Department news
Dr. Katrina Koehler awarded 2024 alumni early career excellence award
Koehler (Ph.D. ’19) is a distinguished scientist renowned for her significant contributions to physics and engineering, as well as her dedication to mentoring the next generation of scientists. She earned her doctorate in physics from Western Michigan University in 2019, where she was awarded the George E. Bradley award for exceptional research performance. She now serves as key researcher at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and as an assistant professor at Houghton University.
At LANL, Koehler has spearheaded pioneering advances in high-performance detector technologies. Her notable accomplishments include the development and implementation of the Hyperspectral X-ray Imaging (HXI) detector, which won the 2023 R&D Award, and the co-development of the Spectrometer Optimized for Facility Integrated Applications (SOFIA), recognized with the 2022 R&D 100 Award. Additionally, Koehler received the 2022 Distinguished Performance Award from LANL for her contributions to the Trinity experiment anniversary special issue of “Nuclear Technology”. In 2019, she was honored with the LTD18 Young Researcher Poster Award, second place, for outstanding poster presentation within five years of receiving her Ph.D.
Beyond her research, Koehler is actively engaged in the academic community. She serves as the faculty advisor for the Houghton University Intercultural Student Association and is a member of the Academic Council and Faculty Development Committee. She has also authored multiple papers in peer-reviewed journals on her extensive research in nuclear physics and spectroscopy. Her work often includes contributions from students she mentors, emphasizing her role in academic development and dedication to cultivating the next generation of scientists.
Dr. Muhammet Fatih Hasoglu awarded 2024 alumni achievement award
Hasoglu (M.S. ’04, Ph.D. ’08) received the David Carley Memorial Graduate Fellowship in 2003, the Leo R. Parpart Physics Scholarship in 2006 and the Graduate Research and Creative Scholar Award from the Department of Physics in 2008. After graduation, he worked as a teaching assistant and lab instructor at Marmara University in Türkiye.
He is a professor at Hasan Kalyoncu University (HKU) in Gaziantep, Türkiye. Throughout his career, he has held various administrative and academic roles, including chairman of the Department of Computer Engineering, member of the University Senate for the Engineering Faculty and vice director and director of the Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences. He was promoted to associate professor in 2015 and granted professorship in 2020. For the past two years, he has been the dean of the Faculty of Aeronautics and Aerospace. Hasoglu’s technical expertise includes advanced programming in Fortran, C, and Python, as well as proficiency with atomic structure codes and operating systems. From May 2017 to April 2018, he served as primary investigator and project coordinator for a TUBITAK 1002 project focused on calculating the photoabsorbtion cross section of the silicon atom in the X-ray region.
In 2015 and 2016, his leadership and academic work was honored with the Academic Service Appreciation Award. He has also been a member of several professional organizations, including the American Physical Society’s Division of Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics.
Hasoglu’s dedication to education, research and service has made significant contributions to his field and institutions showcasing an unwavering commitment to advancing knowledge and fostering academic growth.
Dr. Arthur McGurn authors third book
McGurn, professor emeritus of physics, has written his third book, An Introduction to Condensed Matter Physics for the Nanosciences, published by CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group. His first book, Nonlinear Optics of Photonic Crystals and Meta-Materials was listed as one of the ten best references in nonlinear optics. His second book, Nanophotonics, gave an introduction to the rapidly developing field of nanophotonics.
Dr. Paul Pancella received a national award
Pancella, professor of nuclear physics, received a City Captain Award in Plug In America's 2022 Drive Electric Awards on Oct. 27 in Manhattan Beach, California, for his leadership and unwavering commitment to the electric vehicle movement. Pancella leads the Kalamazoo Electric Vehicle Association which he helped establish in 2015.
Past news
Read about our department's prior news and accomplishments.