Home - Physics Department

The Department of Physics at Colorado School of Mines is dedicated to high-quality physics education for undergraduate and graduate students and advancing the world’s knowledge in the areas of condensed matter physics, optical physics, quantum physics, renewable energy physics, and subatomic physics.

Education and Research

Our faculty and students at all levels conduct more than $6 million in externally funded research every year, with many projects associated with Mines’ pioneering research centers.

Research centers with strong connections to Physics include the Mines/NREL Nexus, CyberInfrastructure and Advanced Research Computing (CIARC), the Microintegrated Optics for Advanced Bioimaging and Control Center (MOABC), and the Nuclear Science and Engineering Center (NuSEC).

Our faculty are consistently recognized for both their research and their teaching, while our graduate and undergraduate students are often the recipients of awards and grants.

Physics is also heavily involved with Mines’ interdisciplinary graduate programs in Materials Science, Nuclear Engineering, and Quantum Engineering.

Watch the following video to learn more about the varied and exciting physics research taking place at Mines.

A message to our alums and friends from Dr. Frederic Sarazin

Spotlight on Physics Field Session

The physics field session aims to provide an immersive hands-on, experiential learning environment on multiple subjects and topics that give students the skills needed to be a successful engineering physicist.

Students work through six modules: electronics and implementation, vacuum and materials science, computing, optics, machining, and professional development and careers.

Just a few of the many activities the students completed throughout the session: Optical alignment techniques for precision measurement (images 1-2) and using the machining tools in the Labriola InnoHub to build and engrave circle-drawing compasses (images 3-4).