Tracy Langkilde: Leading the physical sciences through innovation, collaboration, and teaching

The wonderful news last month of Eberly College of Science alumnus? Abhinav Kandala , a 2015 graduate of our?doctoral program in physics, leading a team of IBM researchers to a major?breakthrough in quantum computing?has caused me to reflect on the incredible impact of the work coming out of our physics department, which is set up for success under new leadership. This?is?Abhinav’s third?cover in the journal Nature?since joining IBM, initially as a postdoc and now working as a team leader.

Our physics program is?ranked 11th in the country?by the most-recent National Research Council rankings, and its graduate degree program is ranked in the top four in the Big Ten: 21st overall, 11th in condensed matter, and ninth in gravity, according to U.S. News and World Report. Its faculty members are renowned in their fields, holding accolades as fellows of the American Physical Society and American Association for the Advancement of Science, members of the National Academy of Sciences and American Academy of Arts and Sciences, winners of prestigious awards and fellowships, and editors of prestigious scientific journals.?

Just this past spring, we had several additional honors:

• Professor of Physics Zolton Fodor was?elected to the National Academy of Sciences.
• Associate Dean for Research and Innovation Miguel Mostafa , also?professor of physics and of astronomy and astrophysics,?was one of only five Penn State faculty to?receive a?2023 Penn State Faculty Scholar Medal.
• Abhay Ashtekar was?among the first chosen for the University’s Atherton Professorship, which?recognizes the continued scholarly engagement of our most prominent Evan Pugh University Professors Emeritus.?

Our excellent undergraduate and graduate programs have set up many alumni to not only excel in their fields but impact society in important ways. On top of?Kandala’s latest discovery, I was thrilled to see Dr. James H. Stith , vice president emeritus at the American Institute of Physics and a 1972 doctorate of education graduate in physics, among the?eight alumni to be selected by the Penn State Board of Trustees to receive the Distinguished Alumni Award,?the University's highest honor presented to its alumni. The award salutes the achievements of outstanding alumni whose "personal lives, professional achievements, and community service exemplify the objectives of their alma mater.”

Below are a few additional points of pride in research, teaching, and outreach that I’d like to share.

Research:?The Eberly College of Science ranks in the?top 15 nationwide?in research and development expenditures in the physical sciences, placing us third among our Big Ten peers?(NSF HERD Survey, January 2022). Our physics department is the?backbone of many interdisciplinary research collaborations,?with faculty serving as principal investigators or co-principal investigators of two large research centers:?

• the?National Science Foundation (NSF) Two-Dimensional Crystal Consortium Materials Innovation Platform (2DCC-MIP) at Penn State, with $20 million in current funding, and?
• the?NSF Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC), Penn State’s Center for Nanoscale Science, with $16 million in current funding.

Department faculty are leading top research in areas like?quantum computing, muons and forefront of new discoveries about the basic laws of physics, gravitational waves, and?multimessenger astronomy.?

Teaching:?Our faculty and their research have a?direct impact on the college’s contributions to economic development and student success. Recruiting the best and brightest faculty increases our reputation, funding, donations, and rankings, which in turn allows us to recruit the best and brightest undergraduate students and provide them with world-class training and experiences. Because of the support and engagement of stellar faculty, the Eberly College of Science — as well as Penn State — is known for outstanding undergraduate research opportunities, early in student careers and across the University.

Our impact is broad:?two-thirds?of all undergraduate students taking physics courses are from other Penn State colleges.?It?is a core educator across the University in introductory science courses for many other colleges and departments, teaching about?7,000 undergraduate?STEM majors every year.?The department itself had?209 undergraduate?and?187 graduate students enrolled in 2022-23 and?welcomed its most gender-diverse graduate class to date.

Outreach: As a land-grant institution, it is ingrained in Penn State’s DNA to give back in many ways to our community, and physics faculty and students are engaged in meaningful ways. Just a few examples:?

• Professor of Physics Mikael Rechtsman ?set up demonstrations to teach children about physics during a March exploration fair at Mount Nittany Elementary School.
• Graduate student Emma Steinebronn ?launched the PAW Pals program — named after the Physics and Astronomy for Women+ (PAW+) student organization — last spring?in collaboration with Park Forest Elementary School. Emma and delivered, in partnership with a host of undergraduate and graduate student volunteers, STEM outreach curriculum monthly to these students. You can read more and watch them in action on the?Centre Daily Times website.
• Physics undergraduate student Natalya Radovic was a keynote speaker in February at the college’s ENVISION: STEM Career Day Supporting Young Women. As the college’s I AM STEM speaking competition winner, Tasha spoke with sixth through 12th graders about her experience as a STEM student and what motivates her.

Looking ahead, and a special thank-you: I am so excited to welcome Mauricio Terrones ?to my executive leadership team as he?takes the helm as physics department head?(he began his tenure on July 1).?In addition to Mauricio's outstanding scholarly accomplishments and effective leadership, he cares deeply about the well-being and reputation of the department and its future. I know that he is going to take this already exceptional department to new heights.?

Lastly, I want to extend my heartfelt thank you, appreciation, and congratulations to? Nitin Samarth , who has led the department over the past 12 years. He has left the department as a better place to learn, discover and grow.?

Nitin has guided many of us — including me when I became biology department head, and then as dean — with his quiet, thoughtful, patient, and insightful leadership; and like any true leader, his success is demonstrated by the accomplishments of those around him.?It is no surprise that two of the amazing college members listed above — alumnus?Abhinav Kandala and current graduate student Emma Steinebronn — have both been a part of his research group.

Nitin’s is just one incredible example of the far-reaching impact of the physics department and its stellar faculty — through cutting-edge research and training those who are solving pressing world problems and pushing forward the bounds of our scientific knowledge.