Janet Seger, Professor and Chair of the Department of Physics in the College of Arts and Sciences at Creighton University was recently awarded the 2011 American Physics Society Award for Faculty Working with Undergraduate Researchers. This award is given annually to a physicist whose research in an undergraduate setting has achieved wide recognition and contributed significantly to physics and who has contributed substantially to the professional development of undergraduate physics students.

Anya Burkart (Physics and German double major) was one of two Creighton University students to receive a prestigious Goldwater Scholarship in 2010. For 2009-2010, 278 fellowships were awarded to sophomores and juniors selected from more than 1100 applications across the nation. Anya is actively involved in Biophysical Optics Research Group with Dr. Michael Nichols, developing light-force tools for single-cell biomechanical assays.

This year we had a great turn out with 15 teams fielded from Gross Catholic, Papillion, Abraham Lincoln, Mount Michael, St. Albert, Central Academy and Burke High School.  Teams competed in seven events: Death Star Laser Aiming, Boat Building, Chalk Talk (Space physics portrayed in film), Quiz Bowl, Circuit Building, and Toothpick Bridge Building (The complete program can be found here.

The Physics Department has the opportunity to assist in the planning and prototype testing for solar cell arrays on the Creighton campus. Any student who would be interested in becoming part of this effort should contact Dr. Cherney this week. A commitment of at least 5 hours per week would be required. In the process students can earn Independent Study (PHY 495) credit.