A full lecture hall for a talk on searches at the LHC

The University of Chicago

Society ofPhysics Students

Professor talks, integral bees, Python workshops, and free pizza. Open to undergrad and grad students of every major.

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Mondays, 6 PM
KPTC 206
5720 S Ellis Ave

Between meetings

Autumn 2026

We meet Mondays at 6 PM in KPTC 206, with pizza every week. The next date will be out on the mailing list as soon as it’s set.

Join the mailing list @spsuchicago

Who we are

The Society of Physics Students is where people at UChicago who like physics find each other. Every Monday at 6 PM we take over KPTC 206 for a professor talk, an integral bee, a Python workshop, or just pizza.

Any major, undergrad or grad, no physics background needed. No membership, no RSVP. Walk in.

We’re UChicago’s chapter of the national Society of Physics Students and host events with the Department of Physics.

The SPS logo: a cat peeking out of a box labeled SPS

Our mascot lives in a box. Nobody has checked whether it’s alive.

Professor talks
Faculty on what their labs are chasing.
Nobel laureates
Kip Thorne, Andrea Ghez, and Eric Cornell, so far.
The Integral Bee
Head-to-head at the chalkboard. The winner is crowned Master of Integrals.
Python for Research
A student-taught series, from NumPy to Pandas.
Research nights
Summer Research Rants, panels, and the Research Palooza.
Physics Friends Figuring out Physics
One classic problem, worked out together.
Nights off
Pictionary, open mic, game nights, films, and the Physics Phormal.

Schedule

Mondays, 6 PM, KPTC 206 unless noted.

Subscribe to the calendar
2026–27
2025–26

Autumn 2026: 2 meetings

  1. Mon
    Oct 5

    First Meeting of the Year

    Special event

    Kicking off 2026–27: intros, pizza, and what SPS is all about.

    6:00 PM, KPTC 206

  2. Mon
    Oct 12

    Intro to the Physics Major

    Explore B.A. and B.S. requirements, course and elective options, and how to choose between the degrees. An upperclassmen panel will answer questions about the major, student experiences, and double majoring. Pizza provided; first-years especially encouraged to attend.

    6:00 PM, KPTC 206

More dates will be out on the mailing list as they’re set.

Past events*

Talks, bees, panels, and parties from the last two years.

Meet the Board

Select a profile to read more.

  • Maya Atassi
    Maya Atassi
    Co-President
    Read bio

    Physics & Astrophysics

    Fourth-year Physics and Astrophysics major interested in experimental and observational cosmology, especially the cosmic microwave background (CMB). Worked in UChicago’s McMahon Cosmology Lab on CMB polarization calibration and at Argonne on telescope data analysis. Most recently worked at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory on planning a future CMB space mission.

    Fun fact: She has a twin sister.

    atassi@uchicago.edu
  • Ualype de Andrade Uchoa
    Ualype de Andrade Uchoa
    Co-President
    Read bio

    Physics & Astrophysics

    Fourth-year Physics and Astrophysics major interested in theoretical and observational cosmology, tensions in the standard cosmological model, and turning sky measurements into constraints on cosmological parameters. Works in Scott Dodelson’s group on understanding the S8 tension. Spent the summer at the University of Pennsylvania constraining evolving dark energy with higher-order cosmic shear statistics.

    Fun fact: His name combines four names, with a million-dollar prize if you guess them right.

    ualype@uchicago.edu
  • Vedat Tutuncu
    Vice President & Treasurer
    Read bio

    Physics

    Spent a summer at Argonne National Laboratory, working in the Materials Science Division.

  • Madelena Batista
    Madelena Batista
    Secretary
    Read bio

    Physics · Biology minor

    Third-year Physics major and Biology minor interested in biophysics. Spent the summer studying genetics in the Pincus Lab, using RNA sequencing to compare genetic mutations with environmental perturbations.

    Fun fact: Taxidermized a mouse.

  • Aadarsh Agarwal
    Aadarsh Agarwal
    Social Chair
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    Physics & Philosophy

    Fourth year studying Physics and Philosophy, part of the QP-AI Group and interested in Computation and AI.

    Fun fact: He can write in mirrored text.

  • Maya Karai
    Media Officer
  • Doğa Eker
    Doğa Eker
    Outreach Officer
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    Physics & Astrophysics · Mathematics minor

    Physics and Astrophysics major and Mathematics minor interested in stellar astrophysics, especially theoretical stellar evolution, stellar magnetism, and constraining astroparticle properties. Works in Derek Buzasi’s group on polarimetric asteroseismology. Spent the summer at Fermilab’s Superconducting Quantum Materials and Systems Center, working on superconducting cavities to enhance sensitivity to axion dark matter.

    Fun fact: My hometown was the homeland of the Amazon warriors.

    dogaeker@uchicago.edu
  • Charles Marsden
    Charles Marsden
    General Board Member
    Read bio

    Mathematics & Physics

    Second-year Mathematics and Physics major interested in applications of machine learning in science. Works in Hsiao-Wen Chen’s group on the properties of gas in and around galaxies. Spent the summer at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory.

    Fun fact: Plays piano.

Friends of SPS

Student RSOs we team up with for joint events.

Get the weekly email

One email a week during the quarter: who’s speaking, what we’re doing, and where. Unsubscribe anytime.

Or just show up

No membership, no application, no RSVP. No physics background required. Bring a friend.