Meet Your New Colleague: Demetri Papagermanos
Our machinist, Demetri Papagermanos, was recently featured on Stony Brook University's "Meet Your New Colleagues!" page. This page provides short profiles of some new Stony Brook University employees – who they are, what they want you to know about them, what they care about. Here's a snippet from the article:
A self-described ‘gear head’ who loves to ‘make and fix’ things, working as a machinist at SBU checks all the boxes for Demetri Papagermanos. “It’s just really fun. I forget that it's work,” he says. “Every day, I get to continue to do the things that I liked to do when I was a student here. And I know I’m helping the Physics and Astronomy Department make the world a better place. So it’s great.”
Growing up in Queens and now living in Port Jefferson, Demetri says he knew all about SBU and when he visited, he knew this was the place – and path – for him. Living on and off campus, he took advantage of many opportunities, most notably the on-campus motorsports team. “That club helped drive and fuel my desire to learn mechanical engineering. It was a way to sharpen my skill set and get better at racing. But I also learned skills like welding there. And I held multiple leadership positions throughout the club.”
You can see the full article and video here.
Superpositioned to Lead the Way in Quantum Education: Stony Brook QuEST Conference
Quantum science is revolutionizing the way we understand and interact with the world, and provides the basis for groundbreaking advancements in computing, simulation, sensing, communication, and security. As the field grows, so too does the need for a workforce that understands its power and significance.
To address this challenge, Stony Brook University hosted the International Year of Quantum 2025 Educational Leadership Conference on March 12 to discuss the future of quantum education.
Sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and led by three faculty members from Stony Brook’s Department of Physics and Astronomy and Institute for STEM Education (I-STEM), the Quantum Education for Students and Teachers (QuEST) conference brought more than 150 K-12 school district administrators, teachers, and university and STEM education partners to the Stony Brook Hilton Garden Inn. The conference provided an opportunity for attendees to discuss the future of quantum information science and technology (QIST) education.
You can read more here.
Megan McDuffie receives 2025 John Marburger III Fellowship for Science, Engineering and Mathematics
It is our pleasure to share the news that Megan McDuffie, a graduate student in the Physics & Astronomy department, has received the 2025 John Marburger III Fellowship for Science, Engineering and Mathematics!
This fellowship is funded by an endowment made in the memory of Dr. John H. Marburger, III, former president of Stony Brook University, director of Brookhaven National Laboratory, science advisor to President George W. Bush, and Vice President for Research at Stony Brook.
The fellowship provides funding support for women undertaking advanced graduate study in the physical sciences, engineering, or mathematics.
Selections for this prestigious award are based on scholastic merit and contributions to the Stony Brook University community.