Michael Foss-Feig has won the American Physical Society's Division of Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics (DAMOP) Award for outstanding doctoral thesis research in atomic, molecular, and optical physics. The award was announced at the 44th annual DAMOP meeting, held in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, June 3–7, 2013.
Foss-Feig performed his thesis work in the Rey group at JILA. His thesis is entitled "Quantum simulation of many-body physics with neutral atoms, molecules, and ions." The thesis is available on the JILA website.
The award recognizes doctoral thesis research of outstanding quality and achievement in atomic, molecular, or optical physics as well as encouraging effective written and oral presentation of research results. The award consists of $2,500 and a certificate citing the contribution made by the recipient. The award was established in 1992 by DAMOP and is sponsored by members and friends of the division.
The Physics Frontiers Centers (PFC) program supports university-based centers and institutes where the collective efforts of a larger group of individuals can enable transformational advances in the most promising research areas. The program is designed to foster major breakthroughs at the intellectual frontiers of physics by providing needed resources such as combinations of talents, skills, disciplines, and/or specialized infrastructure, not usually available to individual investigators or small groups, in an environment in which the collective efforts of the larger group can be shown to be seminal to promoting significant progress in the science and the education of students. PFCs also include creative, substantive activities aimed at enhancing education, broadening participation of traditionally underrepresented groups, and outreach to the scientific community and general public.