My Journey as a Physicist

Mar 14 2024

My Journey as a Physicist Podcast artwork

What is life as a physicist is like? It is a little bit different for everyone. On each episode, a different physicist discusses their research, what got them interested in physics, obstacles they overcame, and what a typical day as a physicist looks like. They also provide tips and suggestions for students who may be interested in studying physics and becoming physicists. Physicists are people with lives outside of the lab too! Guests share about their interests and hobbies outside of research. Be sure to listen if you are interested in becoming a physicist too!

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Dr. Allena Opper (she/her): Season 3 Episode 13

Mar 14 2024 24 mins

Dr. Allena Opper (she/her)National Science FoundationI am a nuclear physicist and have done experiments at laboratories across north America. I’ve been a professor at Ohio University and George Washington University. Since 2014 I have had the honor and privilege of serving as a program director of the National Science Foundation’s Nuclear Physics Program. During the pandemic I

Prof. Haiyan Gao (she/her): Season 3 Episode 12

Nov 15 2023 40 mins

I am a Chinese-American physicist, and I love gardening, cooking, walking and music. I have joint appointments between Brookhaven National Lab and Duke University. I am an experimentalist, who uses electrons and photons as microscopes to look deeper and deeper inside protons and neutrons, which are the building blocks of atomic nuclei, to advance our understanding about the structu

Prof. Abhay Deshpande (he/him): Season 3 Episode 11

Sep 15 2023 49 mins

I am an experimentalist working the field of nuclear and particle physics. I am a SUNY Distinguished Professor at Stony Brook University. I also serve as the Electron Ion Collier (EIC) Science Director at BNL and Director of the Center for Frontiers in Nuclear Science (CFNS). I like to use “spin” as a tool to investigate and understand nature — thus I always use polarized bea

Prof. Filomena Nunes (she/her): Season3 Episode 10

May 17 2023 34 mins

I am a theoretical physicist at Michigan Sate University working on nuclear science. I am a mother. I really enjoy interacting with people and nature. My research is on the theory for nuclear reactions, particularly those involving rare isotopes. I have an inquisitive mind, and research give me the tools for find answers. The long range plan is a mechanism for the research communi

Prof & Chair of Physics, Shelly Lesher (she/her): Season 3 Episode 9

Apr 12 2023 42 mins

I am an experimental nuclear physicist at the University of Wisconsin La Crosse, and I also love traveling and playing fetch with my dog. I work on the vibrations (structure) of rare-earth nuclei. The other area is on the intersection of nuclear science and society. Analysis is a big puzzle to solve, which I love. The nuclear community is a very welcoming and supportive community

Prof./Dr. Ramona Vogt (she/her): Season 3 Episode 8

Feb 14 2023 40 mins

I am a nuclear physicist at LLNL and UC Davis, involved in APS leadership and I run far-ish. My research involves both heavy flavor production, mostly in cold nuclear matter, and the phenomenology of nuclear fission. I love the challenge of doing physics and the rush of understanding something new. I am on the Long Range Plan writing committee, the NSAC Nuclear Data subcommittee an

Prof. Lindley Winslow (she/her): Season 3 Episode 7

Feb 02 2023 40 mins

I am an experimental nuclear physicist at MIT. I like hiking and skiing on the weekends with my husband, three kids and our dog (the two cats usually stay home). My work centers on specialized experiments that make use of novel technology from quantum sensors to deep learning to push the bounds of what is measurable. The work is driven by big questions about the formation of our un

Prof. Vincenzo Cirigliano (he/his): Season 3 Episode 6

Jan 23 2023 32 mins

I'm a theoretical physicist at the Institute for Nuclear Theory at the University of Washington, and I also (try to) play guitar. I work on low-energy probes of physics beyond the Standard Model. I like to challenge the Standard Model and look for cracks in its fabric: at times it can be quite suspenseful, like a mystery novel. My Journey as a Physicist is brought to you by PhD stu

Prof. Grigory Rogachev (he/him): Season 3 Episode 5

Nov 29 2022 22 mins

I am a physicist at Texas A&M University focusing on experimental nuclear physics, and I also like playing tennis and golf, fishing and reading books. I use particle accelerators to study structure of atomic nuclei and nuclear reactions relevant for nucleosynthesis in stars. I love what I do because my experiments help advance general understanding of nuclei and origin of eleme

Prof. Rebecca Surman (she/her): Season 3 Episode 4

Nov 22 2022 22 mins

I am a theoretical nuclear astrophysicist at the University of Notre Dame interested in the formation of the elements. I am also the mother of one daughter and doting aunt to eleven nieces and nephews. My work combines the nuclear theory of heavy nuclei, experimental results from radioactive isotope experiments, and astrophysical observations to understand how the heaviest elements