Welcome to the Department of Physics at Maynooth University.
Maynooth has a long tradition of excellence in experimantal physics. The inventor of the induction coil, Nicholas Callan, was Professor of Experimental Physics from 1826 to 1864. Callan's work has been recognised by the Institute of Physics and the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. Much of Callan's scientific equipment is on display at the National Science Museum here in Maynooth. The study of theoretical physics at Maynooth also has a long and distinguished tradition. Modern theoretical physics and applied mathematics are exciting and dynamic and that excitement is reflected in the research projects which are pursued in the Department.
Currently, staff of the Physics Department are involved in a number of research areas in experimental physics, theoretical physics, and astrophysics, including astronimcal instrumentaion, condensed matter and strongly correlated systems, cosmology, elementary particle physics and quantum field theory, environmental physics, molecular physics, observational astrophysics, quantum optics, and quantum information science. More information about our current research interests is available from our Research page.
Facilities at Maynooth
Experimental Physics at the National University of Ireland Maynooth is now housed in the New Science Building on the North Campus in 1998. This building accommodates the departments of Physics and Chemistry and the new facilities, in equipment as well as in space, mean that Maynooth has one of the most modern and best equipped physics departments in the country. The departmental staff are heavily committed to both teaching and research. Much of the research work involves international collaborations and opportunities exist for undergraduates to be introduced to topics relating to some of these areas of investigation.
Courses at Maynooth
We offer a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in both experimental and theoretical physics. In addition, we teach mathematical methods for engineers and product design students. You can find more information about the courses we offer on our Courses pages.
The staff-student relationship is highly valued and the department operates an open-door policy so that students can gain advice or assistance with ease.
Graduates from the department have progressed to working at ESA, NASA, Caltech, Intel, Hewlett Packard, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, to name but a few.