K-State Physics Alumni & Friends Newsletter

Greetings from Cardwell Hall

The 2025 Physics Alumni & Friends newsletter brings updates, news, and insights from the Physics Department at Kansas State University. We're looking to build a brighter future for our department, one discovery at a time.

Remember the Day the Sun Vanished?

On April 8, 2024, the Cardwell lawn was the place to be as students and community members gathered for our department's wildly popular watch party for a spectacular solar eclipse. The partial eclipse over Manhattan began around 12:35 p.m., captivating the crowd until its peak at 1:51 p.m., and continued until its conclusion at 3:08 p.m.

Building Brighter Futures

The department is pleased to present the recipients of the departmental scholarships funded for the 2025-26 academic year. These awards recognize several outstanding students in the program who have shown exceptional academic achievement, dedication to their studies, and potential in physics.

Bharat Ratra Honored with APS Lilienfeld Prize

The American Physical Society selected Bharat Ratra, distinguished physics professor, as the recipient of the 2025 Julius Edgar Lilienfeld Prize. This prestigious award recognizes his outstanding physics work and remarkable ability to engage diverse audiences through lectures.

Undergraduate Alumni Spotlight

Anthony Nistico

BS Physics & Chemistry 2024

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Rachel Meeker

BS Physics 2025

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Matthews’ Legacy Lives On

The K-State physics community gathered on Friday, October 18, to dedicate the Peggy Mathews Physics Community Room in Cardwell 119. The dedication commemorated the legacy of the late Peggy Mathews, who retired in 2019 after more than 35 years as office manager.

Spotlight on Success: The Loops and Hoops of Transitioning from Academia to Industry

Physics Drives Innovation as Integral Part of K-State Biomanufacturing Initiative

Dr. Buddho Chakrabarti, an expert in soft materials and computational modeling, was recently hired . His research, which focuses on the intersection of soft materials physics and biophysics, will contribute to K-State's initiative emphasizing collaboration between several departments and colleges within K-State, including the Biosecurity Research Institute and the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility.

The End of an Era

A fixture in Cardwell Hall for almost 60 years, the Math/Physics branch library permanently closed its doors in December. Established in 1963 with the building's opening, this space played a vital role in providing resources and materials through its extensive collection of books and journals. At the time, it was considered one of the most modern and complete facilities for teaching and research in physics in the area.

Outreach in Action

Our department extends its commitment beyond research and teaching by actively engaging in various outreach activities designed to spark interest and participation in physics and STEM among students of all ages across Kansas. These efforts focus on making science both accessible and engaging, fostering the development of future scientific leaders.

Beyond Phased

Kevin Carnes, Brett DePaola, Chii-Dong Lin, and Mick O’Shea, all distinguished physicists, are retiring after years of dedicated service to the department and K-State. Their contributions include leadership in graduate programs, research at the Macdonald Lab, and service as department head, all of which have significantly advanced the field of physics and inspired countless students.

Rolles Elected American Physical Society Fellow

Daniel Rolles has been named a 2024 Fellow of the APS in recognition of his contributions to the field of physics. He was honored “for his pioneering work in imaging ultrafast molecular reactions using XUV & X-ray free-electron lasers, and for advancing the understanding of how intense X-ray pulses interact with atoms & molecules.”

Physics Staff Shine

Several department staff members have been honored during the past year and a half through diverse recognition programs, celebrating their remarkable achievements, exemplary performance, and steadfast dedication to the department and the university's mission.

Welcome Dr. Chakrabarti

Department gains new biophysics expert

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Investing in knowledge

Flanders embarks on scholarly research sabbatical

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Cybersecurity Incident Disrupts Systems

Pamela Anderson Retires

Pamela Anderson, longtime administrative assistant for the High Energy Physics (HEP) group, retired after an incredible 35-year career at the University. Her dedication and support were invaluable to the HEP group and the university as a whole.

Past Favorites & Future Insights

During the past year, the department was pleased to present two lecture series that offered valuable opportunities for professional growth and collaborative engagement. These series featured esteemed new speakers, MIT astrophysicist and Dean Nergis Mavalvala and University of Chicago particle physicist Rocky Kolb, as well as a returning speaker, Brian Washburn, former full-time (currently adjunct) physics faculty at K-State and current NIST project leader.

Remembering Our Esteemed Colleagues

The department mourns the passing of Professor Nathan Folland and Professor Thomas R. Manney, both of whom passed away in 2024. Nate and Tom dedicated decades of service to the department as faculty members, leaving a lasting impact on its teaching, research, and service missions, and on their respective fields.

Staff Spotlight

We're thrilled to announce two new additions to our office staff! Please join us in welcoming Cassady Murphree and Jade Stephens. They're already proving to be valuable assets, bringing fresh energy and expertise that will undoubtedly enhance our department's operations and support for both our current community and our valued alumni and friends.