Contact InformationTaylor Hall 105 |
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Teaching
In the physics department, we deliberately cultivate breadth and variety in our teaching, so all of the physics faculty can and do teach most of the curriculum. As an experimentalist, I particularly enjoy teaching advanced lab courses, both our sophomore level Modern Physics lab, and the junior level Junior Independent Study. In addition to teaching critical thinking and lab skills, we use these courses to teach scientific writing. In addition to the lab courses, I frequently teach introductory Calculus Physics, Modern Physics, and upper-level courses in Quantum Mechanics and Condensed Matter.
Research
My research is experimental condensed matter physics. Mostly, it is generally in the broad area of optoelectronics. In addition, I have been working on granular systems with Dr. Don Jacobs, investigating avalanches in a three-dimensional beadpile. More detail on the projects can be found on this page.
Outreach
In my experience, most kids are naturally curious about how things work and why the world is the way that it is, even though they may not label their questions as physics! I want to encourage that curiosity and wonder! I still remember my grandfather taking an ordinary hair comb, charging it up, and using it to deflect a stream of water from a faucet. Our Wooster physics students have a wonderful set of outreach programs for local elementary schools, which they run themselves, as well as putting on the demo festival known as Science Day every spring. I also participate in a number of different outreach activities for local kids -- a little info and great pictures can be found on this page.
Professional Background
2017 - now Victor J. Andrew Professor of Physics, College of Wooster
2009 - 2017 Clare Boothe Luce Associate Professor of Physics, College of Wooster
2003 - 2009 Clare Boothe Luce Assistant Professor of Physics, College of Wooster
2000 - 2003 Post-doctoral fellow in (what was then) the Optoelectronics Division at NIST-Boulder
1999 Ph.D. in Physics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
1996 M.S. in Physics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
1993 B.A. in Physics (Women's Studies minor) from Goshen College