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About The Department
Our dedicated faculty in Physics and Astronomy are highly-invested in research, as well as student success.
Faculty Information
Click the buttons below for helpful information about our faculty/staff.
Research Areas in the Department
Our faculty are active in a number of fields, both experimental and theorectical, from the smallest quantum scales to the largest objects in the known Universe!
- Dr. Rodolfo Barniol Duran
- Dr. Vera Margoniner
- Dr. Chris Taylor
- Dr. Kyle Watters
- Dr. Rodolfo Barniol Duran
- Dr. Matthew Block
- Dr. Jerome Buerki
- Dr. Joshua Moss
- Dr. Tatiana Sergan
- Dr. Vassili Sergan
- Dr. Mikkel Jensen & Dr. Eliza Morris
- Dr. Vera Margoniner
- Dr. Brianna Santangelo
- Dr. Lynn Tashiro
- Dr. Matthew Block
- Dr. Jerome Buerki
Research Highlights
Our faculty regularly publish their research in renowed, peer-reviewed journals. Below are some highlights of their most recent publications.
Investigating the link between gut bacteria and brain development
Dr. Morris and Dr. Jensen have published a paper on the so-called gut-brain axis (the link between neuronal development and gut symbiotic bacteria) and the mechanics of gut intestinal tissue. The research is a collaboration with Dr. Mulligan and Dr. Crawford in the Department of Biological Sciences, as well as researchers from San Jose State University. The research focuses on a genetic mutation in the model system Drosophila melanogaster (a species of fruit fly) in a gene which is homologous to an autism spectrum disorder risk gene in humans. The authors demonstrate that the mutation impacts both the flies’ neuronal functioning and the species gut bacteria which colonize the gut, as well as the elasticity of the gut tissue. The study is the first to highlight the role of gut tissue mechanics as a potential contributor to the gut-brain axis.
The paper was published in Biophysical Journal this June (), and included over a dozen Sac State student researchers, including two from the Department of Physics and Astronomy.
Preparing for a new infrared space telescope
Dr Pettitt is part of an ongoing collaboration with researchers in Japan who are planning for the launch of a new and cutting-edge space telescope called JASMINE (Japan Astrometry Satellite Mission for INfrared Exploration). This new infrared satellite aims to catalogue stars in the Milky Way with unprecidated accuracy, filling a gap between other infrared satellites like and Milky Way surveys conducted by . JASMINE has a wide range of science goals, including exoplanets, black holes, asteroseismology, and microlensing. Dr Pettitt is particularly involved in JASMINE's planned survey of the Galactic Centre, that should shed light on the evolutionary history of the Milky Way.
Detailed description of these science goals and specifications of the satellite have recently been accepted for publication in the June 2024 issue of the Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan (). You can read more on the or at the . JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) plans to launch JASMINE in 2028.
Faculty Publications
A complete list of faculty publications can be found on the Department of Physics & Astonomy's Publications Page. The university also records publication information in their Sac State Scholars service. View the .
Faculty Patents
- V. Sergan and T. Sergan: “Photo-Patterned Pre-Tilt Liquid Crystal cells, Lenses, and Methods” (2014)
- Jérôme Bürki: “Nanoscale variable resistor/electromechanical transistor.” (2013)
- T. Sergan: “Elliptically polarizing plate and liquid crystal display.” (2005)
- T. Sergan: “Optical Compensation film for Liquid Crystal Display.” (2004)