News: 2019

Gregory Rassolov, who is pursuing a PhD in Chemistry, is among four graduate students recognized for exceptional teaching of undergraduates. He was nominated for the Booth Prize by faculty and students for his ability to demystify the subject material and make it less intimidating. 

This week, Prof. Malliaris of Mathematics was awarded the Quantrell award and Profs. Hu of Astronomy and Astrophysics and Lalley of Statistics were both awarded Faculty Awards for Excellence in Graduate Teaching and Mentoring.  

William Irvine, professor of physics, appears on Physics Girl to explain the process of creating knotted vortices, a phenomenon that occurs with airplanes during takeoff, by accelerating 3D-printed models in water. 

Margaret Gardel, professor of physics at the University of Chicago, led an innovative new study, which for the first time recreates the mechanism of cell division—outside a cell. The experiment published May 21 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, helps scientists understand the physics by which cells carry out their everyday activities, and could one day lead to medical breakthroughs, ideas for new kinds of materials or even artificial cells. 

This month, PSD community members have been featured for their work discovering the first-ever pockets of seawater preserved from the last Ice Age, recreating the mechanism of cell division outside the cell, and more. In case you missed it, review our news headlines from May 2019.

Dam T. Son, University Professor in the Department of Physics, and Michael Levin, Associate Professor in the Department of Physics, have been awarded a Simons Foundation grant as part of the newly established Simons Collaboration on Ultra-Quantum Matter.

The UChicago Alumni Association has awarded Karl Freed, Henry G. Gale Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus of Chemistry, theNorman Maclean Faculty Award for his research contributions, mentorship, and service as former Director of the James Franck Institute.

Assistant professor in the Department of Geophysical Sciences, Clara Blättler, led a study that recently announced the discovery of the first-ever pockets of seawater dating to the last Ice Age, about 20,000 years ago, tucked inside rock formations in the middle of the Indian Ocean.

Jonathan Rodriguez is June 2019's PSD spotlight for exemplifying the core value of holding ourselves accountable and honoring commitments.

Third-year undergraduate students, Keir Adams, Nikhil Pandit and Maritha Wang, have received the prestigious Barry Goldwater Scholarships, awarded annually based on academic merit in the natural sciences, mathematics and engineering.

Four distinguished scholars have been named recipients of honorary degrees this year.

Cheryl Sundari Dembe received her doctorate degree in Chemistry 48 years after leaving the university due to gender discrimination.

Northwestern University became the newest member of the Chicago Quantum Exchange, a growing intellectual hub for the research and development of quantum technology.

James Callahan’s hometown is Boston, Massachusetts. He completed a BA in chemistry and physics at Harvard University and then taught high school physics for two years on the North Shore of Boston. Most recently, he worked as a research and teaching assistant at Harvard. He’s now in his second year of pursuing a PhD at the University of Chicago in chemistry.

Emily Smith was born and raised in Kansas City, Kansas. She attended the University of Kansas and earned a BS in physics and computer science. She’s currently in her second year of pursuing a PhD in physics at the University of Chicago.