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News

Department of Physics

  • 2024

  • 2023

  • 2022

    • Riya Shah, Weixiang Yu and Justin Gambrell are doctoral students in Drexel University's Physics program

      Students Find Their Research Niche in Physics PhD Program

      August 30, 2022

      With five different specialties—astrophysics, biophysics, particle physics, condensed matter and physics education research—Drexel’s physics PhD program gives students the flexibility to pursue unique, individualized research based on their own personal interests and career goals.  

      We spoke to three of these doctoral students about the research they are doing and what motivates them. While their areas of expertise differ, they share one thing in common: the impact they hope to make in the field of physics—and in the world.  
       

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  • 2021

    • Photo of Jesse Goldman on a blue and gold Drexel themed background

      Meet Assistant Teaching Professor of Physics Jesse Goldman, PhD

      November 23, 2021

      Jesse Goldman, assistant teaching professor of physics, received his PhD in experimental high-energy physics in 2000 and, following post-doctoral research on neutrino oscillations, turned his focus to physics teaching. His current research interests include the analysis and data-reduction of space-telescope image data and cosmic-ray applications for compact detectors.

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    • two rows of books on a bookshelf

      CoAS Relaunches Center for Interdisciplinary Studies

      October 05, 2021

      Seeking to fulfill its commitment to a justice-oriented curriculum for all of Drexel University, the College of Arts and Sciences relaunched its Center for Interdisciplinary Studies to support collaboration across three key interdisciplinary programs. With new directors in place, the College’s programs in Africana Studies, Jewish Studies, and Women’s and Gender Studies will work across disciplines and areas of inquiry to foster greater inclusion and understanding across the University.

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    • Omesh Dhar Dwivedi

      Research Co-op Leads to Innovative Breakthrough for Math and Physics Major Omesh Dhar Dwivedi

      October 04, 2021

      Drexel undergraduate Omesh Dhar Dwivedi was part of a team of researchers at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory who have proposed a step-by-step chemical pathway to creating boron nitride nanotubes. The math and physics major from Lucknow, India, discusses the work he did during his co-op.

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    • Blue Drexel dragon logo

      CoAS Accomplishments in Brief

      September 09, 2021

      We are pleased to recognize the recent grants, publications, presentations, awards and honors of the members of the College of Arts and Sciences.

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    • Two students are at an event. Both are smiling and one student has her arms raised above her head in celebration.

      College to Mark Return to Campus with ‘CoAS Comes Back!’ Celebration

      August 17, 2021

      The College of Arts and Sciences, recognized by President John Fry as “the heart of the University,” presents CoAS Comes Back! on Tuesday, October 5, from 3 to 7 p.m., in Gateway Garden. All Arts and Sciences students, faculty, staff and alumni are invited to gather, connect in person, and enjoy food, fun and music.

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    • Blue Drexel dragon logo

      CoAS Accomplishments in Brief

      August 12, 2021

      We are pleased to recognize the recent grants, publications, presentations, awards and honors of the members of the College of Arts and Sciences.

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    • Naoko Kurahashi Neilson stands in snow at the geographic South Pole

      NSF Career Award Supports Work that Could Redefine the Night Sky

      July 19, 2021

      Naoko Kurahashi Neilson, PhD, associate professor of physics, was awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) Career Award to look for supermassive black holes in the sky using neutrinos. Neilson is conducting this work as part of the IceCube collaboration, which is a team of approximately 300 physicists from 53 institutions in 12 countries, working with data collected from the IceCube Neutrino Observatory, located at the geographic South Pole.

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    • Drexel Dragon Logo Blue

      2021 Graduate Student Awards

      June 08, 2021

      We are pleased to recognize the following graduate students in the College of Arts and Sciences, who recently received Drexel Emerging Graduate Scholars Conference Awards and Graduate Student Excellence Awards.

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    • Maxwell Franklin, Johannes Wagner, and Elizabeth Espinal

      Two Students, Alum Named 2021 NSF Graduate Research Fellows 

      May 20, 2021

      Two CoAS graduate students and one recent alumni have received 2021 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships to promote research efforts in physics and clinical psychology. The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program aims to encourage innovation and creativity in STEM fields by investing in outstanding graduate students through a five-year fellowship program. The fellowship includes three years’ worth of financial support, with an annual stipend of $34,000 and a cost of education allowance of $12,000 awarded to the researcher and their institution.

