Student Awards
Momentum Builders Scholarship
The Department of Physics is delighted to announce that Sallam Saka and another student who prefers to stay anonymous are the recipients of the 2024 Momentum Builders Scholarship.
The Momentum Builders Scholarship was established to support Indigenous and Black undergraduate students in Physics. This endowment currently stands at $116,000 enabling the department to fund several scholarships every year. We are pleased to share our second round of recipients of this award:
Sallam Saka
Sallam Saka is in his third year in the Biological Physics Specialist program. At the beginning of his undergraduate studies, he planned to complete a program in life sciences, however, exposure to concepts in physics through the internet and university courses shifted his interest toward physical sciences. Sallam is currently pursuing a Biological Physics Specialist with a Statistics minor with a 3.98 cGPA in his second year. He is unable to streamline his future to a specific career path, however, he plans to keep being diligent and strengthen his knowledge in both physical and life sciences.
The second recipient of this award, who has chosen to stay anonymous, is currently pursuing a Physics Specialist with a minor in Math. This third-year student, who was initially unsure of their academic choices, chose Physics because of their passion for the subject. Their current interest in Physics is focused on Quantum Computing and Optics.
The Momentum Builders Scholarship is awarded annually to one or more full-time Indigenous and/or Black undergraduate student(s) enrolled in a Major, Specialist, or Joint Specialist program in the Department of Physics, on the basis of academic merit and financial need. This scholarship has been established through the generosity of donors who wish to support the next generation of physicists and "build momentum" for greater diversity in physics. The Department aims to create opportunities for Indigenous and Black physics students to achieve their educational goals and contribute their ideas, insights and knowledge, thereby enriching our collective understanding of physics and the universe.
The Department sincerely thanks everyone who has supported this initiative. Donations to the Momentum Builders Scholarship are still being accepted at this link.
The Loudon-Hines Gold Medal in Physics
The recipient for 2023-24 is Muhammad Mohid, Physics Specialist Program.
The Loudon-Hines Gold Medal and Scholarship is presented annually to an outstanding graduating student in the Specialist or Major program in Physics who also demonstrates creativity and a clear promise in the discipline of physics.
Originally awarded as the Loudon Gold Medal, named for James Loudon, the first Canadian-born Professor of Physics at U of T, it was renamed the Loudon-Hines Gold Medal in 2018, in honor of distinguished atmospheric physicist and mathematician Colin O. Hines (who himself received the Loudon Medal in 1949).
This year's recipient is Muhammad Mohid, a graduating student in the Physics Specialist Program. Muhammad excelled in his physics courses, including his lab courses and two graduate courses, and is now pursuing graduate studies at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Van Kranendonk Awards
The Van Kranendonk Award is given every year to four graduate students who have done the best job as Teaching Assistants during the current year, based on nominations from undergraduate students.
Named in honour of U of T Physics Professor Jan Van Kranendonk, who was the recipient of many awards (including the 1976 Gold Medal for achievement in physics awarded by the Canadian Association of Physicists) but who was also renowned as an excellent teacher.
Darby Bates PHY131
“Darby has been a fantastic TA for PHY131. Her enthusiasm for the subject is apparent and inspires students to learn the material. She takes all the time necessary to explain difficult concepts to students in a way that is easy to understand, and she knows when to let students work through the solution on their own.”
Shaun Froude-Powers PHY224, PHY324
“Throughout the semester, Shaun exhibited a profound understanding of the subject matter, providing clear explanations and compact demonstrations during lab sessions for both questions about Python coding and physical theories. He consistently went above and beyond in ensuring that students understand complex concepts, providing constructive feedbacks and advice.”
Jason Kattan PHY256, PHY354
“Jason is an incredible explainer. He is both knowledgeable and authoritative, but approachable and friendly. This is a rare combination to have in a TA. It is clear in his tutorials that he deeply cares about student understanding and is passionate about what he is teaching.”
Joseph McGowan PHY350
“Joseph McGowan is really a gifted teacher, and has improved my experience in PHY350 in so many ways. I have never been that interested in E&M, but Joseph's tutorials have really helped me intuitively understand what was being taught in the lectures.”
Faculty Awards
Professor Hae-Young Kee elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
Prof. Hae-Young Kee has been appointed Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada – a prestigious distinction given to the country’s most distinguished scholars, artists and scientists.
Professor Kee’s research is centered on Quantum Condensed Matter Physics, where she is widely regarded as one of the leading theoreticians in the identification and development of novel quantum materials. Her work encompasses a broad spectrum of quantum materials, including quantum spin liquids with long-range entanglement, high-temperature superconductivity, unconventional superconductivity, and topological materials. She is renowned for constructing microscopic Hamiltonians for targeted materials, effectively bridging theoretical insights with experimental advancements to drive groundbreaking discoveries in the field.
Professor Kent Moore elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
Prof. Kent Moore has been recognized by the Royal Society of Canada (RSC) for his outstanding research and scholarly achievements.
The prestigious distinction is the highest honour a Canadian can achieve in the Arts, Sciences and Social Sciences. Since 1882, new Fellows from all branches of learning have been nominated and elected to the RSC by their peers, with more than 3,700 of Canada’s most distinguished scholars and artists inducted into the fellowship.
