Month: April 2025

Scott Joffre, a Ph.D. student in Clemson’s Department of Physics and Astronomy, is driven by a deep curiosity about existence and the universe. His passion for extreme cosmic environments led him to Clemson to study blazars—some of the brightest and most energetic galaxies powered by supermassive black holes—under the guidance of Professor Marco Ajello.

Scott’s research focuses on mapping the universe in high-energy gamma rays, a challenging energy band that hasn’t been well-studied due to detection difficulties and background noise. By pushing the limits of a current satellite’s technology, Scott has made new discoveries in this underexplored energy range, helping identify previously unknown cosmic objects.

Beyond his research, Scott co-founded the “Breaking Silos” podcast through the Science Student Advisory Board, encouraging interdisciplinary science communication among graduate students.

During a NASA internship at Goddard Space Flight Center, Scott explored laser communication systems—an advanced alternative to radio signals. These systems use infrared laser beams, which can carry vastly more data and reduce power and weight for spacecraft. He analyzed the Laser Communication Relay Demonstration (LCRD) and compared its performance to traditional radio methods. While weather can impact laser signals, Scott believes this technology holds promise for deep space communication, such as missions to Mars.

Scott’s earlier work at General Atomics on laser communication came full circle at NASA, sparking interest in a future career in satellite communications—a field where he hopes to continue solving unique, cutting-edge problems.

Outside of academia, Scott enjoys music (playing bass and ukulele weekly in Pickens), and outdoor adventures like sailing, scuba diving, hiking, and running around Clemson and Lake Hartwell. He expects to graduate in May.

Adapted from: https://news.clemson.edu/physics-ph-d-student-takes-education-to-the-extreme/

Clemson physics professor Endre Takacs and his team have developed a groundbreaking method to measure the size of atomic nuclei—especially for heavy and radioactive elements—using highly charged ions and an electron beam ion trap (EBIT). This technique, which requires only a small number of atoms and is cost-effective, significantly improves precision in nuclear size measurements, a key factor in advancing theoretical physics models and exploring phenomena like dark matter.

The research, done in collaboration with institutions like the National Institute of Standards and Technology and University of Grenoble Alpes, demonstrated that exotic ions radiating ultraviolet light can reveal nuclear charge radii more effectively than traditional methods like electron scattering or muonic atom spectroscopy, which struggle with larger or unstable atoms.

This work led to Takacs and Ph.D. student Hunter Staiger being selected as the sole in-person U.S. representatives at an invitation-only International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) conference in Vienna. Takacs chaired the meeting, and Staiger proposed a new nuclear analysis method that will be included in a future IAEA report.

Former students from Takacs’ lab also made major contributions:

• Roshani Silwal, now a professor at Appalachian State, studied xenon isotopes.
• Adam Hosier, now a quantitative analyst, expanded this to iridium and osmium, reducing uncertainty in iridium’s nuclear size by a factor of eight.

Staiger, originally an electrical engineering major at Clemson, switched to physics after research with Takacs. Now in his second year as a Ph.D. student, he has been invited to a predoctoral fellowship at Harvard, where he’ll set up EBIT measurements. He also plans research at the TRIUMF TITAN facility in Canada. Staiger hopes to become a professor, combining his passion for research and mentoring future STEM students.

Adapted from: https://news.clemson.edu/clemson-physicists-introduce-novel-method-for-measuring-atomic-nuclei-sizes-chosen-to-represent-u-s-at-international-meeting/

The Clemson University College of Science held an awards ceremony on April 10 to honor outstanding students, including two from the Department of Physics and Astronomy.

Maggie Marte received the Phi Kappa Phi Certificate of Merit, awarded to a graduating senior with a GPA of 3.4 or higher who has demonstrated leadership, service, and creative contributions. Maggie, a physics major with a minor in mathematical sciences, has maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA while conducting research on piezoelectric materials for quantum devices. Her efforts have led to an accepted publication and several awards, including Best Engineering Oral Presentation at the 2023 South Carolina Academy of Science. She is also a Goldwater Scholar and Astronaut Scholar. Outside academics, she is vice president of the Society of Physics Students, part of the College of Science Student Ambassadors, and a member of the Clemson club gymnastics team. This fall, she will pursue a Ph.D. at MIT in quantum systems.

Sumit Banerjee, a Ph.D. candidate, was recognized for his community engagement efforts. His research models 1.8 MeV gamma-ray emissions from Al-26 decay in the Milky Way. He developed a pirate-themed summer reading and science program for public libraries and has led over 40 planetarium shows. Banerjee also volunteers for campus outreach events like solar eclipse viewings and the Clemson Women in Physics meeting and serves as a teaching assistant.

Adapted from: https://news.clemson.edu/top-2024-25-college-of-science-students-honored/

Emil Alexov, a professor in Clemson University’s Department of Physics and Astronomy, has been named a 2025 Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE)—an honor reserved for the top 2% of professionals in the field. He was recognized for his exceptional contributions to computational biophysics, software development related to disease mechanisms, and for establishing Clemson’s medical biophysics graduate program.

Alexov’s research combines physics and advanced computer algorithms to explore how genetic variations cause disease, contributing significantly to personalized medicine. He has developed novel algorithms to predict energy changes from mutations and their links to disease.

Originally from Bulgaria, Alexov earned degrees in plasma and radiophysics from Sofia University, followed by international research roles in Japan and the U.S. He joined Clemson in 2005 and was named a CUSHR Faculty Fellow in 2019. In 2021, he received the Dr. Wallace R. Roy Distinguished Professorship. He is now the fifth Clemson faculty member to be named an AIMBE Fellow.

Adapted from: https://news.clemson.edu/emil-alexov-elected-a-2025-aimbe-fellow/