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COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS

students at a computer with professor

The Department of Physics harnesses theory, hands-on laboratory work, and cutting-edge research opportunities to teach Villanova students about the fundamental building blocks of the natural world.

Physics majors at Villanova learn about the world around them from the ground up, beginning with the fundamental forces and laws of nature. We reinforce the significance and implications of classroom concepts by engaging our students in faculty research—which encompasses magnetic, low-dimensional, and nanoscale materials, black holes, gravitational waves, and building instruments to study cosmology and star formation. By integrating theoretical principles, laboratory techniques, and computational methods, we train versatile, creative scholars for a broad array of careers in quantitative fields.

Department of Physics 
Villanova University
347 Mendel Science Center
800 E Lancaster Ave
Villanova, PA 19085

Department Chair:
David Chuss, PhD

Administrative Assistant:
Tori Cornelius and Jennifer Cooper

NEWS & EVENTS

UNIVERSITY MID-CAREER SCHOLAR AWARD

Villanova University’s University names Dr. Joey Neilsen as a Mid-Career Scholar Award recipient. This award recognizes associate-level faculty members who have between 6 and 15 years of service and who have made extraordinary contributions to the welfare and functioning of their departments, colleges, the University, and their profession. The honor celebrates a growing body of distinguished scholarship and creative achievement as well as excellence in research, scholarship, and contributions to profession.

UNIVERSITY SCHOLARLY ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Villanova University names Dr. Dave Chuss as a University Scholarly Achievement Award recipient. This is a prestigious faculty honor presented by to recognize exceptional published research, scholarship, and/or creative expression over the preceding three academic years. The purpose of this award is to honor faculty who have demonstrated the highest standards of excellence in their specific research and have significantly contributed to the Villanova community.

Goldwater Scholar, Khushi Vandra

Physics major, Khushi Vandra ’26, has been named a 2025 Goldwater Scholar by the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation. Vandra is among 1,350 nominated students nationwide for this prestigious award, which recognizes outstanding undergraduates pursuing research careers in STEM fields. As a Goldwater Scholar, she will receive a $7,500 scholarship to support her academic and research endeavors. Congratulations! MORE...

XRISM Collaboration Study

A global team of researchers, including our very own Joey Neilsen, PhD, using the new X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM) telescope, while observing a neutron star system called GX13+1 detected a slow cosmic wind. The cause of the wind could offer new insights into the fundamental physics of how matter accumulates, or “accretes,” in certain types of binary systems. The study, published in Nature on September 25, 2025, is open access and is available to all. MORE...

EDUCATION WITH IMPACT

 

AN EDUCATION IN THE LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES promotes intellectual curiosity and rigor; instills the fundamentals of critical insight, mature judgment and independent thinking; and strengthens students’ sense of their moral responsibility for others and for the betterment of society.