Department of Physics

Develop a broad, deep, and rigorous knowledge of the quantitative problems that govern the natural world.

Intellectually challenging and exciting graduate research alongside leading physics faculty full of talent, enthusiasm, and imagination.
According to a multi-year study released by the National Research Council (NRC) in 2010, we are in the top echelon (10-15) of physics departments in the United States.
The 2018 US News graduate program rankings listed our gravitational physics/cosmology group and condensed matter physics group as #9 and #11, respectively.
The physics department is also committed to fostering an inclusive community where people of all backgrounds feel safe and supported.

The physics faculty is a community of innovative and inspiring research and instructional physicists at the frontier of science.
Featured Faculty

An international team including Penn State scientists finds evidence of high-energy neutrino emission from an active galaxy in the constellation of Cetus.