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    • An illustration of complex oscillation in quantum physics

      New Quantum Technology and Quantum Information Certificate Prepares Students for Careers in Emerging Field

      May 19, 2021

      To address the critical shortage of skilled workers in quantum technology and quantum information, Drexel University will offer a new post-baccalaureate certificate in this area. Beginning fall 2021, the Department of Physics will accept applicants who hold bachelor's degrees in physics, chemistry, materials science and engineering, or electrical and computer engineering, and offer them opportunities to learn the fundamentals of quantum technology and quantum information. The aim is to provide a strong foundation in this emerging area, with a focus on the foundations of quantum physics, technological advances on the quantum level, and real-world applications.

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    • Headshots of Tim Hanlon and Angel Hogan

      #ForeverDragons: Save the Date for the CoAS Commencement 2021

      May 04, 2021

      On Tuesday, June 8, 2021, the College of Arts and Sciences will celebrate the achievements of the Class of 2021 with a virtual commencement. The ceremony will be live-streamed from Mandell Theater, where a small party of dignitaries and speakers will gather.

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    • flat circular map of the earth

      Physicist David Goldberg Helps Create the Most Accurate Map of the World

      March 23, 2021

      Drexel University College of Arts and Sciences Professor of Physics David Goldberg, PhD, is part of a team that has created the most accurate flat map of the world: a double-sided circle that features the Northern Hemisphere on one side and the Southern Hemisphere on the other.

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  • 2020

    • Logo - Drexel Office of the Provost

      College of Arts and Sciences Faculty Awards

      October 28, 2020

      The mission of the College of Arts and Sciences and the University could not be accomplished without the dedication and support of our faculty members. It is their pursuit of excellence in teaching, research and scholarship that reinforces our position as a modern liberal arts college and enhances our University’s reputation as a world-class research institution.

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    • Drexel University CASTLE Faculty Fellows Advance STEM and Academic Inclusion

      CASTLE Launches Faculty Fellows Program

      July 27, 2020

      A new initiative out of the Center for the Advancement of STEM Teaching and Learning Excellence (CASTLE) adds an additional layer to the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Sustaining Excellence Program at Drexel University, which is aimed at improving retention of STEM undergraduates by developing evidence-based competencies among STEM educators through community building, mentorship and recognition of innovative teaching.

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    • Drexel Dragon Logo Blue

      CoAS Accomplishments in Brief

      July 27, 2020

      We are pleased to recognize the recent grants, publications, presentations, awards and honors of the members of the College of Arts and Sciences.

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    • Fall Courses

      Fall Courses

      July 22, 2020

      From the 2020 presidential election to the origins of the universe, to your community, learn and apply a range of relevant topics in these noteworthy fall courses.

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    • multi-ethnic hands - Our world can't wait.

      CoAS Creates New Role: Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

      July 22, 2020

      The College of Arts and Sciences is pleased to announce that it will appoint an internal candidate to the new role of Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, with an expected start date of September 1, 2020. This new position will report directly to the Dean and become a member of the Dean’s Leadership Team, a group comprising Department Heads, Associate Deans and Directors.

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    • Drexel Dragon Logo Blue

      CoAS Accomplishments in Brief

      June 10, 2020

      We are pleased to recognize the recent grants, publications, presentations, awards and honors of the members of the College of Arts and Sciences.

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    • Drexel Dragon Logo Blue

      College of Arts and Sciences Tenure and Promotion

      June 05, 2020

      We are pleased to announce faculty promotions and tenure appointments in the College of Arts and Sciences. Please join us in congratulating the following faculty members!

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    • Drexel Dragon Logo Blue

      CoAS Accomplishments in Brief

      May 06, 2020

      We are pleased to recognize the recent grants, publications, presentations, awards and honors of the members of the College of Arts and Sciences.

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    • Drexel Dragon Logo Blue

      CoAS Accomplishments in Brief

      April 03, 2020

      We are pleased to recognize the recent grants, publications, presentations, awards and honors of the members of the College of Arts and Sciences.

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    • A Drexel PhD Student’s 'Summer' at the South Pole

      January 31, 2020

      <span>Steve Sclafani, a Drexel doctoral student in physics, spent over a month at the South Pole supporting research in the IceCube South Pole Neutrino Observatory, and following in the footsteps of his mentor.</span>

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    • Drexel Dragon Logo Blue

      CoAS Accomplishments in Brief

      January 08, 2020

      We are pleased to recognize the recent grants, publications, presentations, awards and honors of the members of the College of Arts and Sciences.

