The Department of Physics at ���������� Boulder is excited to celebrate its students' achievements as they graduate and move on to the next step of their careers. For recently graduated graduate student Jenny Jiahui Wu, who also participated in ����������’s PREP program with NIST, her time at ���������� Boulder has been one of cutting-edge research and discovery.

Wu’s passion for physics began during high school in Canada, where she excelled in math and science. Encouraged by her parents and inspired by her AP Physics teacher, she discovered that her strengths and interests were better suited to pure physics than engineering. This realization led her to pursue a physics degree at the University of Toronto, where she fell in love with the predictive power of physics equations and their real-world applications.

Joining ���������� Boulder: A Hub for Quantum Research

Wu’s path to ���������� Boulder was shaped by her undergraduate ion-trapping research at the University of Toronto. Her advisors highlighted ���������� Boulder’s reputation as a global hub for Atomic, Molecular, and Optical (AMO) physics and its collaboration with the prestigious NIST Ion Storage Group. Intrigued by the research possibilities, Wu joined ���������� Boulder to pursue her PhD.

While there, Wu worked with the NIST Ion Storage Group through ���������� Boulder’s PREP program, focusing on experiments in quantum control and quantum information.

“I was drawn to ���������� not just for its reputation in ion trapping but also for the wealth of opportunities in AMO physics,” she explains. “It was the perfect fit for my research interests.”

Her research contributed to advancing quantum information and quantum control techniques, areas crucial for the future of quantum technologies. Wu credits the supportive environment at ���������� and NIST for providing her with the tools and mentorship to excel in her field.

For Wu, completing her PhD felt like “the end of a good movie.” Reflecting on her time, she described it as a fulfilling chapter of her life.

“I’m happy with what I accomplished and where it ended,” she shares. “Of course, there’s always more research to be done, but I felt it was the right time to move on.”

Looking Ahead: A Career at Quantinuum

After graduating, Wu joined Quantinuum, a leading quantum computing company specializing in ion-trap-based quantum technologies. Given her extensive background in ion trapping and quantum research, this transition was a natural fit. At Quantinuum, Wu hopes to develop her skills further and contribute to the company’s mission of creating commercial quantum computing solutions.

“It’s amazing to see quantum computers reaching the point where they can be offered commercially,” Wu says. “I’m excited to be part of this journey and to help build extremely advanced quantum computers for the future.”

Off

Off

Dr. Erin MacDonald opens the conference as the first plenary speaker, sharing her journey from astronomy to science advising for various "Star Trek" shows, resulting in the producers creating an animated character called "Dr. Erin," based on MacDonald. 

As the snow fell the last weekend in January, 180 undergraduate students gathered in the Duane Physics building at the University of Colorado Boulder for the Conference for Undergraduate Women and Gender Minorities in Physics (����������*iP).

This annual three-day event, sponsored by the  (APS), aimed to support and inspire undergraduate women and gender minorities to continue their degrees and explore the various places they can take their education. ���������� Boulder previously hosted the conference in 2017. The local organizing committee (LOC), composed primarily of graduate and undergraduate students from ���������� Boulder—with guidance from two University of Colorado Boulder Physics professors, including Bethany Wilcox—volunteered to help organize the event over the past year.

The LOC worked hard to ensure that programming reflected the needs of attendees—especially given the diverse backgrounds of students arriving from different institutions. As many of the organizers had attended ����������*iP conferences as undergraduates, they hoped to pass on the crucial lessons they learned to the inspiring scientists.

“����������*iPs are meant to bolster the next generation of physicists, and we tried very hard to reflect the range of attendee backgrounds and needs our attendees represented,” said one ���������� Boulder graduate student on the organizing team. “All of our parallel workshop and panel sessions included options for a variety of student interests, and we hope, as a result, everyone felt seen and supported.”

Students inspiring students

Despite their demanding research and class schedules, the LOC met regularly to organize the minute details of the conference.

"This conference has really been a monument to the skill, dedication, and hard work of the incredible graduate and undergraduate women on the LOC,” explained Wilcox. “They have donated so much of their time and energy over the past year to building an incredible program and creating a truly transformational experience for all the student attendees."

As this year’s conference had a higher-than-usual number of incoming participants, the team worked to adapt the conference's events to include more panels on Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) and LGBTQIA+ experiences in physics, along with topics like social identities.

“With a very short timeline, we had to figure out if we could accommodate the new students and how much we would need to increase our budget to make it possible,” added one graduate student conference organizer. “Our whole team was excited about the possibility of bringing even more students to Boulder, so we quickly sprang into action to make it possible.”

