Christopher Chigbo Ezike

I chose physics because the love and interest I have for discovering the mysteries of our universe. I was originally a chemical engineer major, but when I took the physics classes that were required for my degree plan, I fell in love with physics and yearned to know more.

Physics can define just about any phenomenon that occurs in our world and I’ve invested myself of uncovering them all. The one that sparked the fire was discovering new exoplanets and space exploration. Just the thought of extraterrestrial beings out there in the vast space sends chills down my spine. Through my research there is signs that such beings do in fact exist.

My primary passion in physics lies in the study of particle physics and nuclear physics, two fields that are intricately connected. I find particle physics particularly fascinating, as it allows us to probe beyond the atomic scale to uncover essential insights into the origins of our universe.

During the summer of 2024, I had the privilege of participating in the NuSteam program, which has been active for two to three years. This program focuses on advanced nuclear physics, beginning with lectures at the University of Houston delivered by esteemed professors and researchers. These lectures delve into nuclear physics topics that are typically not covered at the undergraduate level, including in-depth discussions on neutrinos, quarks, gluons, protons, leptons, particle accelerators, and more.

The program emphasizes the fundamental forces—electromagnetic, gravitational, weak, and strong—and their interactions with particles, particularly the strong force acting on quarks. I am enthusiastic about contributing to this research in collaboration with York University in Europe and the University of Houston.