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  • 2019

    • Jörn Venderbos, PhD - Assistant Professor of Physics at Drexel University

      Meet New Physics Prof Jörn Venderbos, PhD

      November 15, 2019

      Assistant Professor of Physics Jörn Venderbos, PhD, heads the Quantum Condensed Matter theory group and holds a joint appointment in the College of Engineering’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering. His research is aimed at understanding the fundamental properties of novel quantum materials, designing new materials for applications in quantum information science, and developing tools to describe the collective behavior of correlated electron systems.

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    • Drexel Dragon Logo Blue

      CoAS Accomplishments in Brief

      October 21, 2019

      We are pleased to recognize the recent grants, publications, presentations, awards and honors of the members of the College of Arts and Sciences.

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    • Drexel Dragon Logo Blue

      Welcoming New Faculty to the College of Arts and Sciences

      September 24, 2019

      We are thrilled to welcome the following new faculty members to the College of Arts and Sciences community.

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    • Book and notebook open on a table in a library

      Fall Courses

      July 23, 2019

      Explore your interests in these cool fall courses — from war narratives to the history of the universe and the link between philosophy, politics and economics.

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    • Student Jobs graphic

      Student Work-Study Opportunities

      July 23, 2019

      Looking for an on-campus job this fall? Apply for a work-study position with one of the College of Arts and Sciences’ departments or offices!

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    • Drexel University physics undergraduate students recipients of the Goldwater fellowship in 2019

      Two Physics Majors Receive Goldwater Scholarships

      June 27, 2019

      This year, physics majors James Minock and Johannes Wagner were Drexel’s sole recipients of the Goldwater Scholarship. Minock and Wagner were selected from a highly-competitive pool of 5,000 natural sciences, mathematics, and engineering college sophomores and juniors who were nominated by 443 academic institutions across the United States.

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    • Drexel Dragon Logo Blue

      College of Arts and Sciences Tenure and Promotion

      June 25, 2019

      We are pleased to announce faculty promotions and tenure appointments in the College of Arts and Sciences. Please join us in congratulating the following faculty members.

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    • Drexel Dragon Logo Blue

      College of Arts and Sciences Student Fellowships

      June 25, 2019

      Students in Drexel’s College of Arts and Sciences are scientific innovators, global explorers and leaders in education, communication and advocacy. Reflecting their accomplishments is the impressive number of national and international fellowships they received this year to support graduate education, professional experiences and research abroad.

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    • Intro to Astronomy Class Provides Innovative, Interpersonal Ways to Discover the Cosmos

      June 24, 2019

      PHYS 131 is Drexel’s introductory course to Astronomy open to all majors, and faculty may soon pilot a video game class to further pique student interest in the subject.

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    • ‘Hidden Treasures’ Follow-Up: Drexel Alumnus and Professor Remembers the University’s Astronomy Society

      June 03, 2019

      In response to a previous article about the "hidden treasure" that is the University's observatory, an alumnus and current Drexel assistant clinical professor reminisced about what it was like being the vice president of Drexel's Astronomy Society when he was a chemistry major here at Drexel before graduating in the ’70s.

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    • Drexel Dragon Logo Blue

      CoAS Students Receive University-Wide Awards

      May 23, 2019

      We are pleased to recognize the following College of Arts and Sciences students who have received university-wide awards.

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    • Drexel Dragon Logo Blue

      CoAS Accomplishments in Brief

      May 23, 2019

      We are pleased to recognize the recent grants, publications, presentations, awards and honors of the members of the College of Arts and Sciences.

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    • Drexel physics major Keziah Sheldon

      Physics Major Keziah Sheldon Receives Fulbright Award

      May 17, 2019

      Senior physics major Keziah Sheldon was one of three College of Arts and Sciences students and alumni to be awarded a Fulbright Study/Research award this year. The award supports nine months of full-time research sponsored by the Fulbright Program, the United States’ flagship international educational exchange program.

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    • Drexel Dragon Logo Blue

      CoAS Accomplishments in Brief

      April 29, 2019

      We are pleased to recognize the recent grants, publications, presentations, awards and honors of the members of the College of Arts and Sciences.