The conference efforts were also supported by ���������� Boulder staff members, including those from JILA and the physics department.

While the APS helped fund part of the conference, the team of students also collaborated with local quantum companies and others to sponsor certain parts of the conference.

“The success of our conference was made possible thanks to the huge outpouring of support from our community,” said one graduate student team organizer. “The donations from ���������� departments, institutes, and offices, local universities, national labs and our industry partners ensured that we were able to provide an outstanding experience for all of our attendees. Many of our sponsors also attended our networking dinner and fair, giving students a valuable opportunity to connect with physics professionals and gain insights into career pathways.”

The LOC also collaborated with individuals and organizations, such as the Science Writers Association of the Rocky Mountains (SWARM), to teach workshops on science journalism. ���������� Boulder’s Center for Inclusion and Social Change (CISC) offered seminars on social identities and interrupting racism.

A conference to remember

JILA researchers explain their laboratory set up, headed by JILA Fellow and ���������� Boulder Physics professor Heather Lewandowski, as part of a laboratory tour during the ����������*IP Boulder 2025 conference. (credit: Christine Jackson/JILA)

The conference commenced with optional activities to introduce undergraduates to Boulder, including a downtown walk and lab tours at JILA, the Southwest Research Institute (SWRI) and National Solar Observatory. They also toured labs in the ���������� Boulder Department of Physics, College of Engineering and Applied Science, New Physics Laboratory (NPL) and the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP). Following these tours, attendees gathered in the University Memorial Center for the official welcome address given by APS representative Kathryne Sparks Woodle and ���������� Boulder Physics Professor Bethany Wilcox.

The evening featured a plenary talk by Dr. Erin Macdonald, an astrophysicist renowned for her work in science communication and consulting for the "Star Trek" franchise. Her talk emphasized the importance of diverse perspectives in physics and inspired attendees to explore interdisciplinary applications of their skills.

“The way I can tell a great plenary ����������*iP talk is if I think to myself in the middle, 'Are they talking directly to me?' And then I look around the room to find so many other faces seeming to experience the same feeling,” said one student on the organizing team. “Erin's talk did exactly that, from her confident sharing of her early female science inspirations and crushes to her candid telling of challenges along her journey. It was an incredibly relatable and inspiring talk.”

The day concluded with a networking dinner, fostering connections among participants.

Workshops, panels, posters and a special visit

Saturday began with a BIPOC networking breakfast and continued with a keynote panel discussing diverse careers available to those with a physics degree. Parallel workshop sessions followed, covering topics such as finding one's place in physics, public engagement, funding opportunities, and science communication's significance.

For one ���������� Boulder physics undergraduate student, attending the Finding One’s Place in Physics workshop was especially memorable. She sat next to a student from a border town in Texas who had been discouraged by many of her teachers from going to college. They told the student she would “amount to nothing.”

“Hearing this was heartbreaking, but she channeled that stigma into motivation, becoming the first in her family to earn an undergraduate degree, with plans to pursue a PhD in physics,” said the undergraduate participant. “Her story, and others like it, were deeply inspiring, highlighting the resilience of women overcoming barriers in STEM.”

After lunch, students packed in tightly on the UMC’s central staircase to take their group photo. That was followed by lunch with a virtual nationwide keynote address by Dr. Meghan Anzelc who shared her journey and insights into leveraging a physics background in various career paths.

The afternoon featured a networking fair and breakout panel sessions, including graduate school admissions, gender minorities and being out in physics, Boulder’s technological hub, BIPOC experiences in physics and discussions on imposter phenomena.

A student poster session showcased ongoing research, providing a platform for undergraduates to present their work and receive feedback. 

“It was rewarding to share my work with a diverse audience, including undergraduates, graduate students, professors and industry professionals,” the undergraduate student said. “My poster generated a lot of interest and even received an Honorable Mention award, which was a validating moment for all my hard work.”

LOC team members and volunteers judged the posters, and six students received awards for their poster design and presentation skills at the end of the conference.

The second evening of the conference, Dr. Desiré Whitmore, the Senior Physics Educator at the Exploratorium in California, shares her interests in lasers and atomic physics in her plenary talk. 

The day concluded with a banquet dinner and a plenary talk by Dr. Desiré Whitmore, an atomic physicist and educator, who shared her experiences and emphasized the importance of resilience and curiosity.

