Department of Physics

The Department of Physics at South Dakota Mines combines hands-on learning with cutting-edge research opportunities in one of the most dynamic scientific environments in the region. Our students benefit from close faculty mentorship, small class sizes, and access to nationally recognized research facilities.

Mines lecturer honored with SPS award

The Society of Physics Students has named South Dakota Mines physics lecturer Michael Dowding the 2026 Outstanding SPS Chapter Advisor.

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Located near the Sanford Underground Research Facility — the nation’s leading site for underground particle physics experiments — the Department of Physics at Mines offers unparalleled opportunities to contribute to projects such as DUNE, LZ, and CASPAR. Alongside historic strengths in condensed matter and atmospheric science, our programs emphasize research, innovation, and real-world application. With award-winning student organizations, strong graduate placement rates, and a collaborative culture, the department provides a foundation for success in both academia and industry.

Meet Our Faculty & Staff

The Department of Physics at South Dakota Mines offers an engaging, research-driven education that combines hands-on learning with opportunities to work alongside faculty on groundbreaking experiments in particle, atmospheric, and condensed matter physics.

Undergraduate Experience

Physics students at Mines benefit from small class sizes, accessible faculty, and early research involvement. The program emphasizes problem-solving, critical thinking, and technical skills that prepare graduates for careers in engineering, research, and advanced study.

Research Opportunities

Students have unique access to the nearby Sanford Underground Research Facility—home to major experiments like DUNE, LZ, and CASPAR—along with projects in atmospheric science, materials physics, and applied research that connect theory to real-world discovery.

Work with our renowned faculty and collaborate on groundbreaking projects that address real-world challenges. The hands-on experience and expertise you will acquire at South Dakota Mines will not only contribute to your academic growth but also prepare you for successful careers in academia, industry, or government agencies.

Astroparticle Physics

IceCube, the largest neutrino observatory at the South Pole, allows scientists from South Dakota Mines and around the world to study high-energy neutrinos from extreme cosmic events, cosmic rays, dark matter, and other phenomena, thereby advancing the field of multi-messenger astronomy.

Condensed Matter

Mines faculty are active in the computational condensed matter physics of quantum materials, including functional oxides, intermetallic alloys, and two-dimensional Van der Waals materials, as well as in investigations of ferroelectric, magnetic, and magnetoelectric materials.

Dark Matter

Astrophysical observations suggest that most of the universe's mass is "dark" – composed of particles yet to be directly detected. Mines faculty are highly engaged in the search for such matter through collaborative experiments that seek out signals from our unseen universe.

Neutrino Physics

Researchers at South Dakota Mines are advancing our understanding of neutrinos through their involvement in four major international experiments – DUNE, MicroBooNE, ANNIE, and T2K – pioneering groundbreaking studies on neutrino properties, interactions, and astrophysical phenomena.

Nuclear Astrophysics

Nuclear astrophysics explores the processes driving stellar burning, nucleosynthesis, and the chemical evolution of the universe. Mines research in this area centers on low-temperature stellar environments and CASPAR, a groundbreaking experiment at the Sanford Underground Research Facility.

General Information

Mailing Address:
Physics
South Dakota School of Mines & Technology
501 East Saint Joseph Street
Rapid City, SD 57701

Physics Secretary's office: EEP227
FAX: 1 (605) 394-2365
Phone: (605) 394-2361
Email: physicsinfo@sdsmt.edu