College of Sciences
Department of Physics Fiscal Year 2025-2026
Message from Leadership
Dear Donor, The Department of Physics continues to grow through the hard work and dedication of our students, faculty, and staff, and we are grateful for the continued support of our alumni and donors. This past year has been especially encouraging as we have seen strong student engagement in research, education, and professional development across many areas of physics. Our students presented senior research projects, participated in conferences, and worked closely with faculty mentors on research in astrophysics, medical physics, condensed matter physics, computational physics, and physics education. Faculty members remained active in research, publications, grant activity, and innovations in teaching while continuing to provide students with meaningful hands-on learning opportunities. Looking ahead, we expect continued growth in undergraduate research, interdisciplinary collaborations, and AI-based tools in physics education and research. Thank you for your continued investment in our students, faculty, and programs.
Fridolin Weber, M.S., Ph.D. Chair and Professor of Physics, College of Sciences
Philanthropy
Propelling the SDSU Community Forward Lowell Burnett, Ph.D. Endowed Award The Department of Physics received generous support for the Lowell Burnett, Ph.D. Endowed Award, which assists students pursuing degrees in physics in the College of Sciences. Funding may be used for tuition, laboratory fees, and research expenses, helping students access the resources and experiences that enhance their academic and scientific training. Mesa Rim Scholarship in Physics and Mathematics The College of Sciences received additional support for the Mesa Rim Scholarship in Physics and Mathematics, which provides scholarship assistance to students with financial need pursuing degrees in physics and mathematics. The fund expands access to higher education and supports students as they pursue rigorous studies in quantitative and scientific disciplines.
Physics students engage in collaborative, datadriven research that transforms classroom learning into real-world scientific discovery.
A physics student explores electrostatic phenomena during a hands-on classroom demonstration.
Student Spotlight
Thriving in the Aztec Experience Vincent Juliano, Class of 2026 Class Level: Undergraduate Student College: College of Sciences Major: Physics Both as an experimentalist and as a student, my experience in San Diego State University’s Department of Physics has been monumental to my development. The environment created by the faculty and support staff in the College of Sciences has uplifted me toward my ambitions at every step and provided me with opportunities at every milestone. It is evident through the faculty’s engagement how deeply they want students to succeed. I have never felt anything but nurtured and supported, whether in classes, research, or future applications. My time in the College of Sciences has been both indispensable and irreplaceable to my success as a scientist, and its impact will accompany me indefinitely as I pursue a career in physical science.
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My time in the College of Sciences has been both indispensable and irreplaceable to my success as a scientist, and its impact will accompany me indefinitely as I pursue a career in physical science.
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Student Spotlight
Nate Webb, Class of 2026 Class Level: Undergraduate Student College: College of Sciences Major: Physics & Computer Science My experiences throughout the five years I spent in the College of Sciences were phenomenal! I made incredible connections through classes, clubs, research, and SDSU-sponsored events. Access to high-quality research facilities and brilliant faculty members provided a rich learning environment that set me up for future success. My time in the Behura Research Group and the Society of Physics Students offered significant opportunities to create and communicate novel science. I received several scholarships from these organizations, which enabled me to travel to conferences and share my findings. Furthermore, these events led to a number of personal and professional connections, an internship, and an eventual postgraduation job offer. These opportunities enabled me to accomplish a major life goal of mine: a fully funded Ph.D. in materials science and engineering at Boston University. Without a doubt, enrolling in the College of Sciences made a serious impact on my life and prepared me to enter my next chapter.
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Without a doubt, enrolling in the College of Sciences made a serious impact on my life and prepared me to enter my next chapter.
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Student Spotlight
Christopher Patino, Class of 2026 Class Level: Graduate Student College: College of Sciences Major: Physics The Department of Physics has been proactive in providing my cohort with impactful experiences that support our development as emerging scientists. The graduate electives offered by our department set us apart by providing a deep technical background and handson skills in a wide range of industry-relevant, cutting-edge fields, such as quantum computing, nuclear physics, nonlinear optics, condensed matter physics, and general relativity. With support from donors, the Department of Physics and the campus have also provided travel funding over the past two years to send physics students to the American Physical Society (APS) Global Summit. As the largest physics conference in the world, the APS Global Summit offers a highly formative experience. Students can present their research on an international scale, learn about advances across all fields of physics, and network with students and researchers. I have received valuable feedback on my research, made connections with professors at institutions I am interested in attending, and gained insight through presentations. I would not have had this opportunity without donor support and the Department of Physics' commitment to student success.
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The Physics Department has been proactive in providing my cohort with impactful experiences that support our development as emerging scientists.
