Recent Alumni
Graduates of our physics program participate in a vast array of exciting careers.
Our alumni include the senior vice president of a major corporation, high school physics teachers, scientists, accelerator operators, university professors and applied industrial physicists all around the world.
Many of our graduates have continued their study at leading research institutions nationwide, including Stanford, Brown, Yale, Princeton, Harvard,University of Chicago, University of Minnesota, University of Illinois, etc. Below is a list of placements for a few recent classes.
David Beard, J.D. candidate at George Washington Law School, in DC
Jaylen Beasley, hired as a Logistics Engineer by BMM Logistics, in downtown Chicago ( https://www.bmmlogistics.com )
Morgan Bishop, Masters candidate in Energy Systems, in the UIUC Mechanical Engineering Department
Hank Bolon, Radar Engineer, for Raytheon, in Arizona
James Burnell, joined the Management Training program for Konecrane.
John Derrig, Process Engineer, for W. R. Grace & Company ( https://grace.com/en-us/capabilities/materials-science )
Evan Dill, PhD candidate, Physics, Auburn University
Ronan Dorsey, Acoustic Microscopy Engineer, for Non-Destructive Testing of Microelectronics, at Sonoscan, Inc. (http://www.sonoscan.com )
Bridget Hathaway, Application Support Engineer, for Keyence Corporation (Machine Vision, etc.)
Brannan Hutchinson, Masters degree candidate, BioPhysics, where he will be working with Dr. Silviya P Zustia, on development of carbon nanotube-hydrogel nanocomposites as scaffolds for regenerating and repair damaged nerves.
Keon Kim, 3:2 dual degree (Physics + Mechanical Engineering), at Wash U
Vasil Kulushliev, 2:2 Econ+Physics+Chem Assoc. Mgmt. Consultant for ZS Healthcare Consultants
Tim Smyk, 3:2 dual degree (Physics + Mechanical Engineering), at SIUE
Jenny Swanson, Masters degree candidate, Mechanical Engineering, at the University of Minnesota
Chris Valadez, Commisioned 2nd Lieutenant, US Army
Rachel Westerkamp, Masters candidate, Electrical Engineering, at the University of Colorado - Boulder
Melody Zhao, PhD candidate, Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE), focusing on VLSI, at Carnegie Mellon University
Fiona Breyer: Entered the work force, Analyst, Springhill Consulting Group, Chicago.
Emily Brown: Law School, University of Illinois Urbana- Champaign.
Hansheng (Jason) Chen: Ph.D. program in theoretical astrophysics, University of California, Davis.
Andy Ding: Ph.D. program, Institute for Quantum Computing, University of Waterloo.
Constantine (Dino) Karas: Intern at Fermilab, Masters in Mechanical Engineering program,
University of Denver, starting Fall 2018.
Toan Le: Ph.D. program in Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Wisconsin,
Madison.
Yaling (Alexis) Liu: Masters program in Computer Science, Seattle campus of Northeastern
University.
Lunjun (Simon) Liu: Admitted to Ph.D. in Astronomy program at the University of Illinois
Urbana- Champaign, but going to Caltech for one year, to complete his research project.
Krystyna Lopez: American Physical Society Bridge Fellow, the Bridge to the Doctorate
Program, Indiana University.
Matthew McGill: Masters program in Mechanical Engineering ("Control Systems"), University
of Minnesota.
Adam Muellers:4:2 dual-degree program, Mechanical Engineering
,
University of Illinois-Chicago
Kyle Moody: 4:2 dual-degree program, Agricultural & Biological Engineering, University
of Illinois Urbana- Champaign.
Shivum Patel, Medical School, Western Michigan University.
Christopher Rudnicki: Ph.D. program in Mechanical Engineering, UC-Riverside.
Ian Simmons, Entered the work force, Omnidian, a Solar panel company, Seattle
Troy Southard: Masters program in Mechatronic Systems Engineering, Denver University.
Regine Sun: Masters program in Financial Engineering, Columbia University.
Boyang (Shane) Zhou: Masters program in Materials Science & Engineering, Georgia Institute
of Technology
George Alex: Research Intern, Argonne National Laboratory.
Ashton Moss Butler: Commissioned Active Duty officer, the Army Corps of Engineering.
Jimmy Connolly: Master program in Mechanical Engineering at Wash U St. Louis or University of Colorado Boulder.
