Opportunities

Research

The physics department encourages students to participate in an undergraduate research project. The department offers theoretical and experimental projects in astrophysics, atomic physics, condensed matter, cosmology, and particle physics. A number of our students have presented their work at professional conferences and in peer-reviewed journals. Each year around 10 physics majors participate in the Holy Cross summer science research program. These student researchers receive a summer stipend and additional funds for equipment and travel.

Summer Research Program

Holy Cross maintains a robust summer research program which provides students nine weeks of campus-based research under the direction of a faculty member. For an overview of faculty research topics in the department, please visit our faculty directory. For more information about the research program, please see the Office of the Science Coordinator website.

Women in Physics

The Holy Cross Women in Physics group provides support, mentorship, and career development opportunities to its members. The group consists of students, alumni, and tenure-track and visiting faculty in the Holy Cross physics department.

WiP, as the group is affectionately known, hosts monthly events, including liquid nitrogen ice cream/pizza socials, rocket launches, astronomy nights, talks and presentations from invited guests, workshops on tackling exams and applying to graduate schools. WiP cohosts annual college events like the Women in Science day in association with the other Women in Science groups on campus and organizes and funds its members to participate in the annual Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics hosted by the American Physical Society.

We use an inclusive definition of “woman” and “female” and we welcome trans women, genderqueer women, and non-binary people and men in our group. We believe in supporting the many intersections of our members’ identities, such as (but not limited to) race, sexual orientation, gender expression, socioeconomic class, and immigrant/indigenous status.

Upcoming Events

There are currently no upcoming events.

Past Events

November 15, 2022

Women in Physics Presents: Meet and Greet with Dr. Berghaus
Students met with Dr. Kim Berghaus, a theoretical physicists at Stony Brook University.

October 17, 2022

Holy Cross Physics Colloquium
Future Changes in Extreme Precipitation over the Northeast U.S
Robert Nazarian, Ph.D. ('12)

April 6, 2022

Physics Department Alumni Panel 2022
Panelists: Allison Hartman ('13), Chantal Umahoza ('20), and Dan Barrett ('13)

April 15, 2021

Women in Physics Presents: A virtual screening of the movie Picture a Scientist
This event was followed by a live panel discussion with representatives from STEM departments.

April 28, 2020

Women in Physics Presents: Breakthrough
The group watched two documentaries via Zoom and had a lively discussion. The documentaries included “Breakthrough: Connecting the Dots” and “Breakthrough: Snapshots from Afar.”

 

3-2 Program in Engineering

The 3-2 Program offers a cooperative, five-year program for students who are interested in combining the liberal arts and sciences with engineering. The majority of students who take part in the program are physics majors.

Students spend three years as full-time students at Holy Cross and two years as full-time students at Columbia University in New York City. At the conclusion of the program, students receive both a bachelor of arts from Holy Cross and a bachelor of science in engineering from Columbia University. For program requirements and other information, visit the program’s website.

Workshop Tutors

Students may work as tutors in department workshops, furthering their own understanding of subject matter through explanation and education. Tutors are chosen by the department based on academic and interpersonal skills. For more information, please see the Academic Services and Learning Resources website.

Teacher Education Program

The Teacher Education Program prepares undergraduate students to become highly effective, reflective, justice-seeking educators. The program leads to an initial license in Massachusetts at the secondary or middle school level. Interested students should consult with the director of the Teacher Education Program or visit the program’s site.

Navy ROTC With a Physics Major

An education in physics dovetails well with the College’s Naval ROTC program, and each year physics majors and minors take part in this program. Visit the Department of Naval Science website for requirements and benefits.

Nugent Gold Medal

The Nugent memorial medal was founded in the early 1900s by Rev. Edward Evans Seagrave in memoriam of John F. Nugent 1893. It is presented to students who have shown excellence in physics at Holy Cross. The award is usually made to a single student each year, but occasionally two exceptional students will share the award, and in some years no student will achieve the high standards required of the award.

Year Name Postgraduate Pursuit
2022 Joseph E. Nyhan University of California, Santa Cruz
2021 Michael McGrath Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab

2020

Wilber A. Alfaro Castro

Boston College

2019

Yihui Jin

University of Chicago

2018

Zachery H. St. Pierre

Software Developer at Medumo

2017

Joseph G. Wihbey, III

3-2 Engineering Program, Columbia University
Mechanical Engineer at Sikorsky

2016

Zachary Fernandes

Economics Research Assistant, Federal Reserve Bank, Washington DC.

2014

Kevin Blanchette

MSc., Imperial College, London, England

2013

Craig Richardson

Engineering Program, Boston University

2012

Justin DeFrancisco
Robert Nazarian

Ph.D. Program, Johns Hopkins University
Ph.D. Program, Princeton University

2011

Steve Anderson

Ph.D. Program in Physics, University of New Hampshire

2010

Brendon O’Leary
Joshua Ryor

Ph.D. Program, Yale University
M.S. in Offshore Wind Farm Analysis, University of Edinburgh

2009

John Singleton

MS in Engineering Program, Carnegie Mellon University

2008

James Daly

Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University

2007

Daniel O'Connor

Sponsored Teaching in Singapore

2006

Stephanie Stattel

3-2 Engineering Program, Columbia University

2005

Corinne Butova
Gregory Weston

Programmer analyst, Meditech Inc.
Medical school, Columbia University

2004

Lindsey Lavoie

Ph.D. Program, University of Florida

2003

John Giblin

Ph.D. Program, Brown University

2002

Caroline Berger
Keith McIntire

Ph.D. Program, Duke University
3-2 Engineering Program, Columbia University

2001

Lori Masso

Engineer, Raytheon Co. & MS Program, Tufts University

2000

Anne Marie March

Ph.D. program, Stony Brook University
Assistant Physicist at Argonne National Laboratory