Second-Year Learning Communities: Physics

By joining the Physics Second-Year Learning Community (SLC) you will be surrounded by a small community of second-year students who are learning to navigate their academic and co-curricular pathways to make the most of their experiences as a physics student. The SLC program is designed to help you make the most out of your degree by engaging in various social, academic and professional development opportunities.

For more information about physics, visit the Physics website

Apply to a Physics SLC

Applications for the 2025-26 academic year will open June 2, 2025 and close June 22, 2025.

Apply here

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Physics SLC you must be a second-year student enrolled in any of the following physics programs:

  • Biological Physics Specialist: Advanced Physics stream (science program)
  • Biological Physics Specialist: Biochemistry stream (science program)
  • Biological Physics Specialist: Immunology stream (science program)
  • Biological Physics Specialist: Physiology stream (science program)
  • Physics and Philosophy Specialist (science program)
  • Physics Specialist (science program)
  • Physics Major (science program)

SLC Course Overview

Students in the Physics SLC will meet bi-weekly for core sessions beginning the week of September 8, 2025, with informal hangouts offered in the alternate weeks.

Time: Wednesdays from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Your SLC Team

Department: Physics 

Title: Professor and Associate Chair, Undergraduate Studies 

Years worked for your current department and/or U of T: 24 

Undergraduate major/specialist and institution: Physics, Dalhousie University 

Hometown: Halifax, Nova Scotia 

Why you decided to serve as a faculty advisor: I elected to do this as part of my role as the Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies. 

One piece of advice for a second-year student: Seek advice before making decisions to drop or CR/NCR a course. 

Hobby or interest: Reading 

Headshot of Hala Larizza-Ali, Physics SLC staff advisor

Department: Physics 

Title: Undergraduate Coordinator 

Years worked for your current department and/or U of T: Over 4 years with the Department of Physics, over 12 years collectively at U of T 

Undergraduate major/specialist and institution: Biology Specialist, Environmental Sciences Major at the University of Toronto 

Hometown: Montreal, QC 

Why you decided to serve as a staff advisor: I am excited to serve as staff advisor, to be part of the SLC team to help support our second-year students and welcome them to their program of study and departmental community. 

One piece of advice for a second-year student: Get involved in activities to make the most of your university experience. Whether that is joining a student group, going to a workshop, or attending a departmental event! It serves as a nice break from your studies and provides you with opportunities to meet people and make those valuable connections!. 

Hobby or interest: Hockey and spending time with my family. 

Headshot of Alex in front of an indoor plant garden

Program: Biological Physics Specialist: Physiology stream

Year: Four

College: St. Michael's College

Hometown: Oakville, ON

An interesting fact: I was a field assistant at a hummingbird lab for a summer and had the chance to catch and hold a few.

Studies: Figuring out how things actually work and feeling smart for a brief moment before realizing how much I don’t know.

Hobby or interest: Getting extremely and intensely invested in various tv shows.

Selfie of Aditya outdoors

Program: Physics Major, Book and Media Studies Major, Writing and Rhetoric Minor

Year: Three

College: Victoria College

Hometown: Nestleton Station

An interesting fact: My favourite movies are the Terminator and Legally Blonde!

Studies: I love using creativity to problem solve!

Hobby or interest: I love to read and swim. I also enjoy solving puzzles and watching movies!