Astrophysical research centers on experimental radio astronomy, with particular emphasis on pulsars and the interstellar medium. Observations are carried out using major instruments of the U.S. National Observatories and generally involve computer analysis and interpretation.

Research in biological physics is being pursued in three areas: atomic-force microscopy (to study the structures of biological materials at the submicroscopic level); ultrasonic biophysics, (studying the physics of the interaction of ultrasound with living systems), and structural dynamics, looking at the changes in protein structure associated with function. These areas involve collaboration with the College of Medicine.

Acoustical and optical tweezers, being developed here, permit manipulating single cells without touching them. Theoretical and experimental studies of the biological effects of ultrasound emphasize the modeling of possible effects on humans.

New forms of ultrasonic transducers and biosensors are being developed in collaboration with electrical engineering as part of the Materials Science Program. The research area of biological atomic force microscopy (AFM) is focused on the use of state-of-the-art technology to study biological systems under their native conditions. The goals are to determine the structure of macromolecular and micromolecular assemblies at sub-micrometer resolution, and to study dynamic processes of proteins and membranes in real time. X-ray crystallographic studies of proteins structure tells us not just what the machinery of life looks like but how it much move in order to accomplish biological function.

Theoretical and computational research programs in condensed matter physics deal with electronic, optical, lattice-dynamical, thermodynamic, surface, and magnetic properties of metals, semiconductors, superconductors, laser crystals, and biological materials. Materials of current interest include transition and rare-earth metals, fullerides and fullerenes, ordered, disordered, amorphous and liquid metals and alloys, ionic solids, and doped elemental and compound semiconductors. Some of the general approaches include the analytical and numerical methods of self-consistent band theory, crystal-field theory, multiple-scattering theory, Green's function formalism, and density-functional theory. Experimental condensed-matter physics includes the nonlinear interaction of materials with ultrasound, as well as the submicroscopic structure of biological materials.

Theoretical studies of the optical properties of materials include the electronic structure of defect complexes in ionic crystals, the application of subtracted dispersion relations to optical data analysis, and the separation of inter- and intra-band effects in the infrared spectra of metals. Related studies are concerned with theories of X-ray scattering, of X-ray optical properties, and of X-ray optical elements.

Other faculty members at UVM are active in the history and philosophy of physical science, with particular regard to the way in which it evolves. Particular interests include the relationships among science, society, and technology issues in the physical sciences. Several faculty members also collaborate in local and national applied efforts and research in improving physics education.