Department of Physics, Engineering and Astronomy News

Keira Scott was one of nine students selected nationwide for the National Science Foundation's Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program, where she researched biodegradable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics.

Austin Peay State University hosted some of Tennessee's brightest high school students this summer for the Governor's School for Computational Physics, a four-week residential program now in its 18th year that immerses rising seniors in physics, mathematics, and computational problem-solving.

The Austin Peay State University College of STEM has announced its departmental award winners for the 2025-26 academic year, recognizing outstanding students across agriculture, allied health sciences, biology, chemistry, computer science, earth and environmental sciences, engineering technology, mathematics, and physics.

A team of engineering physics students has prototyped a low-cost acoustic monitoring system to inspect a water pipeline serving 13 Tennessee and Kentucky communities, earning the top prize at the College of STEM's annual Innovation Experience.

Austin Peay State University sophomore Erin-Kate Roeder is balancing one of the most demanding majors on campus -- engineering physics -- with her role as goalie on the university's inaugural women's lacrosse team, with sights set on a career in biomedical engineering and 3D-printed prosthetics.

The College of STEM has opened registration for its 2026 summer camps, offering programs in space exploration, data science, robotics, and coding for students in multiple age groups.

The Department of Physics, Engineering and Astronomy is offering free stargazing opportunities throughout the semester, with the first event scheduled for Jan. 24.

Calleway Schmidt spent six weeks in Rzeszów working alongside Ukranian and Polish students through the International Research Experiences for Students (IRES) program, continuing a partnership that APSU began in 2022.

Senior engineering physics major Steven Warth is advancing fusion energy research through his participation in the prestigious Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship program at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where he worked on faster computational methods for fusion reactor simulations.

William Keener, an Austin Peay State University physics student, was recently chosen for the highly competitive Solar Physics Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) at the Center for Astrophysics (CFA), a joint institution between Harvard and the Smithsonian.

Austin Peay State University has received a National Science Foundation planning grant to help engineering physics and engineering technology students find their ideal academic path from day one, making Dr. Emmabeth Vaughn the first woman in APSU history to hold two NSF grants simultaneously.

Engineering physics student Ross Rodriguez worked on biodegradable composite materials that could be used to replace traditional plastics during a prestigious internship at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Science on Tap is a free, all-ages event series that features CoSTEM faculty presenting on fascinating topics to the community. Attendees have the opportunity to learn from experts, engage in thought-provoking discussions, and enjoy delicious local brews and food at Strawberry Alley Ale Works.

Austin Peay State University's College of STEM approved Dr. Marylu Dalton, Dr. Eugene Donev, Dr. Mir Hasan and Dr. Saeed Samadi-Dana for tenure ahead of the Fall 2025 semester.

Austin Peay State University physics graduate Amaya Caudel has earned a prestigious internship at Los Alamos National Laboratory while preparing to start her Ph.D. at Vanderbilt University this fall.

CoSTEM students across multiple departments have earned recognition for their accomplishments throughout the year.

The Austin Peay State University (APSU) Department of Chemistry has opened registration for its lineup of 2025 summer camps, offering young learners unique opportunities in space exploration, data science, robotics, and coding.

Austin Peay State University is offering free reservations for its Dec. 7 observatory night, providing visitors a chance to explore celestial objects through state-of-the-art telescopes at the APSU Farm and Environmental Education Center.

Austin Peay is offering limited free reservations for its Nov. 9, 2024, Observatory Night. Astronomy enthusiasts can explore celestial objects through state-of-the-art telescopes. The event starts at 6 p.m. at the APSU School Farm. Register early, as spots fill quickly.

APSU engineering physics senior Jair Martinez conducted research in Rennes, France this summer through the NSF-funded IRES program, gaining valuable insights into international research practices and cultural differences while broadening his perspectives.

The Austin Peay State University (APSU) Department of Physics, Engineering and Astronomy has announced four dates for Public Observatory Nights this fall at the Farm and Environmental Education Center, located at 1991 Pickens Road.

The Department of Physics, Engineering and Astronomy will host its Summer 2024 Public Observatory Nights on June 15, July 13 and Aug. 10 at the APSU School Farm at 1991 Pickens Road.

From music major to astrophysicist, Li Loy's journey at APSU led them to present groundbreaking solar research at the American Geophysical Union's annual conference. The national gathering drew more than 25,000 scientists and provided Loy with the opportunity to grow and build relationships in the field.

Austin Peay State University's Society of Physics Students (SPS) chapter recently earned an Outstanding Chapter Award from the SPS National Office, a designation given to less than 10% of the SPS chapters at colleges and universities across the globe.

APSU alumna Anna Sheets spent a portion of her undergraduate senior year researching novel multi-component chalcogenide glass in Ren, France, through the International Research Experiences for Students (IRES) program, and aims to translate the concepts she learned into real-world solutions after finishing her PhD in 2027.

This summer, two Austin Peay State University students gained valuable astrophysics research experience during a prestigious program at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia, Illinois.

Austin Peay State University's Department of Physics, Engineering and Astronomy has announced its first two free public observation nights for the fall semester--Sept. 23 and Oct. 21, 2023.