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    • Hidden Treasures: The Drexel Home of Philadelphia’s Largest Telescope

      April 15, 2019

      Drexel University’s Joseph R. Lynch Observatory is located on the roof of Curtis Hall and contains Philadelphia’s largest telescope.

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    • Drexel Dragon Logo Blue

      CoAS Accomplishments in Brief

      April 01, 2019

      We are pleased to recognize the recent grants, publications, presentations, awards and honors of the members of the College of Arts and Sciences.

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    • Drexel Dragon Logo Blue

      CoAS Accomplishments in Brief

      March 05, 2019

      We are pleased to recognize the recent grants, publications, presentations, awards and honors of the members of the College of Arts and Sciences.

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    • Drexel College of Arts and Sciences Graduation

      Why Consider Graduate School?

      February 05, 2019

      When it comes to life after graduation, there are many exciting decisions to consider, from choosing where to put down roots, to applying for jobs and determining if graduate or professional school is right for you.

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    • Drexel Dragon Logo Blue

      CoAS Accomplishments in Brief

      February 04, 2019

      We are proud to recognize the recent presentations, publications, awards and honors of members of the College of Arts and Sciences.

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    • Anthony DeSimone, PhD - Drexel Physics

      Follow My Lead: Anthony DeSimone, PhD

      January 24, 2019

      No matter the day or season, Anthony DeSimone’s mornings start the same: a 4 a.m. wakeup and quick email check, followed by a one- to three-hour run. The discipline required to maintain these morning rituals weaves its way through every aspect of DeSimone’s life, allowing him to tackle the pressures of leading more than 2,000 engineers and a unit that brings in $5 billion in revenue annually.

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    • Drexel Dragon Logo Blue

      CoAS Accomplishments in Brief

      January 03, 2019

      We are pleased to recognize the recent grants, publications, presentations, awards and honors of the members of the College of Arts and Sciences.

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  • 2018

  • 2017

    • Book and notebook open on a table in a library

      Winter Courses

      November 07, 2017

      How does gender affect the formation of knowledge? How can physics bridge communities? Discuss sociological contexts of global health, modern implications of Friedrich Nietzsche’s philosophy and more in these new and noteworthy winter courses.

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    • Sam Bose

      International Workshop on Advanced Materials 2017: Berhampur, India

      September 12, 2017

      The National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST) located in Berhampur, India, and Drexel University are jointly organizing the International Workshop on Advanced Materials (IWAM-2017). The workshop will take place in Berhampur, India, from December 19-21, 2017.

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    • All Fun, No Sun: Photo Recap of the Solar Eclipse on Drexel’s Campus

      August 21, 2017

      During Aug. 21’s historic solar eclipse, Drexel Dragons flocked to Perelman Plaza, where the Physics Department held a special solar eclipse viewing party complete with solar telescopes.

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    • George Ullrich

      25 Faces 25 Years: George Ullrich

      July 12, 2017

      Ullrich, who earned his BS, MS and PhD in physics from Drexel, has spent the last four decades working in and around the U.S. defense industry, and has, over the course of his winding career, established himself as one of the leading experts on nuclear warfare and national defense, tackling everything from weapon development to risk analysis and disaster preparedness. He has worked for the U.S. government and for the defense contractors who work on behalf of the U.S. government, has served on boards and panels from the U.S. Strategic Command’s Strategic Advisory Group to the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board, and was awarded the Secretary of Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Medal, the department’s highest civilian award.

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    • Dragon logo

      College of Arts and Sciences Tenure, Promotion and Awards

      June 26, 2017

      The mission of the College of Arts and Sciences and the University could not be accomplished without the dedication and support of our faculty members. It is their pursuit of excellence in teaching, research and scholarship that reinforces our position as a modern liberal arts college, and enhances our University’s reputation as a world-class research institution.

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    • Zee Hakimoglu

      25 Faces 25 Years: Zee Hakimoglu

      June 15, 2017

      Zee Hakimoglu’s first laboratory was a rock under a makeshift fort that she and her sisters built alongside a small creek at her family’s home in New Jersey. Hakimoglu, then 11 or 12 years old, spent her days and evenings at the water’s edge, studying the spiders and wondering about the constellations. After graduating with her bachelor’s degree in physics from California State College, Sonoma, and her master’s in physics from Drexel, Hakimoglu accepted an associate engineering position at aerospace and defense giant Lockheed Martin, in their Silicon Valley office.

