Ralf Bundschuh, a professor in the Department of Physics, has been appointed chair of the department beginning July 1, 2024.

Bundschuh’s research, supported by the National Science Foundation, focuses on condensed matter theory and biophysics. He is the co-director of the Interdisciplinary Biophysics Graduate Program at Ohio State, and is associate editor for Physical Review E, a peer-reviewed journal published by the American Physical Society.

"It is a great honor to serve as chair of such an outstanding department as Ohio State's Department of Physics," Bundschuh said. "The previous chair, Michael Poirier, has left the department in excellent shape and I am looking forward to further strengthening it by supporting the growth of our faculty, staff, students and post doctorates, improving our instruction and nurturing the Department of Physics community."

Bundschuh received his PhD in 1996 from the University of Potsdam and Max-Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces in Germany. He joined the Department of Physics in 2001 and is a three-time recipient of the Dr. Elizabeth L. Gross award for faculty excellence.