Meleah Lanier navigated a transformative academic journey in the International Research Experiences for Students (IRES) program, focusing on the potential of chalcogenide glasses in superconductors. Funded by a National Science Foundation grant, the experience honed Lanier's resilience, problem-solving skills and solidified career aspirations in STEM.

Dr. Emmabeth Vaughn of the Department of Physics, Engineering and Astronomy and Dr. Bobette Bouton of the Department of Teaching and Learning aim to create an empathy scale using engineering-specific scenarios to help students and professionals in the engineering field track their empathy progression.

Austin Peay State University's Yuriy Holovchak, a Barry Goldwater Scholarship winner, explored materials research and quantum computing in Rennes, France, as part of an International Research Experience for Students (IRES) grant. His summer journey included academic insights, visits to historical landmarks and immersion in French culture, providing an enriching experience that broadened his horizons in both science and life.

Austin Peay State University's College of STEM graduates are making notable contributions at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). They credit their university's coursework, training and mentoring for equipping them for groundbreaking work at ORNL. Their innovations in areas like nuclear reactor efficiency and AI in cancer treatment highlight the strong foundation Austin Peay provides for success in the nation's leading labs.

Dr. J. Allyn Smith, a professor at Austin Peay State University, along with students Meagan Porter and Sean Peete, were selected for a prestigious research program at Fermilab. They will work on calibrating the Dark Energy Survey and the Rubin LSST, contributing significantly to our understanding of dark energy.

Space Explorers Camp is the College of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics' latest science-themed summer camp and was hosted from June 12-16. It was designed to teach students ages 9-14 about space exploration and astronomy and provides foundational knowledge about planets, stars and the mysteries of space.

Austin Peay State University student Ethan Moss has been selected for the Pathways Internship Program at NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston. The internship spans three semesters, and Moss's ultimate goal is to become an astronaut. The Pathways Internship Program evaluates students throughout their work tours, and if deemed fit, NASA offers them a position within the agency.

Sophomore Yuriy Holovchak has become the first student at the institution to earn the prestigious Barry Goldwater Scholarship since 2013. Holovchak, a double major in engineering physics and computer science, was one of just 410 students nationwide to receive the honor, out of an estimated pool of over 5,000 college sophomores and juniors.

In Austin Peay State University's new strategic plan unveiled last year, one of the pillars focuses on the student experience. Sophomore Yuriy Holovchak, who is double majoring in engineering physics and computer science, is the epitome of the university's efforts.

Dr. J. Allyn Smith, a professor in the Department of Physics, Engineering and Astronomy at Austin Peay State University, and his students have been invited to take part in a research and development initiative led by the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

The camp will provide campers with the opportunity to learn about planets, stars and what is up in the sky while also engaging in fun and exciting activities such as building telescopes, making craters and launching water bottle rockets.

Starting this Saturday, Jan. 28, Austin Peay State University's Department of Physics, Engineering and Astronomy will host a free public observation night on the last Saturday of every month through May.

Because of cloudy conditions Wednesday night, Austin Peay State University's Department of Physics, Engineering and Astronomy has canceled the public observation of the lunar occultation of Mars scheduled for tonight, Dec. 7.

Austin Peay State University's Department of Physics, Engineering and Astronomy will give children and adult astronomy enthusiasts a chance to observe a lunar occultation of Mars - when the moon passes in front of Mars - at the university's observatory on Wednesday, Dec. 7.

The paper - titled "Surface plasmon resonance sensing in the advanced physics laboratory" - is featured on the cover of the November edition of American Journal of Physics, a publication of the American Association of Physics Teachers.

Several students in the Department of Physics, Engineering and Astronomy at Austin Peay State University experienced a stellar treat last month when they got the opportunity to use the world-renowned Mauna Kea Observatories in Hawaii to observe some massive stars.

When Austin Peay State University's Science on Tap returns to Strawberry Alley Ale Works on Oct. 4, two professors will examine the possibility of life elsewhere in the universe.

Austin Peay State University's Department of Physics, Engineering and Astronomy gave children and adult astronomy enthusiasts a chance to observe Saturn, Jupiter, star clusters and nebulae at the university's observatory on Saturday, Sept. 17.

Austin Peay State University's Department of Physics, Engineering and Astronomy will give children and adult astronomy enthusiasts a chance to observe Saturn, Jupiter, star clusters and nebulae at the university's observatory on Saturday, Sept. 17.

When Austin Peay State University's Science on Tap returns to Strawberry Alley Ale Works on Sept. 6, Dr. Spencer Buckner will talk about the James Webb Space Telescope's first few months of observations.

Austin Peay State University College of STEM students and employees got to take the controls of three Unitree quadruped robots, commonly known as robotic dogs, on Wednesday, Aug. 24.

Their trips were part of a three-year, $300,000 International Research Experience for Students (IRES) grant from the National Science Foundation that will send 18 Austin Peay College of STEM students to universities in the Czech Republic, France and Poland.

The Governor's School for Computational Physics returned for the 14th straight year to Austin Peay State University this week, attracting 40 of the state's best high school students to Clarksville.