Erick Eklin: SULI program at the Argonne lNational Laboratory.
Dan Krob: Waiting to hear from graduate programs in Computer Engineering.
Max Leonard: Analyst at Cornerstone Research, Washington, DC.
Kyle O’Shea: Ph.D. program in Mechanical Engineering, Michigan State University
Joe Richards: Masters program in Electrical Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Hayley Roberts: Ph.D. program in Physics at the University of Colorado Boulder.
Julia Savich: Masters program in Engineering Design Innovation at Northwestern University.
Jennifer Sieben: PhD program in Astronomy, Indiana University.
Ruomeng Zhang: PhD program in Chemistry at Princeton University.
Sam Birsa, Masters candidate in Optical Engineering (Univ. of Rochester)
Kyle Connour, PhD candidate in Astronomy (Univ. of Colorado - Boulder)
Jessi Flach, PhD candidate in Physical Chemistry (Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison)
John Gholson, directly entering workforce
Brian Kim, PhD candidate in Physics (Northern Illinois Univ.)
Qijia Liu, directly entering workforce
Alejandro Mancera, directly entering workforce
Margaret McCarter, PhD candidate in Physics (Univ. of Cal.-Berkeley)
Billy Meyer, 3:2 dual-degree program (Physics + Mechanical Engineering), Wash U
Kevin Roenitz, PhD candidate in Astro-Chemistry (Emory University)
Alex Scherer, PhD candidate in Physics (Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison)
Fred Williams, directly entering workforce
Tyler Wright, directly entering workforce
Chelsea Davitt, Masters candidate in Mechanical Engineering (Bradley University)
Kyle French, Laboratory Engineer at Gaynes Labs
Juan Gomez-Velez, graduate student in Physics, Univ. of South Florida
Victoria Halevy, Math & Science Teacher, Andrew Jackson Language Academy, in Chicago
Chris Jent, Environmental Technician (Heritage Environmental Services)
Alexis Larson, Quality Control Engineer at Lambent Technologies
Ryan McGonagle, Mechanical Engineering Intern at Stevenson & Associates
Brian Sorich, 3:2 dual-degree program (Physics + Materials Science & Engineering), UIUC
Matthew Southall, Masters candidate in Physics
Maggie Zhou, PhD candidate in Materials Science & Engineering, at Univ. of Rochester
Jason Armstrong, Masters candidate in Physics (condensed matter / solid-state physics)
Neil Baldwin, PhD Candidate in Chemistry at UC-Santa Barbara
Sunny Ding, PhD Candidate in ECE, at University of Illinois (nano-optics + plasmonics)
Mohamed El-Kabbash, PhD Candidate in Physics (nano-optics + plasmonics), Case Western
Alex Flyte, Quality Control Engineer at Haemoscope, Inc.
Young Kim, Masters Candidate in Physics, Univ. of Buffalo
Dan LaRocca, Technical Services at Epic
“Bosh" Liu, PhD Candidate in BioPhysics/BioInformatics, at Stanford University
Deepak Mallubhotla,“gap” year as Software Developer for Auto-Owners Insurance; traveling
Nate Nesbit, High School Physics Teacher at Central High School in Burlington, IL
Marc Prasse, dual-degree Physics + M.E. at UIUC Mechanical Engineer at Honeywell
Azma Rehman, Vision Researcher at Schepens Eye Research Institute in Boston
Andy Sonnenberger, PhD Candidate in Physical Chemistry at Univ. of Minnesota
Ken Suevel, Masters Candidate in Mechanical Engineering at Wash U
Janak Thapa, PhD Candidate in Materials Science & Engineering at Northwestern
Kurt VanNess, PhD Candidate in Applied Mathematics, Univ. of Utah
Yao Xiao, “gap year” studying Chinese traditional medicine and Buddhism, in China
G. Myles Black , R&D in biotech, at ANDalyze Masters candidate in ECE
Billy Buchdahl, 2:2 in General Engineering at UIUC “Big Data” Analyst at Clarity
Patrick Dahl, Marie Curie Research Fellow (Scotland) Masters candidate (NYU)
Tommy Deschler, Masters in Mech. Engineering works at PositivEnergy
Marissa DeWeese, Website Developer at O3 Internet Consulting
Ronnie Fowle-Grider, MD/PhD candidate: Wash U School of Medicine
Leah Goldberg, Physics TA/Counselor, Educ. Prog. for Gifted Youth (Stanford)
Casey Hennessey, PhD candidate in Physics, Ohio State
Steve Larson, PhD candidate in Physics (nanotech), Univ. of Georgia
Steve Lis, Lab Assistant (Medical)
Carl Mueller, Project Manager at Image Display, Inc.
