LAS Faculty Research Symposium – From Atoms to Astronomy
How materials impact the ways we understand matter over 25 length scales
February 26, 2025
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Location
Student Center East (SCE) Illinois Rooms
Address
750 S. Halsted St., Chicago, IL 60607
Calendar
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RSVP is closed; walk-ins welcome! If you have questions about this event or need the livestream link, email lasevents@uic.edu.
The Research Symposium "From Atoms to Astronomy," hosted by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), celebrates the breadth and depth of Physics research spanning from the most fundamental building blocks of matter to the vast scales of the cosmos. This day-long event will feature examples of cutting-edge studies across condensed matter physics, bio-physics, particle/nuclear physics, and cosmology. From the quantum mechanical behaviors of atomic systems and nanoscale materials to experimental and theoretical explorations of high-energy particles, the symposium will highlight how insights into the microcosm inform our understanding of the macrocosm.
Distinguished symposium speakers will present on topics including next-generation materials for quantum computing, advances in controlling biological systems for diagnostics and therapeutic applications, and groundbreaking studies of dark matter and the dynamic evolution of galaxies. The symposium will also explore the intersections of computational physics, data science, and advanced instrumentation. By fostering dialogue with experts from diverse yet interconnected fields, this Research Symposium, "From Atoms to Astronomy," will celebrate the scholarship of the UIC Community while igniting excitement for research and education in the physical sciences.
Program
(subject to change without notice)
View the program and speaker biographies.
9:00–9:05 Welcome from Lisa A. Freeman, Dean of LAS
Session 1 – 9:05 am-9:50 am – Frontiers in Nano- and Quantum Materials (Session Chair: Robert Klie)
9:05-9:35 Plenary 1: Johnpierre Paglione (University of Maryland) “Exotic Superconducting Phases in Quantum Materials”
9:35-9:50 UIC Research Highlight 1: Dirk Morr, “Quantum Computing at the Atomic Level”
9:50–10:20 Coffee Break
Session 2 – 10:20 am – 11:50 pm – Probing and Exploiting the Nature of Bio-Materials (Session Chair: Jan Spille)
10:20-11:05 Keynote 1: Chad Mirkin (Northwestern) “Exploring the ‘Matterverse’ Through Nanomaterial MegaLibraries and AI”
11:05-11:35 Plenary 2: Nikta Fakhri (MIT) “Broken symmetries in living matter”
11:35-11:50 UIC Research Highlight 2: Huan-Xiang Zhou, “Molecular determinants for the material properties of biomolecular condensates”
Lunch and Poster Session – 11:50 p.m.-1:45 p.m.
Session 3 – 1:45 pm-3:00 pm – Materials for Discovery (Session Chair: Cecilia Gerber)
1:45-2:15 UIC Research Highlight 3: James Unwin, “Searching for the Building Blocks of the Universe”
2:15-2:45 Plenary 3: Rouven Essig (Stonybrook University) “The Direct Detection of Sub-GeV Dark Matter”
2:45-3:00 Plenary 4: Edward “Rocky” W. Kolb (University of Chicago) “The Quantum and the Cosmos”
3:00-3:30 Coffee Break
Session 4 – 3:30 pm -5:00 pm – Materials for the Energy Frontier (Session Chair: Russell Hemley)
3:30-3:45 UIC Research Highlight 4: Corrinne Mills, “Smarter, stronger silicon: Robust tracking for next-generation particle detectors”
3:45-4:15 Plenary 6: Omar Hurricane (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory) “Fusion Ignition: The venture and Gain”
4:15-5:00 Keynote 2: Anna Grassellino (Fermilab National Accelerator Laboratory) “Quantum Science and Technology Advances at the SQMS Center”
Reception – 5:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. (East Terrace)
Date posted
Oct 8, 2024
Date updated
Feb 25, 2025