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College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Physics and Astronomy


Retirement of Professor Frederick Walter

Professor Frederick Walter has retired after 37 years as a Professor of Astronomy at Stony Brook University. Prof. Walter is an observational/stellar astronomer.  He found the closest known neutron star to the Earth, and measured its 165 light-year distance, a discovery astronomers will forever associate with Stony Brook. He also started a course in science fiction which he has taught for 20 years.

Professor Walter Retirement Party

Professor Walter is a past president of the Stony Brook University Senate, and has been a statewide SUNY Senator. He is a former Vice President for Academics for the UUP Stony Brook West Chapter. He represents Stony Brook in the Associated Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA), where he was formerly a member of the Board of Directors, and is the Stony Brook representative to the Astronomical Society of New York (ASNY).

We thank Professor Walter for his service to the department and wish him well in his retirement!

Undergraduate Research Day and the 4th Annual Undergraduate Colloquium

Undergraduate research is an important part of undergraduate education and plays an increasingly important role in developing future pioneering researchers, graduate school admission and even non-academic employment. On April 7, we celebrated the research done by our own undergrads.

Undergraduate Research Day

A team of judges at our Undergraduate Research Day chose students to present at this year's Undergraduate Colloquium. These students were also presented with the Barry Barish Undergraduate Research Travel Award. The awardees and their presentation topics are listed below:

  • Zachary Cheslog (Advisor: Neelima Sehgal) - Current and Future Constraints on the Primordial Power Spectrum
  • Rose Hoffren (Advisor: Michael Zingale) - Double-detonation of oxygen-neon white dwarfs
  • Rojae Mighty (Advisors: Zhoudunming Tu, Arjun Kumar, Abhay Deshponde) - Geometric Scaling and Gluon Saturation at EIC
  • Maria Sazonova (Advisor: Jesus Prez Rios) - Buffer gas cooling of charged fullerenes

Barry Barish Undergraduate Research Travel Award recipients

In Memoriam, Pat Peiliker

Our dear friend and former colleague Pat Peiliker passed away last Tuesday, April 7.

For almost 40 years she was the valuable friend and trusted confidante to every single graduate student.  She enabled over 1000 Ph.D. completions during her career as Assistant to the Graduate Program Director, until her retirement in 2010.

Photo of Pat Peiliker with Elaine Larsen, from summer 2010

Photo with Elaine Larsen, Summer 2010.

Department News Archive

Physics and Astronomy in the News

SUNY Honors Department Members

We are proud to share that two of our faculty members have been recently honored with SUNY Chancellor's Awards. Congratulations to Prof. Alan Calder and Prof. Dominik Schneble!

2026 Department Photo

The 2026 department photo, in a new formation!

Prof. Eden Figueroa to Lead New SBU Quantum Institute

Led by Endowed Presidential Professor of Physics Eden Figueroa, the Quantum Institute will catalyze and accelerate an investment of $300M from NY State.Learn More(Prof. Eden Figueroa to Lead New SBU Quantum Institute)

Historic $12 Million Gift Propels Yang Institute into the Future

The C.N. Yang Institute for Theoretical Physics (YITP) has received a historic $12 million endowment gift from alumnus Jack Yongfeng Zhang, PhD ’87, and his wife, Mary Zi-Ping Luo, PhD. This commitment ensures the Institute's long-term strength and distinction.Learn More(Historic $12 Million Gift Propels Yang Institute into the Future)

Prof. Simon Birrer Receives Prestigious DOE Early Career Award

Prof. Simon Birrer has won a prestigious DOE Early Career Award! His winning proposal was to study the expansion history of the Universe with the newly commissioned NSF-DoE Vera C. Rubin Observatory.Learn More(Prof. Simon Birrer Receives Prestigious DOE Early Career Award)

2025 Season's Greetings

We collectively had an exceptionally productive year in 2025. We got together in person, shared our lives, and created new stories and memorable moments. We wish you all happy and restful holidays, and wish you the very best in 2026!

Physics and Astronomy in the News Archive