Faculty Highlights

Faculty Highlights

Yuri Gartstein

Associate Professor

Associate Professor Yuri Gartstein’s research interests cover various aspects of theory and modeling of electronic, optical, transport and mechanical properties of novel and synthetic materials and structures. His work is applied to carbon nanotubes, organic solids, conjugated polymers, disordered molecular systems and unconventional superconductors. He is also interested in physics of devices on the basis of such materials, including organic light-emitting diodes, electromechanical actuators and solar cells.

Rod Heelis

Cecil and Ida Green Honors Professor of Physics
Distinguished Chair in Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Director, William B. Hanson Center for Space Sciences

With interests that range from planet-star interaction to finding the differences between planets with magnetic fields, Cecil and Ida Green Honors Professor of Physics Rod Heelis measures weather in space using sophisticated instruments that fly on satellite “space labs.” He creates computer models that predict phenomena affecting space-based assets.

Mustapha Ishak-Boushaki

Associate Professor

Conducting research “at the intersection of modern cosmology and general relativity,” Associate Professor Mustapha Ishak-Boushaki investigates whether the acceleration of the expansion of the universe is caused by “dark energy” or by modifications to gravity.

Joseph M. Izen

Professor

Collaborating on the ATLAS experiment at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider, Professor Joe Izen works at the high energy frontier of elementary particle physics, pursuing further evidence for the Higgs boson, as well as investigating dark matter and micro black holes. He’s also recognized as one of the most dedicated teachers in the University of Texas System.

David Lary

Associate Professor

Atmospheric scientist David Lary’s research centers on the use of observation, automation and remote sensing to facilitate scientific discovery and societal benefit, from using robotic helicopters to study atmospheric composition, land use and ocean ecosystems, to monitoring global levels of airborne particulates known to impact human health. A former NASA scientist, he is founding director of the Center for Multi-scale Intelligent Integrated Interactive Sensing.

Anton Malko

Associate Professor

With diverse research interests spanning physics, nano-optics, engineering and cell science, Assistant Professor Anton Malko applies spectroscopic techniques to a variety of projects, including constructing and characterizing a new generation of solar cells based on quantum dots.

Fabiano Rodrigues

Associate Professor

Based at the William B. Hanson Center for Space Sciences, Assistant Professor Fabiano Rodrigues explores the upper atmosphere using ground-based radars and GPS signals, research that is helping to better characterize the physics of ionospheric disturbances and their potential impact on global communication and navigation.