Fall 2023 APAM News

Fall 2023 Newsletter, APAM Department, Columbia Engineering

Message from the Chair

Dear APAM Community,

Greetings and best wishes for the New Year. The Fall semester in APAM was marked by significant activity, and through this newsletter, we aim to share the remarkable accomplishments of our students, alumni, faculty, and scientists. Additionally, we extend a heartfelt welcome to new members joining our department and bid farewell to those who have been longstanding friends and colleagues.

Across all three APAM programs—Applied Physics, Materials Science, and Applied Mathematics—faculty and students have been immersed in diverse scientific challenges. In this update, we present highlights including a wide range of activities in our burgeoning Plasma Physics program, advanced photonic devices for high-bandwith communication, and new applications of machine learning and AI in a range of scientific fields. We are also proud to announce numerous awards, honors, and leadership roles that showcase the dynamic and interdisciplinary strengths of the faculty and department. Moreover, we are thrilled to introduce several new faculty members to APAM, promising groundbreaking developments in novel quantum materials and applied mathematics.

While we embrace the fresh opportunities brought by new faculty, we also take a moment to pay tribute to cherished colleagues who have passed or recently retired. We mourn the loss and celebrate the life of Richard M. Osgood, Jr., the Higgins Professor Emeritus of Electrical Engineering and Professor Emeritus of Applied Physics at Columbia University, a trailblazer in laser and solid state physics and a valued member of the department.

Wishing everyone a year filled with continued achievements, growth, and discovery.

Marc Spiegelman 
Chair, Department of Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics
Arthur D. Storke Memorial Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences and
Professor of Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics