Physics and Astronomy

A photo of Grace Murray Hopper from the Vassarion. Hopper has dark hair and is dressed in formal attire, wearing a pearl necklace and facing the camera.

CelebratingGrace Murray Hopper ’1928

Grace Hopper is often credited for creating modern computing. In many ways, Vassar helped to create Grace Hopper. Read more about Hopper’s life and work.

The Physics and Astronomy Department at Vassar College offers students an engaging learning environment consisting of a rigorous program of study augmented by a diverse research agenda.

The department faculty are dedicated to continuously using and exploring innovative and effective teaching strategies, and to developing a strong research program aimed at providing ample opportunity for undergraduate students to have a hands-on experience. Physics and astronomy majors are prepared for graduate studies in not only physics and astronomy, but also engineering, education, and medicine. The faculty is also committed to teaching courses that promote scientific literacy for students who do not choose to major in the sciences.

News

Colette Salyk, Associate Professor of Astronomy and Chair of Physics and Astronomy on the Marisa Mitchell Chair at Vassar College poses in the library.

Colette Salyk Secures Grant from Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI)

Colette Salyk, Associate Professor of Astronomy and Chair of Physics and Astronomy on the Maria Mitchell Chair, has secured a Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) grant award in collaboration with her colleague from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in support of a research program titled "Building on ALMA: a James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) legacy survey of the chemical evolution of planet-forming disks."

Vassar Prof on NASA Team That Makes Discovery on How Planets Are Formed

A Vassar astronomy professor is part of a team of scientists that has made a breakthrough discovery revealing how planets are formed.

Colette Salyk, Associate Professor of Astronomy, was quoted in Newsweek about the work she and other scientists have done with the James Webb Space Telescope to understand planet creation.

Ed Buie II Secures Grant Award from the Space Telescope Science Institute

Ed Buie II, Assistant Professor of Astronomy, received a grant award from the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in support of the program titled "A Systematic Search for Wind-CGM Interactions in Star-forming Galaxies.”

Ed Buie II secures ACCESS research grant

Ed Buie II, Assistant Professor of Astronomy, secured an ACCESS research grant for supercomputing time on the Anvil Supercomputer at Purdue University for his project in “Exploring the Impact of Varying Star-Forming Backgrounds and Turbulent Conditions on Non-Equilibrium Chemistry in Simulated Galactic Halos.”