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Points of Pride
Celebrating Shared Success Current Rankings Ranked #9 among physics programs in California Ranked #76 nationally among the Best Physics Schools Recent Highlights During the 2025-2026 academic year, the Department of Physics awarded 14 bachelor’s degrees in physics and continued to support students in the M.S. Physics and Medical Physics graduate programs, as well as students pursuing physics teaching credential pathways. Faculty published more than 30 peer-reviewed research articles and delivered invited conference presentations. Recent programmatic efforts included improvements in laboratory instruction, expanded use of computational and AI-supported teaching tools, and increased student support in introductory physics courses. Beginning in Fall 2026, the department will offer a new Certificate in Artificial Intelligence and Computational Modeling for Physics, designed to provide training in computational methods, data analysis, and AI applications relevant to physics and related scientific fields. In April 2026, the department hosted SDSU Quantum Day 2026, bringing together researchers and industry representatives from SDSU, UC San Diego, IBM Quantum, NIWC Pacific, HORIBA Scientific, and partner institutions to discuss advances in quantum science and workforce development.
Physics Rankings
No. 9 among California physics programs and No. 76 nationally among Best Physics Schools.
Fall 2026
The department will offer a new certificate in artificial intelligence and computational modeling for physics.
Faculty and Staff Achievements
Fridolin Weber, M.S., Ph.D. Title: Professor, Physics Department Chair College: College of Sciences Achievement: Contributed to 19 peer-reviewed publications in theoretical astrophysics, general relativity, and nuclear physics. Dr. Fridolin Weber's research focused on neutron stars, compact objects, dark matter, modified gravity, quantum gravity, dense matter, and quantum field theory, while continuing longstanding collaborations with researchers in the U.S., Europe, South America, and Asia. Through this work, as well as his teaching, mentorship, and academic leadership, he continues to play a central role in the Department of Physics. In addition to his research program, Dr. Weber remains deeply committed to student mentorship. He continues to supervise graduate and undergraduate students in theoretical and computational physics, helping them develop research skills and pursue graduate study and scientific careers. Many of his students have presented research at conferences and participated in collaborative projects connected to national and international research efforts. As chair of the department, Dr. Weber has also supported initiatives that strengthen physics education and expand student opportunities. Recent efforts include support for undergraduate research activities, student presentations, industry engagement events, and development of the new Certificate in Artificial Intelligence and Computational Modeling for Physics, beginning in Fall 2026.
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Through [his] work, as well as his teaching, mentorship, and academic leadership, he continues to play a central role in the Department of Physics.
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Faculty and Staff Achievements
Sanjay Behura, Ph.D. Title: Associate Professor College: College of Sciences Achievement: Named a Scialog Fellow in Quantum Matter and Information by the Research Corporation for Science Advancement. Dr. Sanjay Behura leads a research program in experimental condensed matter physics focused on the photophysics of quantum materials. His work explores light–matter interactions in two-dimensional materials and van der Waals heterostructures to advance technologies for quantum information science. Dr. Behura directs the SDSU Photophysics of Quantum Materials Lab, where research combines quantum materials synthesis, quantum device fabrication, and advanced optical characterization. The lab’s work spans solid-state quantum emitters, moiré excitonics, and quantum sensing, emphasizing connections between fundamental discoveries and emerging quantum technologies. His research is supported by the National Science Foundation, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, the Air Force Research Laboratory, and the Shackelford Faculty Research Startup Fund. Dr. Behura’s group has contributed to advances in twodimensional materials synthesis, surface-junction photovoltaics, and solid-state quantum photonics, resulting in 54 peer-reviewed publications, five patents or patent applications, and 47 invited talks. He is also committed to mentoring postdoctoral researchers, graduate students, and undergraduates in quantum science and engineering. In recognition of his contributions to research and education, Dr. Behura received the Thomas B. Day Outstanding Faculty Award for Excellence in Physics in 2025 and Outstanding Faculty Awards in Physics in 2024 and 2026. He was also named a Scialog Fellow in Quantum Matter and Information for 2025-2027 by the Research Corporation for Science Advancement.
Faculty and Staff Achievements
Calvin Johnson, Ph.D Title: Professor and Graduate Advisor College: College of Sciences Achievement: In 2025, Dr. Calvin Johnson was director of the Executive Board of the Theory Alliance for the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, a $750 million particle accelerator based at Michigan State University. Dr. Johnson is also an editor at Physical Review C. This fall, he is organizing a workshop on clustering in nuclei at the University of Saclay near Paris, France. He shared the following: My research group, which includes undergraduates, master’s and Ph.D. students, and a postdoctoral researcher, focuses on quantum many-body systems, mostly atomic nuclei, and their interactions with photons, neutrinos, dark matter, and other particles. Working in collaboration with national labs and colleagues from the U.S. and around the world, we run calculations on large supercomputers at national labs, develop algorithms for quantum computers, and use math to create new approaches. As an example of the latter, we published a novel theory of the quantum scattering of particles in Physical Review C in 2026. We deduce the distant behavior of scattered particles through an integral over the interior, reducing errors from approximations. The method uses compact basis functions, making it accessible to leading quantum many-body methods, a long-sought-after goal. This fall, I will take a long-postponed sabbatical, carrying out research projects with colleagues in France, Japan, and South Korea. Until a couple of years ago, I taught an honors course on science and science fiction; more recently, I published a quirky novel, A Life Full of Quarks, which received a starred Kirkus Reviews review as well as several minor awards.
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This fall, I will take a long-postponed sabbatical, carrying out research projects with colleagues in France, Japan, and South Korea.
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Thank you for your generous support.
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