2025 Annual Meeting

2025 Annual Meeting of the APS Mid-Atlantic Section

November 14 - 16, 2025 • Penn State Harrisburg

The Executive Committee of the APS Mid-Atlantic Section (MAS) is pleased to announce that the Section will hold its annual meeting MAS25 fully in person on the campus of Penn State Harrisburg from November 14 to 16, 2025, starting at 2:00 PM on Friday, November 14, 2025.

Established in 2013, APS MAS's objective is to engage and strengthen the physics community in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States and aid APS in its mission to advance and diffuse the knowledge of physics at the regional level. The Section serves the District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

Graduate and undergraduate students are especially welcome and encouraged to attend and submit an abstract for presentation. The meeting includes plenary and parallel sessions covering a broad range of current topics in physics research, a student poster session, and a graduate program fair.

View Meeting Flyer

Meeting Schedule

Please visit the following website for more recent updates APS Mid-Atlantic Section Meeting 2025 at Penn State Harrisburg – APS at Penn State Harrisburg

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2025 Annual Meeting of the APS MAS

» Location

» Scientific Program

» Scope of the Meeting

» Travel Awards

» Registration

» Abstracts

» Travel & Accommodation

» Information for Presenters


LOCATION

The MAS meeting will take place on the campus of Penn State Harrisburg in Middletown, PA:

  • Science and Technology Building
    Penn State Harrisburg, 350 College Ave, Middletown, PA 17057 (Google Map)

Registration, plenary session will be held here on Friday afternoon, November 14.

  • Educational Activities Building (EAB)

Penn State Harrisburg, 777 W Harrisburg Pike, Middletown, PA 17057 (Google Map)

Registration, breakfast, parallel sessions and poster sessions will be held here on Saturday, November 15.

Breakfast and parallel sessions will be held here on Sunday morning, November 16.

Parking:

Visitor parking is available free of charge on the Penn State Harrisburg campus. No permits will be required.

The closest lots to the Science and Technology Building and EAB will be clearly marked for meeting participants. Please refer to the Penn State Harrisburg campus map for details.

SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM

1) Agenda (Draft) – APS Mid-Atlantic Section 2025

Friday, November 14, 2025

  • 01:00–02:30 PM — Registration / Welcome Coffee — Student Enrichment Center (SEC), Lobby : Map

  • 02:30–03:00 PM — Welcome Address — Student Enrichment Center (SEC), Kulkarni Theater ) Map

    • Section Officer welcome

    • Remarks by PSH official (Director, School of Science, Engineering & Technology)

  • 03:00–05:00 PM — Plenary Session — Student Enrichment Center (SEC), Kulkarni Theater

    • Plenary Talk

      • Dr. Swaroop Ghosh

      • Dr. Macarena Garcia Marin

      • Jainendra Jain (Presenting Remotely)

    • Award presentation

  • 05:00–05:30 PM — Transition / Break

  • 05:30–07:00 PM — Reception (APS attendees only) — Capital Union Building (CUB), Room 210 Map

    • Finger foods & cold beverages; live instrumental music

  • Evening (TBD) — Sky viewing with telescopes (weather permitting)

Saturday, November 15, 2025

  • 08:00–09:00 AM — Registration / Breakfast — Educational Activities Building North (EAB) (1st floor outside Rm 110 and 2nd-floor lobby)  Map

  • 09:00 AM–12:36 PM — Parallel Sessions- – EAB and Science and Technology Building (TL)

  • 12:36–02:00 PM — Lunch — On your own off-campus

  • 02:00–03:36 PM — Parallel Sessions — EAB and TL

  • 03:36–04:00 PM — Coffee Break — EAB (2nd floor lobby)

  • 04:00–06:00 PM — Poster Session — Capital Union Building (CUB),  Room 210  

  • 06:00-07:30 PM — Evening Reception (APS attendees only) – EAB (2nd floor lobby)

  • 07:30-9:00 PM --- Saturday Evening (Public Program) – EAB 104
    Authors Event: International Year of Quantum Science & Technology (public)

Sunday, November 16, 2025

  • 08:00–09:00 AM — Breakfast — EAB (2nd-floor lobby)  Map

  • 09:00 AM–12:36 PM — Parallel Sessions — EAB and TL

  • 12:36–02:00 PM — Lunch — On your own / departure window

Scope of the Meeting

This regional APS meeting welcomes contributions across all areas of physics, including (but not limited to) astrophysics and cosmology, AMO/optics, soft matter and biophysics, machine learning in physics, solid-state and quantum materials, nuclear and particle physics, physics education, and applied/engineering physics.

