Science Of Sports
How to sink the perfect putt
Physics professor Christine Helms explains how to use science to putt like a pro.
Upcoming Courses - Fall 2025
Award Winners!
Students, Paige Delsa and Eric Neuhaus, won outstanding undergraduate oral presentation and poster awards, respectively, at the American Physical Society (APS) Global Physics Summit 2025. This event is the largest physics research conference in the world. Approximately 14,000 researchers across all disciplines of physics attend, including over 900 undergraduate students. This year’s conference was held in Anaheim California. We are excited and proud of our fellow physics spiders for their impressive research and ability to communicate their work!
Physics Talk: Achievements in Gamma-Ray Astrophysics
Please join the Department of Physics as they host Marco Ajello, PhD.. Dr. Ajello is a Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Clemson University. His research is focused on current topics of high-energy astrophysics, cosmology, and astro-particle physics. He has interests in the evolution of super-massive black holes and galaxies, the generation of truly diffuse backgrounds (from infrared to gamma rays), high-energy transients and high-energy sources in general. The talk will be in Gottwald Center for the Sciences Room D209 on Wednesday, April 16, 2025 from 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
Deconstruction Night a Smashing Success
Physics students took time to relax eat, pizza, and tear into the inner workings of electronics equipment around them at the Society of Physics Students semi-annual deconstruction night. Students explored the TVs, computers, particle detectors, lasers, and more.
Eric Neuhaus, a senior Physics major, shared that his favorite part of Deconstruction Night “was seeing so many students, professors, and families come together to explore the inner workings of old electronics. It was exciting to see everyone engage hands-on with physics concepts in a fun and collaborative way. I am especially appreciative of how events like this spark curiosity and bring people closer to physics!"
UR Students Travel to Virginia Academy of Science Meeting
Seven students representing the University of Richmond physics department attended the annual meeting of the Virginia Academy of Sciences. The conference included research talks and posters presentations representing research taking place throughout the state of Virginia. Dr. Dias and Dr. Helms research groups attended and presented work at the meeting.
This regional meeting offers a great opportunity for students to present their research and receive feedback before presenting at a larger national conference. Such as American Physical Society or American Astronomical Society where Richmond student regularly present.
A list of recent conference presentations can be found here.
UR Physics Majors Present Research at AAS Conference
In January, University of Richmond students Christine Gyure, Mariona Giner Mascarell, and Vikhyat Agarwal participated in the 234th meeting of the American Astronomical Society (AAS) that was held in St. Louis, Missouri.
The AAS is the major organization of professional astronomers in North America. Its mission is to enhance and share humanity’s scientific understanding of the universe as a diverse and inclusive astronomical community. Students from Dr. Ted Bunn’s and Dr. Jack Singal’s research groups presented work.
Students regularly present work are regional and national conferences more information can be found here.
Science of Sports: How do you perform the perfect dive?
Christine Helms, associate professor of physics, unpacks the perfect dive using science as demonstrated by diver Sally Harrington, '26.
Science of Sports: How do you throw the perfect spiral?
In less than two minutes, you can learn how to throw the perfect spiral with associate professor of physics Christine Helms and quarterback Kyle Wickersham.
Physics Major Paige Delsa Finds Power in Physics & the Gym
In this behind-the-scenes video, physics major Paige Delsa, ’25, speaks to what she loves about her Richmond experience, emphasizing the liberal arts approach that enables her to explore and grow in all her interests.
Paige highlights her physics research saying, “I was really curious what I could do with experimental physics 'cause that wasn’t a space that I had really learned about before. I’ve been doing it for two years now [and] we’re in the process of writing a paper…. I’ve really enjoyed working with Dr. Dias in this lab on such a cool project.”
The Universe: All the Light We Cannot See
Professor Singal Presents at TEDx Event
In this Ted Talk, Dr. Jack Singal says the beauty of our universe is largely unobservable to the naked eye. To understand what is happening, we need to harness all the light we cannot see. Dr. Singal shows us how utilizing wavelengths from radio to gamma-rays will change how we see the universe.
The Science Of Sports
The perfect free throw shot
In the first in a video series on the Science of Sports, physics professor Christine Helms explains how to shoot a better free throw, featuring Spider basketball star Andre Gustavson.
RESEARCH & INNOVATION
More than meets the eye
UR physics professor Jack Singal explains what we’re seeing in stunning new images from the James Webb Space Telescope.
Faculty Highlights
Dias publishes on gold-silver alloys
Mariama Rebello de Sousa Dias, associate professor of physics, published "Anisotropic Optical Response of Gold-Silver Alloys" in Physica Status Solidi (RRL) - Rapid Research Letters.
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Helms Published
Christine Helms, associate professor of physics, published “Variability in individual native fibrin fibers mechanics” in Physical Biology.
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Lipan Published
Ovidiu Lipan, associate professor of physics, published "Optimizing bi-layered periodic structures: a closed-form transfer matrix method based on Pendry-MacKinnon’s discrete Maxwell’s equations" in the Journal of the Optical Society of America B.
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Bunn & Undergraduate Student Published
Ted Bunn, E. Claiborne Robins Distinguished Chair in the Liberal Arts and professor of physics, published “Cosmological inflation in N-dimensional Gaussian random fields with algorithmic data compression” with Conner Painter, ’21, in The Open Journal of Astrophysics.
View BioPhysics in the News
University News
University of Richmond seniors celebrate the past four years and look toward the future
This year’s Commencement ceremony offered the Class of 2025 a time to reflect and embrace change. Speakers emphasized the need to be present and resilient while leading lives of purpose.
Student Scholars
University of Richmond Graduate Camryn Carter Awarded Prestigious NSF Graduate Research Fellowship
Carter is a second-year chemistry Ph.D. student at MIT studying an enzyme involved in photosynthesis.
Student Experience
Richmond prepares future engineers for rigorous study
The University’s pre-engineering program provides students with a flexible pathway to obtain a dual bachelor’s degree in partnership with Columbia or a graduate degree from one of many universities.
University of Richmond Strengthens Commitment to Talented Students of All Financial Backgrounds by Joining QuestBridge
The University of Richmond has partnered with QuestBridge, a national nonprofit dedicated to providing accessible and affordable life-changing opportunities to the best and brightest students, regardless of their financial backgrounds.
Contact Information
Mailing address:
Department of Physics
Gottwald Center for the Sciences
138 UR Drive
University of Richmond, VA 23173
Phone: (804) 289-8252
Fax: (804) 484-1542
Academic Administrative Manager: Susan Wolski
Chair: Christine Helms