Physics Research

Research areas

Astrophysics and Cosmology
This group conducts cutting-edge research into the nature of the universe, including dark energy, large-scale structure, galaxy clusters, black holes across all mass scale and neutron stars, dark matter searches, and MeV gamma-ray observations.
Experimental Biological Physics
The experimental biological physics group develops and applies experimental techniques to study biological entities at various scales from biomolecules to cells to organisms.
Experimental Condensed Matter Physics
Faculty in the experimental condensed matter physics group are the forefront of research in nanophysics and novel materials
Experimental Particle Physics
This group works on the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN. They study precision measurements of Standard Model processes and search for signatures of new physics, such as leptoquarks, dark matter candidates, and exotic production and decays of Higgs bosons.
Network Science
The Network Science group seek to discover and inspire fundamentally new ways to measure, model, predict, and visualize meaningful interactions and interconnectivity of social, physical, and technological systems.
Theoretical Biological Physics
In this group, members apply theoretical and computational tools of statistical and nonlinear physics to understand fundamental aspects of the behavior of living systems across molecular to organ scales in health and diseases.
Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics
Faculty apply theoretical and computational tools to study the quantum properties of condensed matter (solid state) systems. A major focus within the group is understanding novel and unusual phases of matter, as well as non-equilibrium aspects of materials.
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Theoretical High Energy Physics
Faculty in the theoretical high energy physics group apply techniques from Mathematics and AI to study particle physics, cosmology, and string theory, often with overlap between the subjects.

In the news

Research

Quantum computing research earns professor prestigious Cottrell Scholar Award
Yizhi You, an assistant physics professor, was named a Cottrell Scholar, which is bestowed on promising early-career academics studying chemistry, physics or astronomy.
Research

The pandemic is over but health threats remain. How network scientists are making epidemic modeling more accessible
Professor Alessandro Vespignani reveals new data on how Americans move and mingle post-COVID.
News

What is an exoplanet? An astrophysicist explains why they are vital for finding alien life
The discovery of a more Earth-like planet beyond our solar system reveals how these objects can help us “understand where we came from and whether we’re also alone,” astrophysicist Jonathan Blazek said.
Research

Soccer passing is harder, shorter and sharper across pro leagues, new research finds
Assistant teaching professors Brennan Klein’s new research group, NetSi Sport, released research analyzing how professional soccer gameplay has evolved over the last five years.
Research

These researchers flew a particle detector above Antarctica, hoping to find evidence of mysterious matter
Assistant Professor Tsuguo Aramaki has spent 20 years developing a weather balloon-borne particle detector to record indirect traces of dark matter. It recently launched in Antarctica.
Research

A ‘stunning’ new map of dark matter reveals insights into this mystery of the universe
Using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, researchers including Professor Jacqueline McCleary, created the highest-resolution map yet of dark matter, the virtually invisible material that makes up about 80% of the universe’s matter.
Research

What is dark energy? Scientists shine new light on outer space’s biggest, invisible question
The final results from the six-year Dark Energy Survey show there are still more questions than answers but will impact astrophysics for decades, Northeastern’s Jonathan Blazek said.
Research

European Physical Society honors professor’s groundbreaking contributions to the physics of complex networks
Northeastern professor Alessandro Vespignani earns the European Physical Society’s top award for helping to lay the foundation for physics models of contagion.
Research

In treating soccer like a language, these researchers can predict the next word
Brennan Klein, with the NetSI Sport research group, uses network science to treat sports and games like conversations.

Research areas

This group conducts cutting-edge research into the nature of the universe, including dark energy, large-scale structure, galaxy clusters, black holes across all mass scale and neutron stars, dark matter searches, and MeV gamma-ray observations.

The experimental biological physics group develops and applies experimental techniques to study biological entities at various scales from biomolecules to cells to organisms.

Faculty in the experimental condensed matter physics group are the forefront of research in nanophysics and novel materials

The Network Science group seek to discover and inspire fundamentally new ways to measure, model, predict, and visualize meaningful interactions and interconnectivity of social, physical, and technological systems.

In this group, members apply theoretical and computational tools of statistical and nonlinear physics to understand fundamental aspects of the behavior of living systems across molecular to organ scales in health and diseases.

Faculty apply theoretical and computational tools to study the quantum properties of condensed matter (solid state) systems. A major focus within the group is understanding novel and unusual phases of matter, as well as non-equilibrium aspects of materials.

Faculty in the theoretical high energy physics group apply techniques from Mathematics and AI to study particle physics, cosmology, and string theory, often with overlap between the subjects.

In the news