Participation is open to physicists at all career stages—including graduate and undergraduate students—and is not restricted to the Mid-Atlantic. We embrace and encourage a diverse participant community.

When submitting an abstract, please select the sorting category that best fits your work (choose the closest match if your topic spans multiple areas).

Sorting Categories for Abstract Submission (2025 Harrisburg)

01.0 Solid state materials and Applied Physics (Semiconductors)
02.0 Magnetism and Spintronics
03.0 Superconductivity
04.0 Nanostructures and Thin Films
05.0 Focused Session on Quantum Materials
06.0 Polymer Physics and Soft Condensed Matter
07.0 Fluids
08.0 Chemical and Molecular Physics
09.0 Biomaterials and Medical Engineering
10.0 Renewable Energy Research and Devices
11.0 Optical, Atomic, and Molecular Physics
12.0 Laser Physics, Imaging, and Remote Sensing
13.0 Astrophysics, Gravitational Physics, and Cosmology
14.0 Nuclear Physics
15.0 Space Physics, Plasma Physics, Solar-Terrestrial Physics, and Physics of Climate
16.0 High Energy and Particle Physics
17.0 Focus Session on Physics Educational Research, Policy, and Administration
18.0 Focus Session on Machine Learning in Physics
19.0 Focus Session on Careers
20.0 Quantum Computing
21.0 Biological Physics and Biophysics
22.0 Medical Physics
23.0 Career, Diversity, and Outreach
24.0 Applied Physics and Engineering

(3) Plenary Session (Opening Event)

We are excited to announce that this year’s plenary session will feature distinguished speakers, including Dr. Jainendra K. Jain, who will deliver an inspiring keynote address at the opening of the meeting on Friday.

  • Open to the Public: The plenary session is free and open to both APS attendees and the broader community.

  • Live Stream: A streaming option will be provided for those who prefer to join virtually rather than attending on campus.

  • Audience Questions:

    • Questions will be taken from both the main theater and the overflow room.

    • No questions will be accepted from the live stream audience.

(4) Meeting Sessions:

“APS person please attach the program HERE”

(5) Invited Speakers:

  • Dr. Robert Hilborn, University of Maryland, Teaching Quantum Physics for Quantum Computing: A Course for Undergraduate Computer Science, Computer Engineering, and Mathematics Majors.

  • Dr. Chandra Turpen, University of Maryland, The Culture around Systemic Change Survey (CSCS): Assessing how physicists work to enact systematic change in their programs.

  • Dr. Chindeu Ekuma, Lehigh University, Intercalation–Defect Synergy as a Co-Design Framework for Tunable 2D Quantum Materials.

  • Dr. Biton Roy,Lehigh University, Geometric and Quantum Phenomena on Projected Branes.

  • Dr. Yan Yang, University of Delaware, Multiscale Nature of Turbulence in Space Plasmas.

  • Dr. Louis Leblond, Pennsylvania State University, Helping Students Self-Regulate Their Physics Learning.

  • Dr. Can Ataca, University of Maryland at Baltimore County, From Electronics to Devices: ML- Augmented Multiscale Modeling for 2D Materials.

  • Dr. Kevin Luhman, Pennsylvania State University, A JWST Survey for Free-floating Brown Dwarfs Down to Mass of Jupiter.

  • Dr. Hassan Ali Alnatah, University of Maryland, Superfluids of Light: Bose–Einstein Condensation of Exciton–Polaritons.

  • Dr. Liangbo Liang, Oakridge National Laboratory, Exascale transport simulations for the understanding of the switching mechanism in atomically thin memristors.

  • Dr. Alice Flarend, Bellwood‑Antis High School, Entangle Students with Quantum from the Start.

  • Dr. Brian Clark, University of Maryland, Radio Detection of Neutrinos.

  • Dr. Zhongcan Xiao, Oakridge National Laboratory, Transforming Single Crystal Neutron Diffraction with ML Acceleration and AI Automation.

  • Dr. Aswathi Balagopal, University of Delaware, Beyond a Decade Beneath the Ice: Science with the IceCube Neutrino Observatory.

  • Dr. Eric Hudson, Pennsylvania State University, Enacting Departmental Change: Revising the Physics Qualifying Exam through Inclusive Stakeholder Engagement.

  • Dr. Soumendu Bagchi, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Integrating AI/ML and Extreme-scale computing workflows to accelerate and control materials dynamics and synthesis.