“Desiré's talk was a prime example of ‘show not tell,’” said one graduate student team organizer. “By wowing us with her simple yet powerful demos, she was introducing us to her world, where she designs accessible, hands-on educational experiences in science at Exploratorium and in classrooms around the world. ‘Show not tell’ is also exactly the philosophy of the plenary talks throughout the conference. We would like to bring in inspiring minority figures in physics and show the students how fulfilling careers with a physics degree look like even for a woman or gender minority, and that they can do it, too.”

One of the organizers added: “What I got (and I think a few others, too) from Desiré's talk was a big emphasis on seizing opportunities, bringing your true self into your career, and most importantly, staying curious.”

Connecting beyond ����������*iP

The final day offered more activities, including parallel workshop and panel sessions that addressed topics such as CV building, science journalism, interrupting racism and making physics more accessible.

Dr. Christina Willis of quantum computing company Infleqtion gave the final plenary talk before lunch, highlighting the importance of sustainable networking and making your career your own.

The conference concluded with closing remarks and awards and encouraged participants to apply the insights gained to their academic and professional journeys.

“The boundless dedication and creativity of the volunteers made this conference a true triumph for the physics community at ����������,” said a student organizer. “It was so amazing to see young students envisioning careers and identities for themselves in physics.” 

Off

Physics senior Annalise (Anna) Cabra has been named a . Established in honor of industry pioneer Brooke Owens, the prestigious fellowship is awarded to exceptional students to help launch their careers in space or aviation. The program provides a paid internship at a leading aerospace company, executive-level mentorship, and networking.

Cabra was one of 44 students selected nationally for the highly competitive program this year. Her honoree bio below is from the

A senior at the University of Colorado Boulder, Cabra is majoring in physics with an astrophysics concentration and minoring in mathematics. After graduation, she plans to pursue a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering with a focus on in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) and dust mitigation. Her ultimate goal is to help overcome the challenges of the lunar environment to advance human and space exploration.

At ����������’s IMPACT lab (Institute for Modeling Plasma, Atmospheres, and Cosmic Dust), Anna conducts experimental research on planetary dust charging dynamics when exposed to solar wind plasma. Her work also focuses on developing methods for charging and separating regolith by size for ISRU applications.

Additionally, Anna is a spacecraft navigation software intern at ����������’s ORCCA lab (Orbital Research Cluster for Celestial Applications), where she develops, verifies, and validates code for an orbit determination framework supporting the United Arab Emirates asteroid mission. Her previous experience includes contributions to NASA’s Lucy and TSIS-1 Missions, where she worked in science operations and data systems.

Anna is also passionate about STEM outreach and expanding opportunities for women and minorities, aiming to inspire others to pursue careers in the field and contribute to scientific advancement. At ����������, she has served as Vice President and Treasurer of ���������� Women of Aeronautics and Astronautics (WoAA) and co-founded ���������� Women of Quantum through the Quantum Scholars program. Before college, she traveled to Mexico to teach local students about the solar system with limited resources and later became a ���������� Science Discovery mentor, leading an after-school program that integrated math and art activities for elementary students.

Outside of her professional pursuits, Anna enjoys attending ���������� football games, traveling, going to concerts, working out, and spending time with friends. As a 2025 Brooke Owens Fellow, she is thrilled to expand her industry experience as a flight dynamics intern at HawkEye 360! 

Visit the for more information on all Class of 2025 fellows. 

Off

Quantum dynamics—the study of how particles behave and interact in a quantum system—has long fascinated physicists due to its puzzling and sometimes bizarre behaviors. Unlike classical systems, where particles follow predictable paths, quantum systems can act unpredictably, such as in superposition, where the particle is in multiple quantum states simultaneously.

As particles interact, these systems often evolve towards thermal equilibrium, where the system is equally likely to be found in any configuration with the same total energy. However, in some cases, quantum systems have been conjectured to resist this process and exhibit what’s known as many-body localization (MBL), where, even as particles are allowed to interact with each other, the energy and quantum information remain “trapped” in localized microscopic configurations rather than spreading out among all available configurations over time.

Understanding whether and why MBL happens can help scientists delve into the fundamental laws of nature and unlock new possibilities for technologies like quantum computing, where preventing the loss of quantum information is critical. For years, physicists have debated whether MBL could occur in systems with many interacting particles.

Now, in a published as an Editor’s Suggestion in Physical Review Letters, ���������� Boulder Physics Associate Professors Andrew Lucas and Rahul Nandkishore, along with graduate student Chao Yin, provide a first-of-its-kind mathematical proof showing how MBL can happen in a many-particle system.

“So I would say the basic result is that our work settles a critical point of principle,” stated Nandkishore. “I think it sort of settles it in a way that's a little more easily understandable and transparent.”

