• University of Arizona (8/2007-present): Physics Ph.D. program.
• University of Rochester (8/2006-7/2007): Physics Ph.D. program (transferred to UA).
• Northern Arizona University (8/2004-5/2006): M.S. Applied Physics with distinction. Read thesis.
• Ohio State University (6/2001-8/2002): M.Ed. in Math, Science and Technology Education. Read thesis.
• Bowling Green State University (8/1991-5/1996): B.S. Physics & Mathematics, Chem minor.

• University of Arizona, Physics. August 2010-current.
  • Experimental high energy physics: ATLAS experiment at CERN.
    • Service: Maintenance of CSC chambers in COOL database.
    • Research: Higgs search analysis.
• University of Arizona, Center for Mathematical Sciences. Research Assistant, June 2009-December 2009.
  • Modeling light propagation in active media (Maxwell-Bloch equations).
  • Modeling optical responses of semiconductors (semiconductor Bloch equations).
  • Investigating EM-propagation on nonuniform meshes (to avoid staircasing effects on round objects).
• University of Arizona, Optics. August 2007-December 2007. Independent study for Dr. Ewan Wright.
  • Study of linear and nonlinear propagation of light.
  • Computation modeling of light wave propagation.
  • See summary of research.
• Northern Arizona University, Physics. August 2004-August 2006. Research Assistant for Dr. Gus Hart's Materials Simulation Group:
  • Vienna Ab Initio Simulation Package (VASP) used to calculate electronic band structures, density of states, formation enthalpies and strain energies for analysis of wide array of physical systems.
  • Creating mixed basis cluster expansions (MBCE), an Ising-like model, of FCC and BCC binary and pseudobinary alloys for stability and band structure predictions using Fortran, Perl, Matlab, Mathematica.
  • Thesis topic: Create a cluster expansion model of MgO-ZnO alloys for wide band gap engineering, i.e. predicting band gap energies for superlattices according to stacking direction/order and concentration. Topic of March 2006 APS talk.
  • Read thesis.
  • Summer 2005 research: Finished ironing out mathematical formalism and preliminary MatLab programming for extension of MBCE theory to include HCP binary alloys (and other non-Bravais lattices). New code may now be created so that new magnesium alloys may be predicted for industrial use. Topic of March 2005 APS talk.
  • Contact Dr. Gus Hart (Advisor), gus_hart AT byu.edu, http://msg.byu.edu/
• U.S. Particle Accelerator School, June 20-July 1, 2005, Cornell University.
  • 3 credit hour graduate course, "Accelerator Physics," taught by Dr. Waldo McKay from B.N.L. (received 'A').

March 2006, APS: Computational band gap engineering in wide-gap MgO-ZnO alloys. Wide-gap semiconducting materials are extending critical applications in high temperature/power electronics and optoelectronics such as with the continued advancement of blue to ultraviolet LEDs and lasers. MgO-ZnO alloys have been increasingly investigated due to their UV luminescence from 150-400 nm, 3.3-7.8 eV. We have developed a first-principles model Hamiltonian that predicts band gaps of cubic MgO-ZnO alloys for any superlattice type or atomic configurations. First-principles band gap energies were used as input to construct an Ising-like cluster expansion, and the cluster types used were determined using a novel genetic algorithm. The design of specific wide-gap MgO-ZnO alloy superlattices for desired target band gaps is now possible with this resultant model Hamiltonian.

March 2005, APS: Magnesium Alloy Precipitate Formation Using Mixed Basis Cluster Expansions Unlike steel and aluminum alloys, the basic science of magnesium alloys is poorly understood. The automotive industry is driving demand for lighter structural material, and readily available magnesium alloys have a higher strength-to-weight ratio than their aluminum counterparts. We seek to predict magnesium alloy properties from first principles, particularly the hardening effect of precipitate formation. Mixed basis cluster expansions (MBCE) have successfully modeled precipitate shapes and growth in aluminum alloys. This methodology has not been extended to hcp-based materials such as magnesium alloys. In order to model binary magnesium alloys using the MBCE, particularly precipitate morphologies, we have constructed a coherency strain model for hcp structures to correctly represent the long-range strain fields around precipitates. Coupling this generalized strain model to an Ising-like expansion methodology we have developed a mixed-basis cluster expansion for hexagonal symmetries.

• University of Arizona, Physics, TA. August 2007-present.
  • I enjoy extracting the highest level of achievement from my students through motivation, conceptual change and high expectations: UA teaching survey results.
  • Laboratory instruction Physics: introductory electricity & magnetism for engineering/physics majors.
  • Single-handed effort to develop new diversity-inclusive laboratory manual based on written Socratic dialogue, authentic assessment, and open-ended mini-projects: lab manual web pages.
  • Administration of summertime REU program.
    • Participation in grant proposal writing.
    • Creation and maintenance of REU website.
    • Creation of training modules:
      • MatLab programming.
      • LabView programming.
      • HTML programming.
      • Oscilloscope use with LRC circuits.
      • Digital electronics (7400 chip on breadboard with LEDs)
      • Team building catapult construction project.
    • Recruiting research labs for summer participation.
    • Organizing lab tours, machine shop training, resolving student issues (such as sexual discrimination).
    • Voluminous paperwork (perhaps this should go first!).
  • Contact Laboratory Manager Dr. Roger Haar, (585) 621-6773. haar AT physics.arizona.edu
• University of Rochester, Physics & Astronomy, GTA. August 2006-July 2007.
  • Selected to teach recitations for the demanding honors calculus-based physics course in the fall semester. See online.
  • Based upon exemplary teaching in Fall semester, selected to teach module workshop format recitation for the introductory undergraduate quantum mechanics course in the spring semester. See extensive QM teaching materials online.
  • Delivered own introductory calculus-based mechanics course during summer 2007. See elaborate course design online.
  • Received AAPT Teaching Prize.
  • Contact Dr. Frank Wolfs, (585) 275-4937. wolfs AT pas.rochester.edu
• Northern Arizona Univ., Physics & Astronomy, GTA. August 2004-May 2006.
  • Extended curriculum for PHY 262L, E&M lab for physics majors, for which I received outstanding student evaluations.
  • Taught 111L, non-calculus mechanics lab, and 111R mechanics recitation also with great evaluations.
  • NAU teaching survey results.
  • See snapshot of NAU physics grad program online.
  • Contact Dr. David Cornelison (Physics Chair, now at Missouri State)
• East High School, Freshman Algebra Teacher. August 2002-June 2004.
  • As a successful inner-city teacher, I learned to think fast, negotiate complicated situations, address multitudinous student issues, and manage every second of the day.
  • My core principle was to motivate my students to attempt a challenging curriculum while providing a safety net so that a failure cycle could be avoided.
  • I had to be self-motivated and a self-starter every single day to reach my students.
  • Contact Edward Johnson (Principal, now at Reynoldsburg High).
• Grange Insurance Company, Pricing Analyst. August 1999-June 2001.
  • I learned a great deal about team management due to the open, sharing atmosphere that enabled us to accomplish greater productivity with less resources than other similar companies.
  • My statistical reviews were utilized by our product management teams to determine each product's competitiveness and profitability. Each review involved retrieving data from large databases and analyzing it on complicated spreadsheets.
  • I learned over time to analyze material and present findings in clear and concise ways that were most useful to managers and executives.
  • I developed novel and innovative methods to analyze data that were quickly adopted by the executive team as necessary for every statistical review.