Students, staff and faculty honored with Spring 2026 awards
We asked our graduating physics and engineering physics students what advice they had for other students, what's next after CU, and what they will carry with them into their next chapter.
Ruomu Zhang, a senior double-majoring in physics and mathematics, has been selected to receive the Stephen Halley White Undergraduate Research Award in recognition of his exceptional honors research project designing and analyzing mechanical oscillators. The award is one of the top honors for graduating physics and engineering physics students in the Department of Physics.
Austin Campbell and Joelle Pospisil were selected as Outstanding Graduates in Physics this semester, in recognition of their exceptional research projects and academic achievement.
Campbell earned summa cum laude for his honors research project titled "Modular Displacement Measurement for Path-Entangled Qubits," with Professor Juliet Gopinath. Pospisil earned summa cum laude for her research project titled "Particle Classification Using Machine Learning Algorithms for DUNE's 2x2 Near Detector Prototype," with Professor Alysia Marino.
Ted Applebaum was selected as the Outstanding Graduate in Engineering Physics this semester, in recognition of his exceptional research project and academic achievement. Applebaum earned summa cum laude for his research project titled “Simulating Magnetized Laser-Plasma Interactions by Numerical Solution of Three-Wave-Equations." Applebaum's research advisor is Yuan Shi, assistant professor of physics.
Engineering physics seniors Tess Ekblad, Sam Hagele, and Christian Ordetx received Research Awards from the College of Engineering and Applied Science for their demonstrated excellence in research. Recipients are selected for their high quality of research, strong potential for future impact, collaborations across multiple fields, and their ability to share their research through poster presentations, peer-reviewed articles or conferences.
Physics seniors Ray Anchorodquy and Benjamin Braun were among 26 students named 2026 Jacob Van Ek Scholars by the College of Arts & Sciences. One of the college’s highest honors, the award commemorates Jacob Van Ek’s remarkable contributions to the university. Van Ek served as dean of the College of Liberal Arts from 1929 to 1959.
Each semester, undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdocs are nominated for teaching and service awards by physics faculty and staff. These individuals have made exceptional contributions to our teaching and service missions.
Nine CU PREP research faculty have been honored with Department of Physics Awards for Outstanding Research and Service, recognizing their exceptional scientific achievements and their meaningful service to our community.
Each year, the Department of Physics recognizes faculty for outstanding teaching contributions. Professor Steve Pollock was selected for "his influential innovations and transformations throughout the undergraduate curriculum, for his extraordinary ability to guide students to success in the classroom, and for his inspiring mentorship of so many other teachers in this department."
Each year, the Department of Physics recognizes faculty for outstanding teaching contributions. Professor Andreas Becker was selected for "his excellent teaching throughout the advanced undergraduate physics sequence, and his passion and devotion to the success of his students."
Kris Bunker, director of undergraduate laboratories, was selected as this year’s Department of Physics Employee of the Year. The award recognizes department staff for their integrity and respect, excellence in service, collaboration and teamwork, as well as individual and professional growth.
Thousands of students visit the undergraduate laboratories in Duane Physics each week, and Bunker manages the team that supports them. He received the award for his “seemingly limitless effort and dedication to making sure the students and faculty are successful,” according to Tobin Munsat, chair and professor of physics.
Sherry Namburi, director of finance and business operations, was selected as Employee of the Year for the College of Arts & Sciences. The award recognizes exceptional staff who consistently demonstrate outstanding job performance, leadership, innovation and inclusive excellence.
Namburi is the “go-to person for anything related to department finances and staff support, and she keeps our complex operations running at a high level,” says Tobin Munsat, chair and professor of physics. “She’s also well-recognized at the campus and college level and has established herself as the go-to expert not only for us but for the division and the college as well.”