Department of Physics and Astronomy

The physics and astronomy department explores fundamental questions about the nature of matter and the universe and confronts challenging and exciting scientific problems.

Associate Professor of Physics and Astronomy Beth Parks investigates an electronic game with a physics student.
Associate Professor of Physics and Astronomy Beth Parks investigates an electronic game with a physics student.

Seek answers to fundamental questions about the nature of matter and the universe. Tackle challenging and exciting scientific problems, and learn in an atmosphere that encourages engagement and discovery.

Students explore academic interests in small classes that offer unparalleled access to distinguished faculty, top-tier facilities, and graduate-level research opportunities for undergraduates.

The department offers major and minor courses of study in:

Majors:

  • Physics
  • Astronomy-Physics
  • Astrogeophysics
  • Physical science (interdisciplinary with chemistry and mathematics)

Minors:

  • Physics
  • Astronomy

LEARN ABOUT COURSES OF STUDY

Department Contacts

Chair: Rebecca Metzler
Administrative assistant: Shelby King
Office: 331 Ho Science Center
Phone: 315-228-7723

APS Physics IDEA Institution

 

 

 

 

Physics & Astronomy Virtual Tour

Learn more about the department's facilities including our research labs and the Ho Tung Visualization Lab.

Take a Virtual Tour

It is inspiring to feel that there is always something new to learn.

Lindsey Wiley ’20
Where have our graduates gone?

Below is a list of some of the many graduate schools and graduate programs that our graduates have joined recently. Significant numbers of our graduates have also directly gone on to take jobs ranging from teaching and spacecraft design to playing professional ice hockey.

  • Columbia University
  • Harvard University
  • Northeastern University
  • Stanford University
  • Tufts University
  • University of Massachusetts Amherst
  • University of Rochester
  • Washington University in St. Louis
  • Cornell University
  • MIT
  • Princeton University
  • Syracuse University
  • University of Pennsylvania
  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor
  • University of Texas at Austin
  • Yale University

Graduate Programs: Physics, Astronomy, Materials Science & Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Planetary Science, Aerospace Engineering, Biomedical Engineering.

Job titles: Teacher, Research Assistant/Associate, Project Manager, Technology/Product Consultant, Software Engineer, Operations Analyst, Investment Banking Analyst, Data Analyst.

A Colgate University senior conducts experiments using lasers in a laboratory.
Facilities

Learn more about labs, equipment, and resources in the Colgate physics and astronomy department.

Jeff Bary teaches a class on Solar System Astronomy in the Ho Science Center
Faculty and Staff

Meet the faculty and staff of the physics and astronomy department, and learn about their ongoing research and scholarship.

Colgate students tour the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and the Llechwedd Slate Caverns in the Welsh countryside
Off-Campus Study

Students in the physics and astronomy department have a number of opportunities for off-campus study.

Students in Professor Jeff Bary's class work on solving equations in the laboratory
Course Offerings

Learn about required and elective courses available to students majoring and minoring in the physics and astronomy department.

Students arrive on campus for the first time
Student Resources

Explore extracurricular opportunities for pursuing an interest in physics and astronomy.

Physics and Astronomy Department Events

Photo of three students in high visibility vests walking away from the camera, into a large bright street light.
Sep 11 ENST Brown Bag: Dark Skies and Sense of Place 12:15pm to 1:15pm

Recorded Seminars

Image for the seminar.
Tom Balonek, Colgate University

Early Scientific Results & Pretty Images from the JWST (February 28, 2023)

Women of Color in STEM Panel Discussion
Women of Color in STEM Panel Discussion

Discussion with a panel of Colgate female faculty of color in STEM. (April 26, 2022)

Planetary orbit
Michael E. Brown, Caltech

Planet Nine from Outer Space (March 29, 2022)

Images of Etheria shell.
Rebecca Metzler, Colgate University

Etheria elliptica: materials science lessons learned from a freshwater oyster (Mar. 1, 2022)

Radiation from dark matter particle interaction
Rebecca Leane, Stanford University

Detecting Dark Matter in Celestial Bodies (Nov. 30, 2021)

finch image
Salem Al Mosleh, Harvard University

The Finch Beak: Growth, Form and Function (Nov. 16, 2021)

P&A Seminar Graphic - Brianna Johnson resized
Brianna Holmes-Johnson ‘19 Optical Production Engineer, ASML

Making Light of Optical Technologies (Nov. 9, 2021)

Image for presentation - Higher Spin Dark Matter
Leah Jenks (CU'17), Brown University

Higher Spin Dark Matter (Oct. 19, 2021)

Image for the talk.
Amber Kiana Lenon, Syracuse University

Graphic Design to Physics: My Journey to a PhD (Sept. 28)

poster for the talk
Angela M Stickle, The Johns Hopkins University

Defending Planet Earth: Deflecting Asteroids and the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (Sept. 7, 2021)

galaxy
Jeyhan Kartaltepe, Rochester Institute of Technology

The Evolving Role of Galaxy Interactions on Black Hole Growth (April 20, 2021)

Black hole image
Zachary Weaver, Boston University

Monitoring Blazars at High-Time Resolution: A New Golden Age? (March 30, 2021)

Calculation methods
Mark G. Kuzyk, Washington State University

Length and classical/quantum transition. (March 23, 2021)

Galaxy image
Alyssa Sokol, University of Massachusetts Amherst

The connected universe: An overview of galaxy evolution, supermassive black hole accretion, and star formation across hirarchical size scales. (March 9, 2021)

Image for talk on photovoltaics.
Monojit Bag, IIT Roorkee, India.

Recent Trend in Photovoltaics:  Advantages and Challenges of New Generation Solar Technology (Feb. 23, 2021)

Image of martian surface.
Joseph Levy, Colgate University

Boulder Bands on Martian Glaciers: How a Group of Colgate Students Discovered Signs of Multiple Ice Ages on Mars (Feb. 9, 2021)

Guidance for Faculty and Staff Applicants

Review useful guidance for applicants.