An aerial view of the KU campus at sunset showing the moon over Fraser Hall with a colorful sky

Understanding the Universe Starts Here

The KU Department of Physics & Astronomy is a bridge to understanding the world, educating future physicists and astronomers, unearthing new scientific discoveries, and challenging the perception of the Universe. Through the commitment that faculty, students, and staff have to transformational education and interdisciplinary research, "Understanding the Universe Starts Here," at the KU Department of Physics & Astronomy.

Undergraduate research in Engineering Physics

Undergraduate Program

Discover information about earning a degree in physics, astronomy, and more!

GET STARTED
A Large Hadron Collider at CERN

Graduate Program

Information about the Graduate Program - including degrees options, resources, and more!

GET STARTED
One of the department graduate students in a zoom call

Department Testimonials

A video from department faculty, students, and staff. See why they chose KU Physics & Astronomy!

To the video

KU Physics and Astronomy Statistics

Top 50
RANKING IN US GRADUATE PROGRAMS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS
6
NSF CAREER AWARDS AMONG ACTIVE FACULTY
5
NSF GRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWS IN THE PAST 4 YEARS

Department Efforts

World-Class Research World-Class Research
Access & Engagement Access & Engagement
Community Outreach Community Outreach

KU Physics & Astronomy News

Visitors to KU's Planetarium

KU Planetarium Celebrates its 1000th Visitor

The KU Planetarium celebrated its 1000th visitor on September 18th, 2024. Since its start in 2022 the planetarium has educated and entertained visitors from the public, local schools, rural Kansas, and members of the KU community.
Dmitry Ovchinnikov Laboratory

KU Physics and Astronomy Professor receives $1 million award from Department of Energy

Assistant Professor Dmitry Ovchinnikov was awarded a large grant from the Department of Energy to support his research in state-of-the-art nanofabrication techniques.
KU researchers Kushal Rijal (right) and Neno Fuller (left) performed the TR-TPPE measurement using a ultra-high vacuum photoemission spectroscopy system used in the resesarch.

Researchers show promising material for solar energy gets its curious boost from entropy

In a study appearing in Advanced Materials, researchers in the lab of Wai-Lun Chan, associate professor of physics & astronomy at KU, have discovered a microscopic mechanism partly explaining the outstanding performance of new carbon-based organic solar cells.
2024 MRS Spring Meeting

Physics and Astronomy Professor Organizes Symposium at Materials Research Society Spring Meeting

Dmitry Ovchinnikov, Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy, organized symposium QT02 “Low dimensional quantum materials” at the Materials Research Society Spring Meeting April 22 – 26, 2024. ...

View all news