Posted on June 14th, 2011 by physicsalumni
After graduating with a Physics B.S. from Valpo in 2000, I moved on to the University of Wisconsin to pursue a PhD in experimental condensed matter physics, which I completed in 2005 with a dissertation titled “Investigations of two-gap superconductivity via scanning tunneling spectroscopy.” Along the way, I became involved in the cooperative housing movement in Madison, living in co-ops for nearly the entire duration of my thesis work and serving on the board of directors of Madison Community Cooperatives and chairing its development committee for a time. There I met Claire Schmidt, whom I later married (2009). Just last year, our first (and, for now, only) daughter was born. We now live in Columbia, MO. Claire is pursuing a PhD of her own in the University of Missouri, English Department. After a productive three years as a postdoc at Syracuse University (superconducting qubits, Josephson junction based devices, and vortex dynamics) I came to the University of Missouri in 2008 on a second postdoc position and have recently been promoted to Instrument Scientist at the Missouri Research Reactor Center (MURR). Here my research has been focused on magnetism, superconductivity, multiferroics, and quantum critical point materials. Life is busy, but very good. We still find time to enjoy ourselves with three gardens, homebrewing, and a host of other recreations, often outdoors. We hope to visit the Valpo Physics Department again soon!
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Posted on June 14th, 2011 by physicsalumni
Hi all – Here’s my story. After graduating in 1996, I went to Stanford for graduate school in geophysics. Part way through, I was working as a TA for a new interdisciplinary science program for non-science majors and I realized I was much more interesting in understanding how to teach my students than I was in my geophysics research. So I got a masters, joined the Peace Corps and taught physics in Tanzania for two years. After returning to the U.S., I got my PhD in science education (University of Colorado, Boulder) and I’m now an assistant professor of science education at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). This means I teach science methods courses to prospective teachers and I work with graduate students, researching how people teach and learn science (especially physics).
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Posted on June 14th, 2011 by physicsalumni
Hi – here is my story - After graduation in 1996, I pursued at law degree at Northwestern University School of Law. I was delusional for awhile, and thought I wanted to be a public defender. Then, I read something in the paper about CERN and realized that I really missed talking to people who knew about science and I found my calling as a patent attorney. After working for a law firm in Chicago for six years, my husband (Pete Barnett – VU alum 1995) and I packed up the family and moved to Warsaw, IN for a job with DePuy Orthopaedics. We have been here a little over two years and really enjoy the small-town atmosphere.
We have three wonderful little girls – Betty who is six, Wini is four, and Maggie is 1 1/2.
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Posted on June 14th, 2011 by physicsalumni
Marta Stoekel (2005)
Alright, here’s my story to date.
Right after my VU graduation in 2005, I headed to the University of Minnesota for graduate work in geophysics. I spent about a year there but decided to switch tracks and pursue a teaching career, instead. I ended up at a very young program at Winona State University in Rochester, MN which has pared coursework down to the bare minimum required by the department of education in order to emphasize classroom experience, instead. I wrapped that up and got my license to teach physics in the spring of 2008.
I’ve landed a job at Rosemount High School in Rosemount, MN (just south of the Twin Cities). I’m teaching physics and earth science which, since I’m not technically licensed to teach, means I’m also working toward getting that licensure.
So there you have it, my story to date.
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Posted on April 28th, 2008 by physicsalumni
Please keep us and your fellow alums up to date with your professional and personal news. Because of spam, instead of posting a comment, please email me (andy.richter@valpo.edu) your update and I’ll post it on the blog.
-Andy
Contributors to date (6/14/2011):
Andrew Richter (1990)
Cindy Barnett (1996)
Marta Stoeckel (2005)
Danielle Boyd Harlow (1996)
Tom Heitmann (2000)
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