Will Raven

Prof. Will Raven is a Professor of Physics at Smith College, where he joined the Department of Physics in 2013. He has mentored over 70 undergraduate researchers, published 8 peer-reviewed articles since 2020, and secured five NSF grants, including the NSF CAREER award. His research focuses on high-precision spectroscopy of neutral light atoms to test quantum electrodynamics (QED) and contribute to nuclear structure theory.

• Ph.D., University of Wisconsin–Madison
• B.S., Clarkson University

Prof. Raven’s research group explores fundamental atomic physics, testing the Standard Model by measuring properties of beryllium, boron, nitrogen, and oxygen atoms. He designed a course, PHY242 Research in High Precision Spectroscopy, accessible to first-year students without calculus or physics prerequisites. His work combines experimental techniques with educational innovation, emphasizing accessible research opportunities.

His recent publications (2025–2020) span precision spectroscopy of light atoms, hyperfine structure analysis, and laser stabilization methods. These articles represent fields such as Atomic Physics, Quantum Mechanics, and Optical Physics.

• American Physical Society 2025 Prize for a Faculty Member for Research in an Undergraduate Institution
• NSF CAREER award
• Smith College Student Government Association’s teaching award (twice)

Prof. Raven has secured NSF grants for his research, including RUI grants for experimental projects and MRI grants for instrumentation. He leads the Raven Lab, an experimental group dedicated to undergraduate research training and fundamental atomic physics studies.