Department of Physics and Astronomy

Dr. Gruszko is an experimental nuclear physicist who focuses on the search for neutrinoless double beta decay. Searching for this ultra-rare decay could tell us why the universe is dominated by matter, instead of anti-matter, and requires us to build low-background experiments deep underground. She focuses on advanced analysis techniques and detector physics with the NuDot and LEGEND Experiments.

Dr. Gruszko arrived at UNC Chapel Hill in January 2020 after spending 2 years as a Pappalardo Fellow at MIT. She completed her PhD as a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow at the University of Washington, and received her BS in physics and BA in mathematics from University of Rochester. As a visible and invisible minority in physics, she is deeply invested in efforts to improve diversity and climate in the field; she is currently working on these topics as part of the Physics Department’s diversity committee, where she leads the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion scholar program.

Sheila Kannappan’s research interests include galaxy evolution, the large scale structure of the universe, and the cosmic mass inventory. As an observer, she has PI or leadership roles in four major surveys (RESOLVE, ECO, AIMSS, and LADUMA).

Dr. Kannappan received her AB and PhD in Physics, as well as an MA in the History of Science, from Harvard. Prior to joining the faculty at UNC, she was a Harlan Smith postdoctoral fellow and an NSF Astronomy and Astrophysics fellow at the University of Texas – Austin. She has been extensively involved in opening up access to science careers, including serving as a faculty advisor to the undergraduate Women In Physics Club, as co-chair of UNC’s Partnership with the American Physical Society Bridge Program, and as Director of the Computational Astronomy & Physics summer program. In between college and graduate school she was a 9th grade physical science teacher in Rocky Mount, North Carolina through the Teach for America program.

Dr. McNeil is a materials physicist who specializes in optical spectroscopy. Her current research is in three areas, the first of which is organic semiconductors for applications in displays, photosensors and solar cells; her research group uses resonant Raman scattering, transient absorption, and photocurrent measurements to elucidate the interplay of electronic and vibrational states in these materials in relation to charge transport. The second area is Brillouin scattering measurements of elasticity in biomaterials, and the third is vibrational studies of metal-organic framework compounds for catalysis of chemical warfare agent destruction.

Throughout her career, she has worked to increase the participation and success of women in science (especially physics), notably through the “climate for women” site visit program of the American Physical Society. She has also led efforts to promote the use of research-based pedagogy in physics education, both in her own department and nationally. She has been recognized for her work in these areas with awards from UNC and from professional societies.

Dr. W teaches introductory classes in physics. She is also an undergraduate advisor for the Department of Physics and Astronomy and has Mental Health First Aid, Haven, Safe Zone, Safe Zone Gender Identity/Expression, and Green Zone training to help support all students. She is the faculty advisor for two campus organizations – Visibility in Physics and Girls Engineering Change.