Stevens Hosts APS CU*iP Conference, Advancing Connections and Career Readiness in Physics

Stevens selected as one of 15 hosts for annual conference that supports students as they navigate the physics world

A group of students pose for a picture behind a branded large frame using Stevens, American Physics Society and CUWIP branding.

In January 2025, Stevens Institute of Technology and the Department of Physics hosted the American Physics Society's annual Conference for Undergraduate Women and Gender Minorities in Physics (CU*iP) – a three-day conference on Stevens’ Hoboken, New Jersey, campus that brought together more than 100 selected regional undergraduate students along with Stevens faculty and experienced professionals in the physics world.

A student smiling and standing in front of a poster presentation at CUWIP. CU*IP brought together students across the region to connect with peers, participate in a host of workshops and present research.The goal of CU*iP is to help undergraduates discover opportunities in physics by providing access to peers and mentors who share their experiences, advice and information in a professional conference setting.

Experts from organizations such as the Simons Foundation, MIT Lincoln Lab, EWAAB, Nokia Bell Labs and Thorlabs – and Stevens – provided a full battery of networking opportunities/career sessions, poster presentations, workshops and plenary talks.

Ting Lu, teaching assistant professor and associate chair for undergraduate studies in the Department of Physics, led the organizing team for the event, which unfolded simultaneously with 14 other host universities, including New York University, California Polytechnic State University and Purdue University.

"In addition to hearing about the journeys of the speakers and panelists and getting their advice, the most valuable aspect of the conference is community-building and networking," said Lu.

Physics Teaching Assistant Professor Ting Lu

To help break the ice at the conference, the team implemented a "collect them all" strategy in which each attendee was encouraged to trade 10 different button designs among each other to complete a set designed specifically for the event.

"You can tell how excited they are to be in the same room with so many like-minded people and role models, to feel that they belong to this strong and supportive community," said Lu.

The conference was also highlighted by an evening cruise across picturesque New York Harbor.

Among the sponsors and supporters were the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Energy, GoFoton, Simons Foundation, Thorlabs and Nokia Bell Labs.