Jinx Nirjhar, Masters candidate: English Cultural Studies, EFLU (India)
Ryan Ott, 4:2 + Masters student: Mechanical Engineering and works at Harman Int’l
Derrick Rohl, Sky Show Operator, Adler Planetarium + Masters candidate in Ed.
Taiyo Wilson, Masters: Computational Science (Harvard) UIUC PhD program
Nathaniel Wolanyk, PhD candidate in Physics (Computational Biology), UAB
Veronica Angeles Dunham, PhD Candidate: Organic Chemistry, Ohio State
Evan Baker, PhD Candidate: Mechanical Eng., Northwestern + start-up company
Thomas Bersano = PhD candidate, Physics, University of Washington-Seattle
David Bueche, Physics+ME dual degree Rolls Royce (jet engines)
Kundan Chaudhary, PhD candidate (nanotech research at Harvard)
David Fairbanks, Writer/Editor at “The Beat,” + MFA Candidate at Columbia (with
support)
Nicholas Goble, PhD candidate, Physics (semiconductor nanotech), Case Western
Ryan Goetz, PhD candidate in Physics (LIGO collaboration), Univ. of Florida
Matt James, 4:2 dual-degree: Mechanical Engineering High School Teacher
Chris Krassa, 2:2 student in Natural Resource Conservation, UIUC
Alex Lambert, 4:2 dual-degree lead Mech. Engineer at Aeroflex
Michelle Ponschke, Master's Candidate: Forensic Science, UIC
Jesse Schaar, 3G-to-4G telecommunications / electronics technician at Samsung
Adam Chambers, PhD in Physical Oceanography Scientist for U.S. Dept. of Navy
Curtis Cribben, Masters in Agricultural Engineering works at John Deere (sensors)
Angelo Christophell, Masters candidate: Applied Statistics, Loyola Univ.-Chicago
Jennifer Faust, PhD candidate: Physical Chemistry, UW-Madison
Suman Gautam, PhD in Energy Engineering/Policy works for DNV GL Energy
Pearl Huang, works at State Farm Insurance
Rachel Kagan, Actuary at Allstate Insurance
Mark Kasperczyk, PhD candidate: Optics (Univ. of Rochester ETH Zurich)
Christine Kehl, taking time for family (a new mother)
Clare Mahoney, PhD in Materials Science & Eng., Carnegie Mellon Univ.
John Meuser, PhD candidate: Mathematics, Texas A&M Univ. Teaching Math
David Nicholus, M.S., Florida State Univ. Math Professor, Harper College
Bibek Parajuli, Masters in Materials Science, UIUC now hired by Intel
Lucy Pinelo = PhD candidate: Physical Chemistry, Univ. of Cincinnati
Oliver Smidt, Masters in Physics Education Teacher at Wheeling H.S.
Alison Smith = Retro-Technical / Steampunk Designer / Owner of TRVA Jewelry
Bobby Zoeller = Masters candidate: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Univ
Ogaga Akoroda, dual-degree + Masters at Cornell Univ. (now EE at Texas Instr.)
Jake Dunham, Masters degree in Stats Math Instructor at Westwood College
Eric Flyte = teaching certificate, now teaching at YouthBuild
Brad Janes = Project Coordinator for Wolfram | Alpha
Johnny Lattyak, Masters of Theology CommonBond Communities job
Dave Longawa = M.A. candidate in Music History at UW-Madison
Jason Manuel = AmeriCorps Masters in Mech. E. M.E. at C.T.S.
Patrick McFadden = Accountant / Tax Manager at Ernst & Young
Danielle Meyers = research at Wrigley (formulation chemistry)
Ganon Pierce = Instructor at Princeton Review
Thomas Schroeder = Environmental Scientist at Vertex
Kristy Streu = PhD candidate: Computational Chemistry, Boston College
Jeremy Thomas = pursuing Masters in Mech. Engineering, UW-Milwaukee (?)
Cheryl Wallace = Writer/Editor for BEAN, in Shanghai, China
Matt Wilhelm, dual degree in Physics/History + EE works at Navstar