Dr. Anatoli Afanasjev is a Professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at Mississippi State University. He is interested in the studies of the properties of superheavy nuclei, where proton- and neutron-rich nuclei play an important role in astrophysical processes, the physical properties of atomic nuclei at normal and extreme conditions, and the response of nuclei to fast rotation.…

As an atomic molecular optical (AMO) physicist, Dr. Ariunbold's research primarily focuses on experimental and theoretical studies of collective behaviors of quantum particles. These results help better understand how to create and maintain a macroscopic quantum coherence in quantum materials under practical conditions. Additionally, his research involves development and applications of label-…

Dr. Benjamin Crider is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at Mississippi State University. His research focuses on experimentally studying the structure of atomic nuclei with large (or small) proton-to-neutron ratios. These so-called “exotic” nuclei often display many unexpected properties and exist for a short amount of time before decaying. Therefore,…

Dr. Lamiaa El Fassi is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at Mississippi State University. Her research focuses on 1. unraveling the dynamics of strongly interacting particles, hadrons, and their elementary constituents, quarks and gluons, via the study of the hadronization and fragmentation processes that probe the dynamics of quark propagation and hadron…

Dr. Nick Fitzkee is a professor in the Department of Chemistry whose research focuses on using a combination of physical chemistry, molecular biology, modeling, and NMR spectroscopy to understand the relationship between protein structure and function. Currently, our research is centered around three main projects: bacterial biofilms, protein-nanoparticle interactions, and structure and…

Dr. Donna Pierce is an associate professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at Mississippi State University. Her research concerns the physical and chemical properties of comets. She collaborates with observational astronomers to build interpretive models of the chemistry and structure of comet atmospheres that are in turn used to determine chemical and physical properties of…

Robert Swanson is an Instructor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at Mississippi State University. He writes and performs children’s music about weather and astronomy for school and library groups. In an effort to teach science in an innovative and interesting way, Bob combines his passions for both science and music. A self-trained musician who plays guitar, harmonica,…

Dr. Angelle Tanner is an associate professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at Mississippi State University. She has been interested in finding habitable planets outside our solar system since she was young. Her research is focused on multiple methods of extrasolar planet detection including using radial velocities, astrometry and direct imaging. She is also involved in…