Physics

Charlotte Christensen looks over MAP work with Hollis Akins and Anna Engelhardt

Physics

A rigorous curriculum coupled with expert faculty, advanced facilities, and research opportunities means you’ll develop expertise in classical and modern physics theory. You’ll also spend an extensive amount of time gaining knowledge of laboratory equipment, computational modeling, data acquisition, and mathematical techniques, while pursuing your own interests within the discipline. Through hands-on learning, faculty-student research, seminars, and internships, you’ll be well-prepared for graduate study or careers involving physics in academic, public, and private settings.

If your interest leans toward astronomy, �ֲ��ý�� has exceptional opportunities and facilities--including our own observatory. If engineering is more your style, �ֲ��ý�� supports a 3-2 program in engineering.

Career Preparation

A well-rounded curriculum will prepare you for postgraduate success.

A rigorous curriculum, coupled with expert faculty, advanced facilities, and research opportunities, means you’ll develop expertise in classical and modern physics theory. Through hands-on learning, faculty-student research, seminars, and internships, you’ll be well-prepared for graduate study or careers involving physics in academic, public, and private settings.
Individualized Curriculum

Pursue your own interests.

You’ll spend an extensive amount of time gaining knowledge of laboratory equipment, computational modeling, data acquisition, and mathematical techniques. You’ll do this while also pursuing your own interests within the discipline through the core curriculum, research opportunities, and upper-level elective courses in a variety of fields.
Faculty and Facilities

Conduct research alongside professors in top-notch labs.

You’ll learn from faculty members who maintain active research programs in a variety of areas, including applied physics, astronomy/astrophysics, biophysics, non-linear dynamics, optics, and solid-state physics. You’ll hone your problem-solving skills and conduct research in several excellent lab facilities that support the physics program, including the Grant O. Gale Observatory, a solid-state physics lab, nuclear physics lab, laser lab, and biophysics lab.

A New Approach to Learning Physics

In the course How to Learn Physics (EDU/PHY 115), students identify an intriguing physical phenomenon to explore further. From there, they use everyday reasoning to make conjectures about what could be happening in the phenomenon and to test those conjectures.

Explore the course

Bridges to New Understanding

Physics professor takes students in Bridges, Towers, And Skyscrapers course to United Kingdom.

Check it out

Student Research Takes a Path that Goes to Distant Galaxies

Mentored research is essential to the learning experience at �ֲ��ý��. It can lead students to a place where there is no net below them; they are out on the edge. For Assistant Professor Charlotte Christensen, this kind of mentorship translates to the difference between a follower and a leader.

Joe Beggs ’19 wears a suit and stands in a field

Coming Full Circle

After watching a TED Talk in high school during which the speaker grows a kidney, Joe Beggs ’19 knew he wanted to go into biomedical engineering. However, he did not want to be just any engineer.

Thinking Laterally and Working Cross-Functionally

Raghav Malik ’13, a native of Delhi, India, wanted to attend a small liberal arts college after spending his secondary school years at a small, international baccalaureate boarding school. His multiple passions and ability to communicate well with people across disciplines have helped him discuss strategy and market needs as well as technology.

A Scientific Way to Gauge Risk

When Gyan Prayaga ’21 and Jeev Prayaga ’22 learned about a data science competition designed to help their hometown, Los Angeles, reopen safely during the coronavirus pandemic, they eagerly signed up.

Rachel Rudacille ’26, a 2025 Truman Scholar, presents their summer 2024 research at the Conference for Undergraduate Women and Gender Minorities in Physics, January 2025, in Houghton, Michigan.

Academic Excellence

Rachel Rudacille ’26 Named Truman Scholar

Rudacille is one of 54 new Truman Scholars selected from 743 candidates nominated by 288 colleges and universities. Truman Scholars must demonstrate outstanding leadership potential, a commitment to a career in public service, and academic excellence. Each Truman Scholar receives a scholarship worth up to $30,000 for graduate or professional school, leadership training, career advising, and special internship and fellowship opportunities within the federal government.

Professor Charlotte Christensen PHY 132 General Physics II taught by Kristen Burton and Charlotte Christensen demonstrates electricity and magnetism

Academic Excellence

Christensen Wins Grant for Dwarf Galaxy Research

Associate Professor of Physics Charlotte Christensen was recently awarded a grant of $66,000 from the Research Corporation for Science Advancement (RCSA).

Academic Excellence

Kristen Burson Awarded Department of Energy Visiting Faculty Program Grant for Research at Brookhaven National Lab

This prestigious award enables faculty from institutions not classified as "Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity” or “Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity" to work alongside leading scientists at DOE-funded national labs during the summer.

Physics Career Outcomes

First Destinations

35% Employment
48% Graduate School
0% Post-Graduate Service
0% Fellowships
6% Continuing Education
11% Other

Employment

94%

Positions related to Career Goals

Employer

Applied Research Associates
Bloomberg
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Stanford University
University of Cambridge

Graduate Schools

55%

55% Accepted to 1st- or 2nd- choice programs

Institutions

Columbia University
Northwestern University
Ohio State University
Princeton University
University of California
University of Michigan
University of Wisconsin

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Department Chair

Keisuke Hasegawa

hasegawa@grinnell.edu

Contact Information

Phone

641-269-3172

Fax

641-269-4984

Noyce Science Center
1116 Eighth Ave
�ֲ��ý��, IA 50112
United States

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Physics

A supportive community for the intellectually curious.

Why Study Physics?

A well-rounded curriculum will prepare you for postgraduate success.

Pursue your own interests.

Conduct research alongside professors in top-notch labs.

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