Department of Physics & Astronomy
Alumni testimonials
Physics & Astronomy alumni hold positions as teachers, engineers, data analysts, project managers, researchers, health care workers, science writers, policy makers and lawyers, and many more. We interviewed some of our graduates about their professional paths and the role their physics or astronomy degree from our department played in shaping their current career.
Degree Programs
Undergraduate Program
An undergraduate education in physics provides a solid foundation for a lifetime of learning in a variety of disciplines, including science, engineering, math, finance, education, law, and medicine. Find out more
Optics Program
Established in 1983, the Optics Program at the University of New Mexico is one of the oldest and most successful science and engineering interdisciplinary programs with a strong international reputation in education and research.
OSE graduate students conduct research at facilities in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and at UNM’s Center for High-Technology Materials.
There are numerous collaborations with the three National Laboratories in New Mexico - Sandia, Los Alamos, and the Air Force Research Laboratory, and with members of the optics industry cluster (New Mexico Optics Industry Association – NMOIA).
Upcoming Events
Precision Event Shape Analysis for DIS at HERA and EIC
June-Haak Ee (LANL)
Nuclear, Particle, Astroparticle and Cosmology (NUPAC) Seminars
Sep. 2, 2:00 PM
PAIS 3205
An Exploration of Exoplanet Architectures Through The Lens of Stellar Obliquities
Alex Polanski (Lowell)
CART Astrophysics Seminar Series
Sep. 4, 2:00 PM
PAIS 3205
Planetary habitability in the solar system and beyond
Stephen Kane (University of California, Riverside)
Physics and Astronomy Colloquium
Sep. 5, 3:30 PM
- Sep. 5, 4:30 PM
PAIS 1100
SPLENDOR: a novel detector platform to search for light dark matter with narrow-gap semiconductors
Daniele Alves (LANL)
Nuclear, Particle, Astroparticle and Cosmology (NUPAC) Seminars
Sep. 9, 2:00 PM
PAIS 3205
TBD
Physics and Astronomy Colloquium
Sep. 12, 3:30 PM
- Sep. 12, 4:30 PM
PAIS 1100
Recent News
QNM-I celebrates quantum venture studio investment and Quantum Week in New Mexico
August 29, 2025UNM Physics and Astronomy celebrates hat trick of NSF CAREER awards
August 21, 2025Quantum Photonics & Technology program continues momentum into second year
August 20, 2025Tonmoy Chakraborty receives NSF CAREER Award
August 1, 2025Interview with Emeritus Professor John Panitz
July 17, 2025
