My research interests include atomic, molecular, and optical (AMO) physics as well as biophysics. In the area of AMO physics, my students and I conduct experiments in fundamental spectroscopy of negative ions. This involves extensive work with lasers, optics, electronics, ultra-high vacuum technology, programming, data acquisition and analysis. Over the years I have mentored and collaborated with over ten students in this area, resulting in numerous publications in the world's premier physics journal, Physical Review. We have also collaborated with researchers at Denison University and Bard College. In the area of biophysics, I have mentored and collaborated with an additional four students and two faculty colleagues to study physical properties of the unicellular green algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii as well as the spider silk of Nephila clavipes.
I teach courses ranging from introductory classes to advanced theory and experimental courses. Although I am at heart a very hands-on oriented experimentalist, I am passionate about the mathematical rigor of our upper-level courses and drawing physical meaning from the mathematics. I also enjoy teaching general-education courses for our non-science majors and will soon begin offering a writing course for the college writing program.
When I'm not in the lab, the classroom or my office, I'm usually spending time with my family. We enjoy hiking, biking, running, backpacking, gardening, carpentry and spending time with our extended church family.