The Mystery of Many-Body Localization

While most quantum systems typically show thermalization, where the energy and particles in the system tend to spread out over space and time evenly, some quantum systems can resist this process and get stuck in a state known as thermalization. Instead of a mouse in a maze exploring every nook and cranny of its new environment, a “localized” mouse becomes stuck and only stays in one part of the maze.

The idea of localization was initially proposed in 1958 by physicist Phillip Anderson, who showed that localization could occur in single particle systems. This work would later be cited in his 1977 Nobel Prize.

However, whether such localization can occur in many-body systems—systems with many interacting particles—has been a topic of heated debate in physics for the last twenty years.

Andrew Lucas explained, “People are interested in understanding systems where this will not happen. Even at infinite times, you watch the system, and it just doesn’t [thermalize]. Conventional statistical mechanics cannot describe it.”

Computer Science and Physics Meet to Study MBL

Previous studies on many-body localization mainly focused on simple, one-dimensional systems. At least one earlier proof claimed that localization can occur in such systems, but it was long and complex and relied on a plausible but unproven assumption.

The ���������� Boulder team approached the problem from a different angle, taking inspiration from computer science.  They studied a quantum system inspired by low-density parity check (LDPC) codes—mathematical tools commonly used in error correction for digital communication, such as in 5G communications. Error-correcting codes store information in a redundant way among many bits, such that experts can detect and correct such errors if a low enough number of bits have been corrupted.

Studying quantum systems based on LDPC codes allowed the researchers to bypass some of the complications of the previous research and provide a more accessible and rigorous demonstration of MBL.

Lucas explained the crux of their approach: “We are almost able to analyze this many-body problem as if it was a single-particle problem... because these error-correcting codes have a very complicated energy landscape.”

This energy landscape acts as a sort of maze, where the quantum system remains stuck near one of many low-energy configurations (or “code words”), much like how an error-correcting code helps data stay stable despite noise.

Using the LDPC code, the researchers showed that the system's quantum particles get “trapped” in specific configurations, unable to explore all possible states due to large energy barriers. Their proof demonstrated that for systems governed by LDPC-like structures, quantum particles remain trapped in localized states indefinitely, even in systems with many interactions.

Nandkishore highlighted this significance: “What we were able to do is rigorously establish this via a relatively short and understandable proof.”

This is the first time a fully rigorous proof has shown that many-body localization can occur in a system with many interacting particles and extensive configurations. Currently, the proof only works in an infinite dimensional geometry.

MBL Can Advance Other Fields

Understanding the dynamics of MBL is significant for many fields, including quantum computing, where the goal is to keep quantum states stable long enough to perform calculations. In a thermalizing system, quantum information would be quickly lost as particles spread energy and interact. However, in a localized system, quantum information could be preserved much longer, making error correction more feasible.

“This is the first construction where we have a mathematical proof for this localization phenomenon,” stated Lucas. “It’s suggestive that we can use ideas from error correction to learn things about physics and push the limits of concepts like statistical mechanics and thermodynamics."

Off

In a new  study, ���������� Boulder Physics Professor Meredith Betterton and her team explored a key motor protein in cells called kinesin-5, which helps organize the cell division machinery, and they discovered how a small chemical modification plays a big role in controlling its power.

In our cells, kinesins act like tiny “motors” to help move chromosomes, the packages of our genetic information, to opposite sides of the cell so it can split. Kinesins propel across a larger cellular structure—the mitotic spindle—made of long, thread-like filaments called microtubules. Kinesin-5 helps these filaments slide against each other, building a sturdy structure that pulls chromosomes into place.

“It’s a bit like having a crane that moves very heavy objects, despite being quite small itself,” Betterton explains.

For this process to work, kinesin-5 must apply just the right amount of force. Too little force and the spindle won’t form properly, but too much force can cause damage. It’s a balancing act, and this new study reveals how cells achieve this balance.

“Imagine a city full of moving parts—traffic lights, cars, pedestrians—all needing to be in sync to avoid chaos,” says Betterton. “Similarly, cells have systems in place to control these movements. This research helps us understand how those controls work to keep our cells, and us, healthy.”

A Deeper Dive into Phosphorylation

Previous research shows that one way that cells control kinesin-5’s activity is through a process called phosphorylation, where a small chemical group is added to the kinesin-5 protein. This modification acts like a “gear shift” for the protein, helping it adjust its activity levels.

“Think of it as putting the motor into the right gear, like a car,” adds Betterton.

