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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.

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Undergraduate research in Engineering Physics

Undergraduate Program

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Graduate Program

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

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KU Physics & Astronomy News

An image of KU graduate student Amrit Gautam standing in front of a mural at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee.

Physics and Astronomy graduate student completes prestigious fellowship at Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Amrit Gautam, a KU graduate student in the physics doctoral program, was among just 62 doctoral students nationwide selected for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science Graduate Student Research Fellowship. Gautam spent the fellowship conducting his thesis research at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee.
Spring view of Jayhawk Boulevard with Snow, Marvin halls in foreground. Clouds in sky.

Physics and Astronomy graduate student among new 2025-2029 Self Graduate Fellows

Twenty doctoral students have been selected to receive the University of Kansas’ prestigious Madison and Lila Self Graduate Fellowship for the 2025-2026 academic year. This is the largest cohort in the program's history. The total value of the four-year doctoral fellowship exceeds $225,000.
Campanile in spring.

Physics and Astronomy student among 3 from KU awarded prestigious NSF Graduate Research Fellowship

Three University of Kansas students were recently named to the highly competitive National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program. The distinction provides three years of financial support with an annual stipend of $37,000 and a cost of education allowance of $16,000 to the institution.
The full mosaic of MIRI EGS Galaxy and AGN (MEGA) survey using all four of their observed MIRI filters.

Astronomy professor Allison Kirkpatrick's research uncovers universe’s wild growth spurt

A new University of Kansas survey of distant galaxies using the James Webb Space Telescope reveals never-before-seen star formation and black hole growth at “cosmic noon,” a mysterious epoch 2-3 billion years after the Big Bang when galaxies like the Milky Way underwent an intense growth spurt.
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KU Physics and Astronomy Undergraduate Researchers

Support Department Undergraduate Research!

Undergraduate and graduate student research forms the backbone of the exciting discoveries made at KU. Without student contributions, our research labs would not function. In an uncertain federal funding landscape, we need your help. Your contributions will ensure our students continue to make impressive breakthroughs in understanding the universe around us

Give to the Physics and Astronomy Summer Research Undergraduate Fellowship

KU Physics and Astronomy Statistics

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

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