Professor Kent Moore awarded the 2023 Patterson Distinguished Service Medal
Prof. Kent Moore, Distinguished Professor of Theoretical Geophysics of Climate Change and UTM’s Vice-Principal, Research, has been awarded the 2023 Patterson Medal by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) for his outstanding contributions in the field of Canadian meteorology.
Professor William Richard Peltier is the recipient of a 2024 CAP Fellowship Award
Prof. Dick Peltier is the recipient of a 2024 Fellowship from the Canadian Association of Physicists. The CAP Fellowship Program recognizes members of the CAP who have made significant contributions to the Canadian physics community.
Faculty at Physics awarded five 2023-2024 Connaught New Researcher Awards
The Connaught Fund supports the University of Toronto’s graduate students, early-career researchers, interdisciplinary teams, and innovators to meet the challenges facing our global society. The new researcher award helps early-career faculty members establish their research programs and increase competitiveness for external funding. Below are the recipients of the prestigious award from the Department of Physics for their upcoming projects: Prof. Miriam Diamond, Prof. Morgan O'Neill, Prof. Sergio de la Barrera, Prof. Bart Ripperda, and Prof. Maya Fishbach.
Professor Hoi Kwong Lo is the recipient of a 2024 QCMC International Quantum Award
Professor Hoi-Kwong Lo, of the Department of Physics and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, received the 2024 QCMC International Quantum Award. The International Conference on Quantum Communication (QCMC) organizes the biennial International Quantum Award "for outstanding achievements in quantum science research". Each recipient of the award is invited to deliver an Award Talk at the QCMC and receives a cash award for this achievement.
Physics Student Union (PhySU) Teaching Awards
The PhySU Teaching Award is an annual award started in 2021 to recognize exceptional pedagogy in undergraduate Physics courses. The award is given to two individuals (one per semester) at the end of each academic year. The winners are selected by the PhySU Executive based on student nominations.
Fall 2023 - Nicolas Grisouard - for exceptional pedagogy in PHY254, and PHY460
"He emphasized understanding the underlying concepts rather than just the methods used to approach problems. He often mentioned, "I don't care how you solve it, as long as it's correct," which encouraged us to think critically and find solutions that worked best for us individually."
“His ability to integrate many aspects of doing physics into the course was great, he gave us assignments that were hard and long at times, but left you learning the material. He single handedly is the reason I learned to apply my coding skills to physics.”
Winter 2024 - Dylan Jones - for exceptional pedagogy in PHY408 and PHY454
"Professor Jones went above and beyond in organizing this course, and put in a lot of effort in lecture, tutorials, and office hours to make sure we were on track. He has inspired me to continue studying fluid mechanics and adjacent subjects."
"Really nice man, although bit hard on the test"
Staff Awards
Department of Physics Staff Awards
Joane Magnaye - 2024 Award for Administrative Excellence
Research Secretary, Experimental & Quantum Optics
Joane has responsibility for providing a wide range of administrative support services to fourteen research groups in Biological Physics, Experimental Quantum Optics, and Experimental Quantum Condensed Matter Physics that currently comprise nearly one hundred students, research staff and faculty. In addition, she has responsibility for the weekly Department Colloquium, the QO/AMO Seminar Series and the BiophysTO Seminar Series.
All tasks that cross her desk are handled in a highly effective and timely manner. While firm on insuring that policies and processes are followed, she is patient, especially when working with students new to administrative requirements, and works quickly to ensure that reimbursements are made as soon as possible. Her quiet but friendly demeanor is always evident, and important to providing a hospitable welcome to our distinguished visitors and seminar speakers.
Paul Woitalla - 2024 Award for Technical Excellence
Machine Shop Supervisor
Paul joined the department nearly 10 years ago as the Student Workshop Supervisor. After serving in that role for 4 years, he became the Main Workshop Supervisor in 2019. An expert craftsperson with extensive knowledge of both traditional and CNC machining and fabrication, Paul has been instrumental in helping many experimental groups bring their custom experimental setups to life. Most importantly, Paul possesses the exceptional ability to cater to a diverse clientele, ranging from individuals with simple back-of-a-napkin sketches to those presenting highly sophisticated CAD drawings.
By Arman Molki, PLRS Director
Employee Anniversaries
Phil Scolieri, Supervisor, Physics Learning Resource Centre
Celebrating 30 years at the Department of Physics
This year marks Phil’s 30th anniversary with the department, and we couldn’t be more grateful for his continued dedication and contributions. As the Supervisor of the Physics Learning Services group, Phil has been essential in supporting our 3rd and 4th-year labs, ensuring that everything runs smoothly, from desktop computing to complex electronics setups.
Beyond his technical expertise, Phil is also a key player in ensuring a safe working environment as the co-chair of the Joint Health & Safety Committee and a certified member.
His colleagues describe him as always willing to help, even when faced with floods, fires, and financial droughts in the Advanced Lab. Whether he's managing hundreds of computers or assisting students and professors with their experimental setups, Phil does it all with patience, skill, and a touch of humor. In fact, one legendary story involves Phil placing a stuffed mouse made of electrostatics fur scraps near a co-worker’s PC. Phil’s patience paid off the next time his colleague reached down to reboot his PC, only to jump in surprise!
Phil’s commitment to our students and department has been unwavering. We are fortunate to have him, and we look forward to many more years of his wisdom, humor, and exceptional service.
By Arman Molki, PLRS Director