For kinesin-5, scientists have found nine different areas on the “tail” of the kinesin-5 protein that can be phosphorylated. While one or two of the sites have been heavily studied, Betterton and her team decided to take a different approach, focusing on all nine sites at once, wondering if these modifications are the key to controlling the motor’s power.

“In some cases, proteins are affected by only a single phosphorylation site really dramatically, but that hadn't been seen in kinesin-5 motor proteins,” Betterton explains. “But in other cases, there can be multiple sites that somehow work together, which is called combinatorial phosphoregulation. So, we decided to kind of go for what would be the biggest change we could potentially make, to mutate all of them together. By altering all nine sites, we hoped to understand how much it would affect kinesin-5’s ability to move and organize the spindle.”

Modifications, Models, and Microscopy

The team created two types of mutations to investigate the role of phosphorylation in the kinesin-5 protein. The first mutation, known as the alanine or “9A” mutation, replaced nine phosphorylation sites with alanine, a non-phosphorylatable amino acid, effectively blocking phosphorylation at these locations.

The second mutation, called the aspartate or “9D” mutation, substituted the same sites with aspartate, an amino acid that partially mimics phosphorylation by carrying a similar negative charge. These two mutations allowed the team to compare the effects of blocking versus mimicking phosphorylation on kinesin-5's motor function and force generation during spindle assembly. By tracking these altered proteins with a green fluorescent protein (GFP) tag, the team watched their behavior in live cells under a microscope.

The team also built computer models and ran theoretical simulations to test whether these phosphorylation changes matched the effects they saw in the cells.

“The fact that we’re able to use not only fluorescent microscopy but also computer modeling and theoretical simulations is something that has developed over the course of my career,” Betterton adds. “When I started in the department more than 20 years ago, I only did simulations and theory work. I started this experimental part of my lab after I got tenure with support from the physics and MCDB [the Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology] departments. The fact we’ve been able to do work like this and have papers like this is exactly the new direction I wanted my lab to take.”

From their multidisciplinary work, the researchers saw that cells without properly phosphorylated kinesin-5 had a hard time forming the usual spindle structures. Normally, about 80% of cells show microtubule sliding in the spindle that can form protrusions, but when the phosphorylation was blocked, very few cells showed proper sliding.

“This dramatic drop really showed us how essential phosphorylation is for building a functional spindle,” said Betterton. “Without this fine-tuning, the whole system fails.”

The results confirmed that phosphorylation allows kinesin-5 to apply the right amount of force as the cell needs it, ensuring a stable, functioning spindle for cell division.

Looking at the Bigger Implications for Human Health

These findings have potential real-world implications for health. Problems in cell division are a hallmark of many diseases, including cancer, where cells divide uncontrollably.

“Understanding how motor proteins are controlled gives us insights into diseases where this regulation fails,” said Betterton.

This study may open up new strategies for cancer treatments that target proteins like kinesin-5 to interrupt abnormal cell division.

Off

On Thursday, February 6, 2025, Professor Jamie Nagle captivated an audience of students, staff, faculty, and community members during the 125^th Distinguished Research Lecture hosted by ���������� Boulder’s Research & Innovation Office (RIO).

Recognized with the prestigious 2024-2025 Distinguished Research Lectureship, Nagle presented his lecture, "10 Trillion Degrees: Unlocking the Secrets of the Early Universe," in the Chancellor’s Hall and Auditorium at the CASE (Center for Academic Success and Engagement) building.

The lecture explored the extraordinary conditions of the early universe, delving into the physics of quark-gluon plasma—a state of matter that existed just microseconds after the Big Bang, reaching temperatures of 10 trillion degrees. Nagle shared insights from his groundbreaking research, illustrating how high-energy particle collisions in modern accelerators, such as those at the Brookhaven National Laboratory, recreate these primordial conditions, allowing physicists to study the fundamental forces that shaped our universe.

Nagle’s dynamic presentation engaged attendees, seamlessly blending complex scientific concepts with accessible explanations. He highlighted the importance of understanding the strong force, one of the four fundamental forces of nature, and its role in binding quarks and gluons to form protons and neutrons—the very building blocks of matter. Adding to his scientific explanation were photos of his dog Quark, who his children named.

The lecture concluded with a lively Q&A session, where Nagle addressed a range of questions from seasoned physicists and curious public members. A reception followed, allowing attendees to further discuss the lecture's fascinating topics.

Professor Nagle’s distinguished recognition and compelling lecture underscored the cutting-edge research being conducted within ���������� Boulder’s Physics Department. His work continues to inspire both current and future generations of physicists, advancing our understanding of the universe's earliest moments.

Missed the lecture? A recording is now available on .

Off

Off

Off

Off