Physics and Astronomy

December 17, 2025

Congratulations to OU alumnus Saesun Kim, PhD. on being named to the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology Quantum 100. From the IYQ 2025 website, “Representing people at every stage of their professional journey, the Quantum 100 spans academia, industry, education, art, culture, journalism, and policy, reflecting a breadth of skills and specialization. The Quantum 100 were selected by members of the IYQ steering committee and global coordination bureau, composed of representatives from each of the IYQ Founding Partners, as well as leaders around the world from universities, research institutions, scientific societies, governments, and industry.”

November 21, 2025

Physics engineering undergraduate student Aubrey McNiel was among the sixteen seniors from the University of Oklahoma who were selected this year as Outstanding Seniors for their exceptional achievements in scholarship, honors, awards, leadership and service. The group was recognized at a recent ceremony, where OU President Joseph Harroz Jr., OU Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students David Surratt, Ed.D., and representatives from OU colleges presented each recipient with their Outstanding Senior Award.

July 18, 2025

With access to the Apache Point Observatory 3.5m telescope, Department of Physics and Astronomy graduate student Gracyn Jewett was able to observe the newly discovered 3I/ATLAS interstellar comet. A paper presenting the results from these observations has been accepted for publication in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

July 07, 2025

In a rare achievement, two University of Oklahoma undergraduate physics and astronomy students were awarded time to observe distant stars at the International Gemini Observatory. Their combined time represents approximately 4.5% of all available time allotted to U.S. astronomers from Aug. 2025 through Jan. 2026. Alex Gleason and Alex Albright, both seniors in the Homer L. Dodge Department of Physics and Astronomy, are mentored by Mukremin Kilic, professor of astrophysics and cosmology. Their projects will utilize the Gemini North telescope in Maunakea, HI, and the Gemini South telescope in Cerro Pachón, Chile, depending on the time of year.

February 28, 2025

A group of researchers, including OU professor Mukremin Kilic and graduate students Gracyn Jewett and Adam Moss, have discovered the most richly pulsating ultramassive white dwarf observed to date. The large number of pulsation modes, or vibrational patterns, observed in this ultramassive white dwarf may soon reveal information on its interior structure and chemical composition.

September 11, 2024

Nikole Nielsen, an assistant professor of astrophysics and cosmology at the University of Oklahoma, was interviewed by News 9 about her research, which was recently published in the journal Nature Astronomy. Nielsen used the ten-meter telescope at the Keck Observatory to capture a galaxy 270 million light-years away. Studying the gas around this web of stars and planets will help build an understanding of how galaxies evolve over time.