STUDENT EXPERIENCES

Independent Studies and Research Opportunities

Some of the independent studies have involved binary star orbits, supernova mechanisms, planetary atmospheres, gravitation, fractal geometry, and mathematical physics. Research opportunities include using the department's radio telescope, as well as work in liquid crystal and biophysics. Departmental honors projects have included nuclear mass modeling and relativistic quantum mechanics.

Recently, Lycoming students spent their summers doing research at MIT, Purdue University, the University of Wyoming, Texas A&M, and the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in New Mexico.

Erin Mastrantonio (l) and Nicole Gugliucci (r) ham it up while presenting a poster session
at an American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) meeting held at Bucknell University.

Life after Lycoming

More than half of all astronomy majors continue their education at graduate schools. Graduates from Lycoming have been accepted into programs across the country, including Penn State University, Tufts University, the University of Virginia, George Mason University, George Washington University, Colorado State University, and the Florida Institute of Technology.

Those astronomy and physics students who decide to enter the workforce upon graduation find employment relating to their major ranging from teaching to industrial research to meteorology to positions in government labs.