The Department of Physics was organized in 1933, shortly after the establishment of the MISI, and has a long scientific and pedagogical tradition.
From 1933 to 1949 Professor Vasiliy G. Zhdanov was the Head of the Department. Having graduated from the Department of Physics and Mathematics at Moscow State University (MSU) he did a placement in Germany. His career at MISI named after Valerian V. Kuibyshev began as an assistant, he subsequently held the positions of Assistant Professor and then Professor and Head of the Department. He was highly qualified teacher, besides, he created the first Physical Laboratory at the Department, corresponding to the level of the leading University. He devoted many years to solving physic and mathematical tasks. He was awarded the Order of the Badge of Honor and the medals For the Defense of Moscow and For Valiant Labor.
Associate Professor Vera N. Maslova was the Head of the Department in 1949 - 1958. She read the rarest lecture course of Physics, gave a brilliant qualitative description of the main physical and natural phenomena. The scientific activity of V.N. Maslova revolved around issues of acoustics.
Over the years at the Department was headed by Professor Gleb I. Loginov (1958 – 1971) Professor Aleksandr I. Elkin (1971 – 1990), Cand. Sc. Physics and Mathematics, Professor Nina I. Prokofieva (1990 – 2015), Acting Head of the Department, Candidate of Chemical Sciences, Associate Professor Marina I. Panfilova (2015 – 2017), Ph.D. in Eng.Sc., Associate Professor Olga I. Poddaeva (2017 – 2020).
Since September 2020 the Head of the Department is Cand. Sc. Physics and Mathematics, Associate Professor, Natalia A. Parfentieva. She was a participant and organizer of International Scientific Conferences held in Russia and Europe. She is an author of "Aerosol Physics" and "Theoretical Hydromechanics” special lecture courses, also she cooperates with publishing houses in Moscow. N.A. Parfentieva has many thanks from the Ministry of Science of the Russian Federation, the mayor, letters, diplomas and awards. Currently the academic staff of the Department of General and Applied Physics consists of 14 teachers: 1 Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, 8 Candidates of Sciences, 6 Associate Professors. Teachers preserve the traditions of the Department, give lectures and conduct classes at a high professional level; many of them have a long work experience (V.L. Kashintseva, S.V. Trukhanov and O.A. Novoselova). All teachers are engaged in educational, methodological and scientific work (responsible person is S.V. Trukhanov). The support staff, training and laboratory assistants (including O.V. Petrochenko, V.V. Bulanova who has extensive experience) provide great help in the educational process, rooting for achievements of the Department.
Recently a lot of work has been done to update the Laboratory. New laboratory studies and mathematical processing of the experiments results are being introduced into the educational process. The Head of the Educational Laboratory at the Department E.K. Kuvshinova takes active part in this modernization process. She is a MGSU graduate and is an active, qualified employee with gratitude for successful work.
An active process of using of computers and digitalizing textbooks in the educational process is underway to help students prepare for classes and process material better. The space of the Department is improving with new beautiful training posters hung in teaching laboratories and classrooms, flowers, thematic painting of the walls in halls.
The academic staff of the Department of Physics is responsible for pre-academic programs, considering this work very important for the successful study of future students (responsible person - D.A. Leonova). Many employees of the Department have gratitude from the University, the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation and Moscow.
The employees of the Department of General and Applied Physics participate actively in the life of the University, regularly confirm their qualifications, taking part in scientific and technical conferences (including ones with international participation). Over last years many scientific articles and teaching guides have been published at the Department. Scientific articles of many teachers are published in prestigious peer-reviewed domestic and foreign scientific journals.
A lot of scientific and methodological work is being carried out at the Department of General and Applied Physics. Since 2010 the Department has been training and organizing the participation of MGSU students in Olympiads in physical and mathematical disciplines. The Department interacts with many Institutes and Departments of the University, conducts joint projects and seminars.
