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About Thomas Vojta

Dr. Thomas Vojta - Professor of Physics (Ph.D., Chemnitz University of Technology, 1994), is a theorist working at the boundary between condensed matter and statistical physics. He investigates the long-time and large-distance behavior of quantum system with many degrees of freedom, using quantum field theory as well as numerical simulations. His expertise includes quantum and classical phase transitions, critical behavior, magnetism, superconductivity, and transport in disordered materials.

Dr. Vojta was named Chair of the Physics department, effective January 1, 2018.

In 2015, Vojta was named a Fellow of the American Physical Society. He was nominated by the society’s Division of Condensed Matter Physics for his “innovative analyses of quantum phase transitions in the presence of strong disorder.”

His research in theoretical physics has been supported by grants from the National Science Foundation totaling more than $1,400,000. It focuses on quantum phase transitions – transformations of materials near the temperature absolute zero – that occur, for example, due to changes in the material’s chemical composition. Vojta hopes to discover new unconventional states of matter that can appear in connection with these transformations, such as superconductors that have the ability to transfer electricity without any loss.

Vojta joined the Missouri S&T faculty as an assistant professor in January 2002. He was named associate professor in 2006 and full professor in 2011. Before his work at S&T, Vojta served as Heisenberg Fellow in the department of theoretical physics at University of Oxford in Great Britain.

Vojta earned a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Chemnitz in Germany in 1994. His research interests are in solid state and statistical physics; they include phase transitions, superconductivity, magnetism, as well as transport in disordered materials.

Positions

January 2018 - Present Department Chair, Missouri University of Science and Technology ‐ Physics
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2016 - Present Curators' Distinguished Professor of Physics, Missouri University of Science and Technology ‐ Physics
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September 2011 - 2016 Professor of Physics, Missouri University of Science and Technology ‐ Physics
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September 2006 - August 2011 Associate Professor, Missouri University of Science and Technology ‐ Physics
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January 2002 - August 2006 Assistant Professor, Missouri University of Science and Technology ‐ Physics
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March 2001 - December 2001 Heisenberg Fellow, University of Oxford ‐ Theoretical Physics
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May 1999 - February 2001 Scientific Assistant, Chemnitz University of Technology ‐ Institute of Physics
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Curriculum Vitae

Disciplines

Research Interests

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Honors and Awards

  • 2015: Fellow of the American Physical Society
  • 2005: Cottrell Scholar Award, Research Corporation
  • 2004: CAREER Award, National Science Foundation
  • 2000: Heisenberg Fellowship, German Research Foundation

Courses

Education

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December 1999 Postdoctoral degree in Physics, Chemnitz University of Technology ‐ Physics
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November 1993 - February 1995 Ph.D. in Physics, Chemnitz University of Technology ‐ Physics
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March 1992 - November 1993 University of Mainz ‐ Chemistry
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September 1986 - March 1992 M.S. in Physics, University of Dresden ‐ Physics
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Links

Contact Information

103 Physics Building
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Rolla, MO 65409-0640

Phone: (573) 341-4793
Fax: (573) 341-4715

Email:

ORCID

Research Works (171)