Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY – Hofstra has created the Hofstra University Center for Condensed Matter Research with support from a $525,000 congressional grant through the U.S. Department of Energy, Hofstra President Stuart Rabinowitz announced today.  U.S. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-Mineola) played a key role in obtaining the funding for the Center.

See the Launch: Video | Photos

"The new center will add to Hofstra's growing academic research in the physical sciences and, together with our new medical school in partnership with North Shore-LIJ Health System that is scheduled to open in 2011, pending all necessary accreditations, represents significant growth in our academic offerings in the sciences," President Rabinowitz said.

"I'm delighted to have helped Hofstra University secure a $525,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy for a new Center for Condensed Matter Research," said Rep. McCarthy. "The work being done by Hofstra faculty and students through the center can have practical applications such as better photocells that will improve people's lives and help create new jobs."

The Center will be officially launched on Friday, Feb. 6 at 10 a.m. in Herman A. Berliner Hall (Chemistry and Physics), California Avenue, South Campus. It will support ongoing work at Hofstra on practical applications of physics such as photocells, more powerful computers, physics of the heart and various types of networks, including ecosystems. Condensed matter physics deals with the macroscopic physical properties of matter, particularly the "condensed" phases that appear whenever the number of constituents in a system is extremely large and the interactions between the constituents are strong. This includes quantum systems, classical physical systems, chemical systems, biological systems, and even networks.

The Department of Energy grant will support a broad range of faculty research at Hofstra University, said Harold M. Hastings, Ph.D., chair and professor of the Physics and Astronomy Department at Hofstra and director of the Center. The Center's work will involve both pure and applied research, including pure research which might have unforeseen applications.

"The Center will be a focus for research in condensed matter at Hofstra University, building on strong efforts by many faculty," said Dr. Hastings. "The Center will support nationally known visitors, Hofstra students, and Hofstra faculty. The Center will help strengthen physics research and research training of students at Hofstra, building upon a strong recent past towards an even stronger future."

Among the work already underway by faculty at Hofstra:

•    Dr. Rohana Garuthara is working to develop a low cost, easily and safely manufactured photocell largely aimed at the developing world.  The development of such a locally manufactured photocell could profoundly improve the lives of many people, while reducing the emission of greenhouse gases and thus reducing global worming.
•    Drs. Sabrina Sobel and Hastings are studying chemical reactions that develop spontaneous oscillations, whose dynamics are a chemical analog for the dynamics of pacemaker cells in the heart.
•    Dr. Hastings is also studying the stability properties of large networks, with an aim towards better understanding failures in a diverse variety of networks ranging from ecosystems to the power grid.
•    Drs. Gregory Levine and Maxim Marienko are studying a variety of properties of quantum systems related to a potential quantum computer.  In principle, a quantum computer could be many times more powerful than existing computers. 

In addition, the Department of Energy grant will support research training for students who go on to become productive scientists and teachers, and will support faculty, equipment and collaboration for the period 2008-2011.

The Center is one of Hofstra's science initiatives, which also include the NASA-supported Astronomy Outreach Program and Hofstra University School of Medicine in partnership with North Shore-LIJ Health System, scheduled to open in 2011 pending necessary accreditations and approvals.

The mission of the Department of Energy is to advance energy technology and promote related innovation in the United States.  The Department of Energy is the largest federal sponsor of pure and applied scientific research in the United States, mostly through its national laboratories including Brookhaven National Laboratory.

Hofstra University is a dynamic private institution where students can choose from more than 140 undergraduate and 155 graduate programs in liberal arts and sciences, business; engineering; communication; education, health and human services;  and honors studies, as well as a School of Law. With a student-faculty ratio of 14-to-1, our professors teach small classes averaging 22 students that emphasize interaction, critical thinking and analysis. Hofstra offers a faculty whose highest priority is teaching excellence. The University also provides excellent facilities with state-of-the-art technology, extensive library resources and internship programs that match students’ interests and abilities with appropriate companies and organizations.  The Hofstra community is driven, dynamic and energetic, helping students find and focus their strengths to prepare them for a successful future.