  • Erica Catanao- Mu, College of William & Mary, Mechanical Learning Based Reconstruction for Precision Neutrino Oscillation Measurements in NoVa

  • Seth Wolperth, Penn State Harrisburg, Parametric Analysis of a Central Pattern Generator Using Custom Analog Integrated Circuit Elements,

  • Swaroop Ghosh, Penn State Harrisburg, Quantum AI Approaches Towards Drug Design

    TRAVEL AWARDS

    Application deadline: Friday, October 25, 2025!

    The MAS25 Travel Committee has decided to offer a limited number of student travel awards and early career awards to encourage participation in the meeting at Penn State Harrisburg. The awardees will be selected based on the quality of their work, as evidenced by the submitted abstracts and the justification of their needs.

    (1) Student Travel Award:

    The student travel award is in the amount of $500.
    Students who are eligible to apply for the travel award must:

    1. Be the first author of the oral or poster presentation,

    2. Present their research in person at MAS25, and

    3. Justify why travel support is needed for attending MAS25.

    Please note that ONLY ONE application is allowed from each advisor.

    In the letter of support, the advisor must state:

    1. The applicant is in good standing as an undergraduate or a graduate researcher,

    2. Why the travel support is needed, and

    3. How the attendance at the annual meeting will benefit the applicant’s academic goals.

    To apply>>>

    Complete the form below and email it as an attachment to Liangbo Liang (liangl1@ornl.gov)

    MAS2025 Student Travel Award Application Form

    (2) Early Career Travel Award:

    The early career travel award is in the amount of $600.

    Eligibility for the Early Career Travel Award:

    1. Received a PhD degree within the past 10 years,

    2. Postdoctoral researcher or at the rank of Assistant Professor,

    3. Present an invited talk at MAS25, and

    4. Justify why travel support is needed for attending MAS25.

    To apply>>>

    Complete the form below and email with CV to Benjamin Jungfleisch (mbj@udel.edu)

    MAS 2025 Early Career Travel Award Application

    REGISTRATION

    Register Here

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    The early registration period ends Sunday, November 02 at 05:00 PM EST. After that, the regular rates apply. The regular registration will close on Monday, November 10 at 11:59 PM EST. This will be the last opportunity to register for attendance.

    There will be no late registration, and on-site registrations will not be available. If you plan to attend MAS25, please register before it closes.

    Note that you MUST register to present at the MAS25 Meeting.

    Join APS as a Member Here.

    Free first-year student membership

    If you are an undergraduate or a graduate student but not yet a member of APS, the first-year membership is FREE. Please join the APS membership before registering for the meeting. Joining APS has many benefits, including a subscription to Physics Today as well as opportunities for leadership development, fellowship application, community engagement, etc. Be sure to check the box for the Mid-Atlantic Section!

    Don't Have an APS Account? Click here

    Registration Questions: Please send registration inquiries to registrar@aps.org

    Registration Fees are:

     

    Early

    Regular

    Regular Members

    $140

    $170

    Non-Member* 

    $170

    $220

    Senior Member/Retired Members

    $100

    $120

    Early Career/Post Doc Members

    $100

    $120

    Grad students

    $45

    $55

    Undergrad students

    $25

    $35

    * Non-members can join APS at the same time they register. All registration forms and membership forms must arrive together and be accompanied by full payment.

    Reciprocal Society Member Discount
    Members of the following professional societies are eligible to register for the APS Mid-Atlantic Section 2025 Annual Meeting at the APS member rate. To receive the discount, please enter the coupon code RS25 at checkout during registration. 

    Recognized Reciprocal Societies: 

    • American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT)

    • Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)

    • The Biophysical Society (BPS)

    • American Association of Medical Physicists (AAMP)

    • Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)

    • American Chemical Society (ACS)

    • American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE)

    • American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)

    • American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)

    • American Mathematical Society (AMS)

    ABSTRACTS

    Abstract Submission Opens: Friday, August 22, 2025
    Abstract Submission Deadline: Friday, October 31, 2025 at 5:00 pm

    Submit Your Abstract

    TRAVEL

    Harrisburg, PA, is accessible by air, car, or train. A car is not strictly necessary in downtown Harrisburg, but depending on your lodging and schedule, rideshare or walking may be easiest.

    (1) General / Map

    You can find a general overview map of Harrisburg showing the location of the airport, Amtrak station, and Penn State Harrisburg campus area, along with adjacent parking and hotels here. General directions to the campus are available here.

