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Academic Advising

Academic Advising

If you are not sure who to contact for your situation, you're welcome to send an email to physics@osu.edu and we will point you in the right direction.

Students with questions about Physics 1200-1201 or Physics 1250-1251 should contact Dr. Parisa Roustazadeh (the Physics 1200-1201 course manager) or Dr. Becky Bradley (bradley.484@osu.edu) (Physics 1250-1251 course manager).  The physics major advisors only work with 2000 level+ physics courses so they are unable to answer questions about the introductory courses.  

 

Mr. David Zach

Academic Advisor 
Email: zach.11@osu.edu
Offices: 1140 Physics Research Building; 4012 McPherson Lab
Advises:

  • All Astronomy & Astrophysics majors
  • All Astronomy & Astrophysics minors
  • All first year Physics majors (College of Arts and Sciences)
  • Continuing Physics majors who have not completed or enrolled in Physics 2095
  • Continuing Physics majors who are double majoring in Astronomy & Astrophysics
  • Students pursuing the Planetary Science certificate

Spring 2026 availability:

David can be contacted in the following ways:

  • By email at zach.11@osu.edu. Emails will be read and responded to during regular business hours: Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm US Eastern Time, with the exception of university holidays.
     
  • 30-minute Appointments (virtual or in-person): In general, I am available for appointments between 9:30am and 4:30pm US Eastern Time on weekdays where the university is open. All appointments must be scheduled through the university's scheduling and notes system, OnCourse. Appointments can be scheduled through my personal advising link (PAL).
     
  • Drop-in Advising: for quick questions that students anticipate will take 10 minutes or fewer to discuss. No appointment is necessary - just stop by if you have a question!

    Spring 2026 drop-in hours will take place:
    • Thursdays at 1:30-4:00pm US Eastern Time, via Zoom or in 4012 McPherson Lab
       
  • Express Drop-in Advising: additional drop-ins that will be offered during times of the semester (such as the 1st week and the 10th week) when there is high demand for academic advising. No appointment is necessary.

    Times and dates for Express Advising hours can be found on David's staff page.


Full details on how to schedule on how to schedule and access David's Zoom room for appointments, drop-ins, and express advising can be found on his staff page.

 

Ms. Lindsey Thaler

Director of Undergraduate Studies
Email: thaler.21@osu.edu 
Office: 1142 Physics Research Building
Advises:

  • All Engineering Physics majors (College of Engineering)
  • Continuing OSU Physics majors (College of Arts and Sciences) who are taking Physics 2095 or higher and who are not double-majoring in Astronomy (First-year OSU Physics majors and those who are majoring or double-majoring in Astronomy & Astrophysics will work with David Zach)
  • Students pursuing the Physics minor

Spring Semester 2026 Availability
During spring semester 2026 (January 12 - May 5) students can contact me in the following ways:

  • Email (thaler.21@osu.edu). Email is the quickest way to get ahold of me. Responses will be sent during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm)
  • In-person appointments. Students can schedule an in-person meeting with me through onCourse (buckeyes.campus.eab.com). Make sure to choose an in-person meeting. Meetings will take place in room 1142 Physics Research Building. 
  • Virtual appointments. Students can schedule an in-person meeting with me through onCourse (buckeyes.campus.eab.com). Make sure to choose a phone/remove meeting. Meetings will take place either over the phone or through Carmen Zoom.

Mr. Zach and Ms. Thaler can help students with questions about the following:

  • Undergraduate physics courses at the 2,000 level and above
  • Physics major requirements
  • Arts and Sciences General Education requirements
  • Petitions (late-add, over 18 hours, reinstatement, etc.)
  • Degree Audit Reports
  • Grade forgiveness policy
  • Scheduling difficulties
  • Getting involved in research and internships
  • General information about graduate school
  • Information about full-time employment
  • Physics and General GRE
  • And more

Students with questions about physics transfer credit should contact Dr. Becky Bradley (bradley.484@osu.edu).


Dr. Annika Peter

Vice Chair for Undergraduate Studies
Office: M2016 Physics Research Building
Email: peter.33@osu.edu
Phone: 614-688-3373

Dr. Peter can help students with the following:

  • Questions about undergraduate physics courses at the 2,000 level and above
  • In depth questions about research
  • In depth questions about graduate school
  • Problems or concerns with physics classes
  • Physics GRE questions
  • And more

To meet with Dr. Peter, please email her at peter.33@osu.edu to schedule an appointment.  

Ms. Lindsey Thaler

Director of Undergraduate Studies
Email: thaler.21@osu.edu 
Office: 1142 Physics Research Building
Advises: 

  • All Engineering Physics majors (College of Engineering)
  • Continuing OSU Physics majors (College of Arts and Sciences) who are taking Physics 2095 or above and who are not double-majoring in Astronomy (First year OSU Physics majors and those who are majoring or double-majoring in Astronomy will work with David Zach)
  • Students pursuing the Physics minor


Spring Semester 2026 Availability
During spring semester 2026 (January 12 - May 5) students can contact me in the following ways:

  • Email (thaler.21@osu.edu). Email is the quickest way to get ahold of me. Responses will be sent during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm)
  • In-person appointments. Students can schedule an in-person meeting with me through onCourse (buckeyes.campus.eab.com). Make sure to choose an in-person meeting. Meetings will take place in room 1142 Physics Research Building. 
  • Virtual appointments. Students can schedule an in-person meeting with me through onCourse (buckeyes.campus.eab.com). Make sure to choose a phone/remove meeting. Meetings will take place either over the phone or through Carmen Zoom.
     

Ms. Thaler can help students with questions about the following:

  • Undergraduate physics courses at the 2,000 level and above
  • Engineering Physics major requirements
  • College of Engineering General Education requirements
  • Petitions (late-add, over 18 hours, reinstatement, etc.)
  • Degree Audit Reports
  • Grade forgiveness policy
  • Scheduling difficulties
  • Getting involved in research and internships
  • General information about graduate school
  • Information about full-time employment
  • Physics and General GRE
  • And more

Students with questions about physics transfer credit should contact Dr. Becky Bradley (bradley.484@osu.edu).


Dr. Annika Peter

Vice Chair for Undergraduate Studies
Office: M2016 Physics Research Building
Email: peter.33@osu.edu
Phone: 614-688-3373

Dr. Peter can help students with the following:

  • Questions about undergraduate physics courses at the 2,000 level and above
  • In depth questions about research
  • In depth questions about graduate school
  • Problems or concerns with physics classes
  • Physics GRE questions
  • And more

To meet with Dr. Peter, please email her at peter.33@osu.edu to schedule an appointment.  

If you're interested in enrolling in the physics minor program or if you have questions, please contact Lindsey Thaler at thaler.21@osu.edu.

Engineering Physics majors with questions about the engineering honors program can contact Mr. Michael Knisley at knisley.33@osu.edu. Visist here for additional information about the College of Engineering honors program.

Arts and Sciences Physics majors with questions about the Arts and Sciences honors program can schedule an appointment with Kennedy Sepsi by following the directions on the ASC Honors website.

If you're interested in graduating with research distinction, or if you're interested in getting more information about the process, please contact the following person based on your program:

Honors Physics Majors: Please following the directions outlined on the ASC honors website.

Non-Honors Physics Majors: Please follow the directions outlined on the College of Arts & Sciences website.

Honors and Non-honors Engineering Physics Majors: Please follow the directions outlined on the College of Engineering advising website.

Please note that the rules and processes for research distinction are handled at the college level (not the department level), so the physics advisors are unable to answer questions about research distinction.