Physics And Astronomy

A&S astrophysicists are celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the first gravitational wave detection, and the discoveries they have made since. Watch the experts explain what a gravitational wave is, and why even after a century, Einstein’s theory of relativity still rings true. Read More

The third annual Honors Banquet commemorated excellence in academics, leadership and innovation among Graduate School students and faculty. On March 20, the banquet was held to honor and reflect on remarkable achievements in research and creative expre... Read More

Meet new Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy Mallory Molina and learn about their research on black holes, their teaching style, and why they are excited to join the College of Arts and Science this fall. Q: What is your area of research? A: I’ve always… Read More

Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity may soon be disproven by the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA), and Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy Stephen Taylor will be part of a selective team of scientists leading the effort. Taylor is one of only six scientists nationwide appointed… Read More

  As a child, Shaniya Jarrett was fascinated by space and science fiction, but didn’t believe that pursuing the big scientific questions of the universe was a viable career option. Now a second-year astrophysics graduate student in the Fisk-Vanderbilt Master’s-to-Ph.D. Bridge Program, Shaniya is creating opportunities for young women… Read More

The group recently won the Annie Maunder Medal for outreach or public engagement in astronomy or geophysics from the Royal Astronomical Society KeShawn Ivory, a second-year graduate student working toward a Ph.D. in astrophysics, is co-director of events for Black in Astro, an organization that… Read More

The Department of Physics and Astronomy hosted former Tennessee governor Phil Bredesen at an April 8 colloquium attended by students, faculty, and other members of the Vanderbilt community. In a lecture followed by a question-and-answer session with attendees, Bredesen shared the value of scientific frameworks for problem-solving… Read More

Susan Gessner Stewart, BS’90 When Susan Gessner Stewart, BS’90, first came to the College of Arts and Science, her mind was firmly grounded on this planet—in the world of architecture, to be precise. Then a string of unexpected circumstances led her to the Department of Physics… Read More