusive access to travel and academic scholarships, scientific…

By: Alan Flurry Inseok Song, associate professor of astronomy in the University of Georgia Franklin College of Arts and Sciences department of physics and astronomy, has revived a grant from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Song's JWST program, "JWST Mid-IR Observations of Warm Debris Disks around Nearby M-dwarfs", will observe 19 M-type stars, the lowest mass stars that are the most common in the Universe.  "M-dwarf stars are the…

Congratulations to Netra Phadke for Franklin College Staff Excellence Award  Our front office manager, Netra Phadke, is a recipient of the 2025 Franklin College Staff Excellence in Service Award!  This selective award honors staff members for their excellent performance and their outstanding contributions to units in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. Nominees are evaluated and selected based on the following criteria: their…

Four departmental awards were given to five selected graduate students this year for exemplary research and teaching. At the end of each spring semester, the department of Physics and Astronomy hosts a catered reception to celebrate and honor our graduate students. The food and fellowship are followed by a ceremony to present the four departmental graduate awards to their recipients. Each award comes with a certificate, a monetary prize, and an…

Grant-funded projects enhance student learning through immersive, interactive experiences From cracking down on fraud to exploring the cosmos, cutting-edge artificial intelligence and augmented reality technologies are transforming education at the University of Georgia and giving students hands-on experiences that prepare them for the real world. Each year, the Center for Teaching and Learning administers multiple learning technologies…