Physics and applied physics explore the universe we inhabit, from the infinitesimal to the infinite, from the quantum to the cosmic, by studying light, matter and energy.

Research: Merging Technology with Science

Research lies at the heart of our department, with expenditures totaling over $10 million annually.

Work alongside our world-class faculty in a diverse array of experimental, computational and theoretical research as you prepare for stimulating careers in academia, industry and government.

Explore All Physics Research

Two UMass Lowell physics students look at equipment in a classroom.

Join Our Physics Colloquia

Each month we bring speakers from across campus and across the country to talk about current topics in physics.

View our Spring 2025 schedule.

Meet Our Students

Nazeli Acosta, in medical garb and mask, tests a patient's temperature
Nazeli Acosta '20
Physics

Nazeli Acosta won a State Department Scholarship to study rural health care in the Dominican Republic.

Physics appeals to my intellectual curiosity and learning for the sake of learning.
Read More About Nazeli Acosta 
Rigel Cappallo env image
Rigel Cappallo ’13, ’16, ’19
Physics

Triple River Hawk Rigel Cappallo ’13, ’16, ’19 went from pianist to physicist.

I really loved the relationship that I had with the entire faculty and staff in the physics department.
Read More About Rigel Cappallo 
Francesca Kamwa on a spiral staircase in the nuclear reactor at UMass Lowell
Francesca Kamwa '22
Radiological Health Physics

Francesca Kamwa ’21 nearly dropped out when her father died. Thanks to support from UML faculty, she’s now applying to medical schools.

There have been a lot of ups and downs, but UMass Lowell has given me so many opportunities.
Read More About Francesca Kamwa 

Your Gift Matters

Support UMass Lowell's continued strength and leadership in higher education. Gifts to the university directly impact thousands of students every day.

  • A young woman rolls up her sleeve while a woman scans her arm with a device attached to a mobile phone.

    ‘KCS Science Masters’ Expands Summer Research Opportunities

    The new KCS Science Masters program provides graduate students with funded summer research opportunities that help them build experience, continue their work between degrees and advance toward careers in science.
    Featured Story
  • A group of students gather around a table as a young man shows them something on his laptop.

    Students’ Challenge is Out of this World

    UMass Lowell’s Global Entrepreneurship Exchange (GE2) program returned in person on campus for the first time since the pandemic, offering 25 students the chance to collaborate on a real-world challenge: how to turn a faculty-designed space technology into a viable business.
    Featured Story