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    • Drexel Honors Outstanding Faculty Achievements at Year-End Awards

      May 25, 2017

      At the annual Faculty Recognition Awards Ceremony on May 24, Drexel acknowledged the faculty and staff members whose scholarship, service and teaching contribute so much to the University and its students.

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    • Naoko Neilson

      25 Faces 25 Years: Naoko Kurahashi Neilson

      April 03, 2017

      NASA was big in the ’80s.

      Sure, it was a force in the decades before, but in the ’80s, when a young Naoko Kurahashi Neilson was making her way through elementary school, NASA was pop-culture big. Kids gathered in classrooms to watch shuttle missions, and teenagers stared wide-eyed as countdowns and liftoffs filled the opening credits of MTV’s first broadcast.

      Those images stayed with Neilson. But not just the space shuttles and astronauts.

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    • National Science Foundation Logo

      Physics Alumni Receive NSF Graduate Research Fellowships

      March 20, 2017

      Several Drexel Physics alumni recently received Graduate Research Fellowships from the National Science Foundation (NSF). The purpose of the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program is to help ensure the vitality and diversity of the scientific and engineering workforce of the United States. The program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students who are pursuing research-based master's and doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) or in STEM education.

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    • Pinkesh Patel, PhD

      Investing in Progress

      February 02, 2017

      Pinkesh Patel’s academic credentials simply can’t be questioned. He received a bachelor’s degree from Drexel University in physics (with honors) before completing a graduate degree at Caltech, where he dove into the just-developing field of research surrounding gravitational waves. He then went on to a postdoc at Stanford, where he branched out into the world of bioengineering.

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  • 2016

  • 2015

  • 2014

    • Drexel Professor Creates Start Talking Science Event

      August 12, 2014

      Philadelphians will soon get their newest opportunity to meet local scientists and learn about exciting advances in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in the region, through an event created by a Drexel professor, called “Start Talking Science.”

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    • Dave Goldberg Sci-Fi Movie Rankings

      August 08, 2014

      What does Drexel physics professor Dave Goldberg, PhD, have in common with George R. R. Martin, Stephen King and Guillermo del Toro? They all recently helped rank ‘The 100 best sci-fi movies’ for Time Out magazine.

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    • Faculty on Thomson Reuters Highly Cited Researchers List

      July 07, 2014

      Three Drexel University faculty members earned the distinction of being ranked among the most cited researchers in their respective fields according to Thomson Reuters’ “Highly Cited Researchers 2014” list. Gordon Richards, PhD, a professor in theCollege of Arts and Sciences, Yury Gogotsi, PhD, Distinguished University and Trustee Chair professor in the College of Engineering, and Peter DeCarlo, PhD, an assistant professor in the College of Engineering and College of Arts and Sciences, were included on the list of 3,215 distinguished researchers compiled by the international media and information company.

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    • Cosmos Q-and-A

      March 17, 2014

      When astronomer Carl Sagan’s series “Cosmos: A Personal Voyage” first aired, it instilled a love of science in people like Dave Goldberg. Can the rebooted version hosted by Neil DeGrasse Tyson do the same?

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  • 2013

    • Drexel at Philadelphia Science Festival and Philly Tech Week

      April 16, 2013

      As part of city’s vibrant scientific and technological community, Drexel University will play a big role in the 2013 Philadelphia Science Festival and Philly Tech Week on April 18-28. From a 29-story video game, to cutting-edge robotics, to an interactive Jazz concert, Drexel’s students, faculty and professional staff will be part of the programming for both week-long celebrations of the inquisitive and innovative spirits that are part of the fabric of the city.

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  • 2012

    • Physics Explains How Sickling Cells Make People Sick

      October 16, 2012

      Researchers at Drexel University have identified the physical forces in red blood cells and blood vessels underlying the painful symptoms of sickle cell disease. Their experiment, the first to answer a scientific question about sickle cell disease using microfluidics engineering methods, may help future researchers better determine who is at greatest risk of harm from the disease. They report their findings in Cell Press’s Biophysical Journal today.

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    • Higgs-Boson-QA

      July 09, 2012

      DrexelNow spoke with Dr. David Goldberg, associate professor of physics at Drexel, in the days after the CERN research center in Switzerland announced the possible identification of the Higgs boson. We asked him what it means and why we should care.

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