Cristian Bahrim has received his B.S.c./M.S.c. degrees from University of Bucharest in 1991, and Ph.D. degree from University of Paris-Orsay in 1997, under the supervision of Prof. Francoise Masnou-Seeuws. Between 1998 and 2001, he was postdoc at Kansas State University, in the Theoretical Atomic Physics Group of Dr. Uwe Thumm.

He joined the Department of Chemistry and Physics at Lamar University in 2001. Beginning with March 2005, he holds a joint appointment position with the Phillip M. Drayer Department of Electrical Engineering. In fall 2013, he was Interim Chair of the newly created Department of Physics.  In 2015 he became full professor.  In 2018-2019 he was the President of the Texas Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT), after several years of holding various officer positions in this organization. 

He is an active member of the American Association of Physics (APS) and mentor of the Society of Physics Students (SPS) at Lamar University, for which he was selected finalist in 2019, for the best SPS mentor of the Year award.

As teacher at Lamar, he led students to academic success, including Beck fellows, Goldwater, and McNair scholars, for which he received the 2015 Faculty mentor Award.  Also, he received the 2019 Faculty mentor Award in Physics & Astronomy from The National C.U.R. (Council of Undergraduate Research), in Washington DC. He co-organized various regional, national, and international conferences including the 2016 and 2020 Spring meetings of the Texas Sections of APS, AAPT and SPS Zone 13 hosted at Lamar University. He was for two years (2017 and 2018) visiting professor at the Shanghai International Studies University. He is now the Active Director of the Office of Undergraduate Research.  

His research interest is in the areas of atomic physics, quantum mechanics, optics, lasers, and light–matter interaction. He published more than 100 peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and conference proceedings papers.

Academic Awards

• French Government Fellowship, University of Paris, Orsay, France 1992 - 1997
• Postdoctoral Fellowship, J.R. McDonald Lab., Kansas State University 1992 - 1997
• Three Outstanding McNair mentor Awards at Lamar University 2005 - 2006
• 2015 Faculty mentor Award at Lamar University (local award)
• Visiting Professor at the Shanghai International Studies University in 2017-2018
• 2019 mentor Award in Physics and Astronomy from the Council of Undergraduate Research (national award)
• 2019 Finalist for mentor of the Year for the Society of Physics Students (national)

Teaching Awards and/or Grants

• Co-PI along with Drs. Peggy Doerschuk P., Jennifer Daniel, Christopher Martin, and Joe Kruger, on the NSF - STEP grant (DUE 0757057) entitled “STudents Advancing through Involvement in Research Student Talent Expansion Program (STAIRSTEP)” ($1,000,000). 2009 - 2014
• Sigma Pi Sigma Research Award ($2,000) with a group of UG physics students for a project titled “Solar and stellar measurements using accurate spectroscopic techniques,” grant awarded by the Society of Physics Students. 2013
• Two research enhancement grants at Lamar University (total $8500). 2005, 2007

Sponsorship of Student Organizations

• Advisor of the Society of Physics Students (since 2010)
• Sigma Pi Sigma – Physics Honors Society (re-activated in 2014 after 17 years).

University Service at Lamar

• Chair of the Physics Department (2013 – 02/2014)
• Faculty senator (since 2011-2014)
• Chair of the Faculty Issues Committee of the Faculty Senate (2014)
• member of the Tenure and Promotion Committees (2008-2012); Lamar Mirabeau Scholar Committee (2006-present)
• member in the Advisory Board of the EE department (2005-present) and participated to the ABET accreditation (2006 and 2013)
• member of Admissions Committee (2011)
• merit Award and University Professor Committee (2010-2011 and 2013)
• member of the Distinguished faculty lecturer committee (2012-2013)
• Chair of two Search Committees for hiring one tenure-track faculty and two instructors in 2009 and 2012
• Search Committee member for hiring one instructor in 2008, two administrative associates 2013, 2014, one lab manager 2014
• Marshall to Commencement Ceremonies