    (2) Arrival / Departure by Car (for Penn State Harrisburg)

    If you arrive by car, please use the visitor parking lots near the Science and Technology Building on the Penn State Harrisburg campus.

    Parking for meeting participants will be free of charge, and no permits are required. Signs on campus will direct you to the designated visitor/event parking areas. For a visual guide, refer to the campus map.

    (3) Arrival / Departure by Train

    Harrisburg is served by Amtrak’s Keystone Service and Pennsylvanian lines, with frequent trains from Philadelphia, New York, and Pittsburgh.

    • Arrive at Harrisburg Transportation Center (Amtrak + Greyhound station).

    • From there, you can walk (about 10–15 minutes) or take a short rideshare to the downtown area.

    • To reach the Penn State Harrisburg campus, you will need to take a taxi or rideshare (approximately 15–20 minutes) or use the Capital Area Transit (CAT) bus service that connects downtown Harrisburg with Middletown, where the campus is located.

    (4) Arrival / Departure by Plane

    The nearest airport is Harrisburg International Airport (MDT), located in Middletown. The airport is only about 5 minutes by car from Penn State Harrisburg campus and about 15 minutes from downtown Harrisburg.

    • Ground transportation options include taxi, rideshare (Uber/Lyft), or the Capital Area Transit (CAT) bus service.

    • MDT is served by American, Delta, United, and Allegiant, with connections through Philadelphia, Charlotte, Atlanta, and other major hubs.

    👉 Visitors going directly to the Penn State Harrisburg campus can reach the Educational Activities Building North easily by taking a short rideshare or taxi ride from the airport.

    ACCOMMODATION

    (1) Hotel Information

    We have arranged discounted group rates at the following hotels near the Penn State Harrisburg campus and Harrisburg International Airport:

    • Comfort Inn
      1589 West Harrisburg Pike, Middletown, PA 17057
      Booking Link

    • Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Harrisburg International Airport
      4 Terminal Drive, Middletown, PA 17057
      Booking Link

    Group rate: $129/night (valid for 11/14/25–11/16/25; subject to change for additional dates)

    Both hotels are located within 5 minutes of Penn State Harrisburg and Harrisburg International Airport, making them convenient choices for meeting participants.

    Please note: You are not required to book through these links, but doing so will provide you access to the negotiated group rates.

    (2) Booking Tools

    For additional options, you may also wish to check hotels.com or booking.com, which sometimes provide competitive rates, especially for pre-paid reservations.

    INFORMATION FOR PRESENTERS

    Note that you MUST register to present at the meeting.

    (1) Oral Presentations:

    Oral speakers will present live to an in-person audience. Prepare a graphically rich presentation of your research, highlighting both the main points and the most exciting details.

     Allotted times for

    • Contributed talks are 10 minutes (10 minutes to present and 2 minutes for Q&A).

    • Invited talks are 36 minutes (30 minutes to present and 6 minutes for Q&A).

    • Plenary talks are 40 minutes (30 minutes to present and 10 minutes for Q&A).

    All presenters are required to bring their presentation on a USB thumb drive. Each session room is equipped with a Windows computer for projecting your talk, and each session has an assigned chair to assist with loading and displaying your presentation. Please note that using your own laptop is not permitted.

    Follow the directions of the session chair and adhere to your allotted time. Practice beforehand to ensure a smooth and timely delivery of your presentation. Prepare to answer short questions from the audience as moderated by the session chair.

    (2) Poster Presentations:

    Each poster must have a presenter. Posters must be no larger than 42 inches (W) x 36 inches (H) (landscape format). Presenters must set up posters on the assigned board at least 60 minutes before the start of the poster session and for the duration of the poster session. Each poster display board has marked your name, title, and abstract ID. Please locate your abstract ID from the APS Session Index and memorize your abstract ID (00001-00057). The session ID is F01. We place all abstracts on assigned poster boards in numerical order (00001-00057) to make it easier to find your assigned poster board. We will help with material (clips/push pins) for attaching your poster to our poster boards.

    Poster presenters need to prepare a 5-minute talk to help attendees navigate the presented work. Poster presenters must stand by the poster during the scheduled poster session to answer questions from attendees. Presenters may remove their posters immediately after the poster session or leave them there for further display according to the instructions of the


    Attendees of any APS in-person or virtual events are expected to meet standards of professional conduct as described in the APS Code of Conduct. Violations of these standards may disqualify people from future participation.