Loyola Physics Newsletter
August 24th, 2026
Welcome to the new year! I hope everyone had a wonderful summer. We are planning some great events this semester, so please be sure to use our newsletter as a resource. We have some big changes in the Department starting this fall. Dr. Brian Cannon is the new Department Chair, and Dr. Walter Tangarife (wtangarife@luc.edu) is the new Undergraduate Program Director. We would like to give a big applause to Dr. Constantin Rasinariu as thanks for his leadership. Dr. Rasinariu is on a research sabbatical this semester. So, please feel free to reach out to Dr. Cannon and Dr. Tangarife. Also, all of our faculty here are a resource for you, so please reach out to any of us. In just announced science news, researchers have discovered the first galaxy with three! black holes. Check out the link at the bottom.
Department Events and Opportunities
- Registration is open for our department's student peer-mentoring program, a support system among physics students. In this program, each mentee (freshman or sophomore) will be paired with a mentor from the last two years in the physics programs. If you would like to be a mentee, please fill out this form: . If you would like to be a mentor, please fill out this form: .
- First Department seminar will feature Dr. Ian Mondragon from UIC talking about quantum information systems on Thursday, September 10th at 2:30 PM in Cudahy 200. There will be snacks.
- The Department BBQ will be on Friday, September 18th at 4 PM on the Cudahy third floor. All students, faculty and staff are invited.
- You can join our and through to meet up with students and keep up on their events
Loyola Opportunities
- Spend a semester in Washington, DC, intern and take Loyola classes. Explore career ideas and work on issues you care about. Attend protests and briefings. Visit monuments and memorials. Gain experience in communications, politics, advocacy, government relations, media, outreach, or research. Internships range from Capitol Hill to nonprofits, think tanks, media organizations, advocacy groups, consulting firms, and more. Open to all Juniors and Seniors. Spring 2027 applications are due September 15. Zoom Info session: Monday, August 31 at 7 pm: sign up (). On-Campus Info Session: Tuesday, September 15 at 5 pm in Cuneo 212.
External Opportunities
- Cosmic Pathways Chicago is taking place on October 17, 2026 at Lewis University in Romeoville, IL. This conference will also serve as the Society for Physics Students (SPS) Zone 9 Annual Meeting, spotlighting the world of physics, this conference offers a great day of activities, networking, and career development. Event details, registration forms, and abstract submission links can be found at the official website:
- St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital invites you to attend the on Tuesday, September 22, from 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM CDT. This free, online event is open to students who are interested in learning more about the unique opportunities available at St. Jude. Attendees will have the chance to connect directly with recruiters, program leadership, faculty members, postdoctoral fellows, and staff to explore PhD and Master’s degree programs and summer internship opportunities.
- The is open for applications. American students are invited to take up a research internship in Canada between May and October 2027. Senior undergraduates are encouraged to apply. Applications will be accepted until September 16, 2026. The internship is a fantastic opportunity for U.S. students to work with outstanding faculty and researchers at Canadian host universities and conduct hands-on research in their field of study!
Interesting Science News
- Researchers have discovered three black holes in one galaxy for the first time.