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An emphasis on undergraduate research opportunities is a distinguishing feature of Mount Allison. Undergraduate students play integral roles in research at Mount Allison, and typically 10 to 15 students are employed each summer on physics research projects. Students who wish to seek honours, special topics or summer research opportunities should directly approach the faculty member for the research group(s) which interest them.

Experimental Subatomic Physics (Faculty: Dr. David Hornidge)
In collaboration with the Mainz Microtron in Germany, Mount Allison students and faculty collaborate in experiments aimed at understanding at the most fundamental level the nature and interactions of subatomic particles. Click here to go to the Mainz Microtron web site. Funding provided by NSERC and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Science Foundation). To learn more...

Theoretical  Particle Physics (Faculty: Dr. Mohammad Ahmady)
We investigate the properties of fundamental particles, which are the building blocks of the universe, to see how they are produced in high energy accelerators and find out more about their various decay modes.  We also try to look for indications of unknown forces of nature which may reveal themselves only at very high energies. To learn more...

Materials Science (Faculty: Dr. Ralf Brüning and Prof. Pravin Varma)
We use x-ray scattering techniques and theoretical models to carry out research on structure changes in glasses and other industrially important glasses.  This allows us to study fundamental questions such as how the atoms are arranged. Precise thermal measurements complement the x-ray scattering results.To learn more...

Medical Physics (Faculty: Dr. David Fleming; Post-Doctoral Fellow: Dr. Mihai Gherase)
We use x-ray fluorescence techniques to study the concentration of heavy metals, such as lead, in the human body. Another recent focus has involved the detection of arsenic in human tissue. This has important environmental and medical applications. To learn more...

Stellar Astronomy (Faculty: Dr. Anne Pellerin)
We study the properties of resolved and unresolved young stellar populations by looking at images and spectra of individual stars, star clusters, and star forming galaxies. We investigate the properties of massive stars to better understand how they evolve with time and how they impact the evolution of star clusters and galaxies.

Solar System Astrophysics (Faculty: Dr. Robert Hawkes)
We carry out observational studies of meteor ablation in the Earth's atmosphere using advanced electro-optical "night vision" devices. The research is important both for understanding how the solar system formed, and the risk which meteoroids pose to space operations. To learn more...

Physics/Science Education (Faculty: Dr. Robert Hawkes)
How do students most effectively learn physics/science? Several of our faculty are involved in projects investigating this. To learn more...

Click here for SUMMER RESEARCH APPLICATION

Why Not Join Us?
Interested in becoming a student at Mount Allison? We would be delighted to have you come for a visit and see our department for yourself. To apply to Mount Allison, click here. For more information on the department please contact us.

Click here to download the PDF brochure and learn more about the Physics Program at Mount Allison!