Madison Physics & Astronomy: Home

Home
About Us What's New? Visitor Information Giving to JMU Physics & Astronomy Contact Us
People
Research
Astronomy & Astrophysics Materials Science Nuclear Physics Soft-Condensed Matter
Courses
Students
Society of Physics Students Astronomy Club Student Awards Student Resources Job Opportunities
Program
Fundamental Studies Applied Option Individual Option 3/2 Program Physics Minor Astronomy Minor Materials Minor
Scholarships
Presidential Madison J. Robert Gordon Walter & Martha Curt Raymond & Elizabeth Serway Henry W. Leap Physics Alumni/Faculty
Events
Seminar Graduation Picnic Honors Banquet Research Symposium
Outreach
Video Contest Saturday Morning Physics John C. Wells Planetarium The JMU Meteorite Collection Star Parties Robotics Materials & Nanotechnology Children's Museum Physics is Phun!
Links
Department Calendar Our Mission Department Policies & Procedures Course Schedule Student Handbook Transfer Credit

The Department of Physics & Astronomy at our site within the College of Science & Mathematics is an undergraduate-only department with about twenty faculty members and over one hundred and ten majors. James Madison University is a state funded comprehensive university that consistently ranks near the top of its classification in many nationally published rankings. Our vision is to strive to be a leading undergraduate physics and astronomy department by building a research-active, student-centered community.

The Department of Physics and Astronomy offers both major and minor programs in Physics and a minor in Astronomy for students interested in a challenging program in pure and applied sciences. Several tracks exist within the major incuding materials science, computational physics, electronics, and applied nuclear physics which allow students preparing for a wide range of post-graduate options to pursue the curriculum best suited to their needs. The department also offers a 3/2 program in Engineering.

NEW! Job Posting: James Madison University invites applications for a non-tenure track faculty position beginning the 2012-2013 academic year in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the rank of Assistant Professor. We seek candidates with an earned PhD in astronomy or physics. The appointment is for two years and renewable by mutual consent. For details on applying for this position, visit the job application instructions.

NEW! Job Posting: James Madison University Department of Physics and Astronomy invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position in theoretical or computational physics. We seek candidates with an earned graduate degree and a minimum of two years of relevant experience. The position and will be filled at the rank of assistant professor starting in August of 2012. For details on applying for this position, visit the job application instructions.

NEW! Job Posting: James Madison University Department of Physics and Astronomy invites applications for Planetarium and Recruiting Director. We seek candidates with an earned graduate degree and a minimum of two years of relevant experience. This is a permanent, non-tenure track position and will be filled at the rank of instructor or assistant professor starting in January 2012. For details on applying for this position, visit the job application instructions.

What's New:

Welcome to the Department! The JMU Physics and Astronomy Department welcomes four additions to our faculty this Fall: Dr. Adriana Banu, Particle & Nuclear Physics, Dr. Costel Constantin, Material Science, Dr. Klebert Feitosa, Soft Condensed Matter, and Dr. Shanil Virani, Science Help Center. Dr. Banu comes to us from Texas A&M. Dr. Constantin was previously at Seton Hall. Dr. Feitosa comes to us from Penn and Dr. Virani was previously at Yale.
Department Seminar Seminar will resume this Fall.
Department Fall Picnic On Saturday September 11, the department held its annual Fall picnic at Purcell Park in Harrisonburg. The event was well attended as usual. Click on the title to see pictures from the event.
2009 - 2010 Honors Banquet On April 7th, the Department of Physics and Astronomy and the College of Science and Mathematics held their annual honors night and banquet. The department honored its oustanding senior and junior, presented its research, service, and teaching awards, handed out 4 scholarships, and inducted seven new members into the JMU chapter of Sigma Pi Sigma. The department also presented First, Second, and Third prizes for talks from its undergraduate research symposium.
Star Party The Department of Physics and Astronomy held a Star Party at the JMU Astronomy Park on Friday, April 2nd from 8:30 - 10:00 PM. About 120 people from JMU and the local community attended the event. Visitors were able to view Venus, Mars, and Saturn in the warm spring evening.
Bob Gordon: 50 Years of Service at JMU! On Thursday, April 22, Bob Gordon was honored by JMU administrators, faculty, and former students for his fifty years of service to the JMU community. Bob, who was born in eastern Rockingham county, received his masters degree in physics from the University of Virginia. He joined the then Madison college faculty in 1959. Bob served two stints as department head, "retiring" in 1999 but has continued to teach each semester since. Bob will return to JMU in the Fall 2010 to continue his teaching.
2010 Undergraduate Research Symposium Each Spring, the department of Physics & Astronomy holds its Undergraduate Research Symposium. Our students get to show off what they have been doing in the lab for the past year. The event was held this year on Saturday March 27 in the Montpellier Room in the East Dining Hall. The symposium featured 13 student talks and a keynote by Dr. James Roberto, Director of Strategic Capabilities at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Dr. Roberto also gave the Friday Departmental seminar. Dr. Roberto spoke about the search for new elements.

Visitor Information

James Madison University is located in Harrisonburg, Virginia in the middle of the Shenandoah Valley just off of I81. The Valley is served by the Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport in Weyers Cave just 15 minutes from campus. Alternative airports include Charlottesville Ablemarle Airport approximately a 1 hour drive from Harrisonburg and Dulles International Airport which is about a 2 hour drive away. For local hotels, motels, and restaurants check here. Driving to campus?

From I81 Take exit 245 for Port Republic Rd toward VA-253 (This is a right off the exit if on I81S and a left off of the exit if travelling on I81N
Go along VA-253 W/Port Republic Rd to the first stop light just past the exit and take a right onto Bluestone Drive.
Follow along Bluestone Drive for approximately 0.5 miles until reaching Carrier Drive. Turn right onto Carrier Drive.
Follow Carrier Drive along for approximately 0.5 miles. The Physics & Chemistry Building will be on the right side. The main Physics & Astronomy Office is on the 2nd floor in room 2186.

Giving to JMU Physics & Astronomy

The Department of Physics & Astronomy relies on donations from our friends to carry out several important functions within the department and to support our strong scholarship program for our students. There are several ways to put your dollars to work within the department which greatly benefit our students. Any donation, no matter how small or large, is greatly appreciated. For more information on how to support the Physics & Astronomy department click here.

Madison Physics & Astronomy

What's New:

Visitor Information

Giving to JMU Physics & Astronomy

Contact Us