5/5/2006

Congratulations to May Physics Graduates!

Bachelor of Arts in Physics

Phillip A. Stafford

Bachelor of Science in Physics

Lucas S. Bilbro

Patrick E. Carr

Casey M. DeDeugd

Eric D. Helms

Adrian K. Hutchinson

David P. McGhan, Jr.

Nader W. Moussa

Jennifer M. Patton

Sarah E. Reising

Samantha L. Shaw

Daniel L. Sikes

Eamonn P. Tweedy

Mary M. Williard

Master of Science in Physics:

                Christopher T. Chadwick

Doctor of Philosophy in Physics

                Dean M. Connor Jr.
            Matthew J. Highland

            Cherno Jaye

            Haijiang Peng

NC State was well represented at this year’s joint conference between the National Society of Black Physicists and the National Society of Hispanic Physicists, held February 15^th through 19^th in San Jose, California.  Attendees included both graduate and undergraduate students: Beverly Clark III, Geraldine Cochran, Franklin DuBose, Anderson SundaMeya, Turhan Carroll, and Danielle Speller. Dr. Michael Paesler and Dr. Robert Beichner led the group.  At the closing ceremonies, Danielle Speller, a senior in Physics and Applied Mathematics, was awarded a first place undergraduate research award for a poster presentation on work with Dr. Hans Hallen regarding the interaction mechanism between plant nuclei and Al/OTS coated fiber optic probes. 

Physics Undergraduate Research Colloquium

The Rodney  I. McCormick Award for outstanding undergraduate research in physics was presented to Casey de Deugd and Mary Williard at the Physics Undergraduate Research Colloquium on Wednesday, April 19^th, 2006.   Casey's research on "Growth and Characterization of Mixed Silane Monolayers" was mentored by Dr. Clarke, and Mary's research on Visualizing Viral Infection with Single Particle Fluorescence" was mentored by Dr. Weninger.

Following research talks by Casey and Mary, poster presentations of  undergraduate research were presented by Courtney Evans, Ryan Field, Amit Lakhani, Elijah Martin, Kasey Phillips,

Wesley Roberts, Paco Robles, Mary Scott, Samantha Shaw, Danielle Speller, and Gareth Wilson-Short.

Mary, Amit, and Kasey (different Mary, different Kasey) were selected for their outstanding poster presentations.

This same event included the induction of nine new members of Sigma Pi Sigma, The National Physics Honor Society, with physics senior Danielle Speller presiding over the ceremony.

The new members are Ken Ball, Luke Bilbro, Lori Downen, Ryan Field, James German,

Amit Lakhani, Kasey Phillips, Paco Robles, and Phil Stafford.

NC State Undergraduate Research Symposium.

Seventeen posters were presented by physics majors or students working with physics faculty at the NC State University Undergraduate Research Symposium held in the McKimmon Center on April 18^th, 2006.  Physics students Casey de Deugd and Samantha Shaw won two of the three awards for outstanding posters in the College of PAMS.

Isaac and Albert’s Excellent Adventure.

The Science House and the Department of Physics at North Carolina State University held their ninth annual hands-on physics demonstration, “Isaac and Albert’s Excellent Adventure,”  on Saturday, April 29^th.

“Isaac and Albert’s Excellent Adventure” is an evening of “gee-whiz” physics demonstrations aimed at showing adults and children how physics impacts their lives. The experiments included using atmospheric pressure to propel ping-pong balls across the room at more than 200 miles per hour, shattering glass with sound waves, and using electrostatic generators to make hair stand on end.

Chris Roland 4/30

Dave Aspnes 4/30

C. J. Hathorne  5/5

Steve Cotanch 5/7

Robert Nemanich 5/9

Reminder:  Faculty Retreat

The 2006 Faculty retreat will be held on May 11^th.  Maps were distributed at the last faculty meeting.

Please contact Rebecca Savage by May 5^th if you plan to attend.

End of Semester Reminder:

Posting Grades:  Faculty may post grades (test or final) by social security number, ONLY with written permission from the student.  Without such written permission, neither the grade NOR the social security or student ID number with a blank grade may be posted.