2008–2009 - Florida Institute of Technology

Department of phySiCS anD SpaCe SCienCeS
Terry D. Oswalt, Ph.D., Head
Degree Programs
Interdisciplinary Science, B.S.
Option in:
Military Science
Physics, B.S.
Preprofessional Physics
Physics, M.S., Ph.D.
Space Sciences, B.S.
Astrobiology
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space Sciences, M.S., Ph.D.
Undergraduate Minor Program
Physics
Professors
Marc M. Baarmand, Ph.D., experimental high-energy particle physics,
QCD at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, proton-proton collisions
with CMS experiment at CERN.
Laszlo Baksay, Ph.D., experimental high-energy particle and nuclear
physics at LHC and LEP at CERN and RHIC at Brookhaven National
Laboratory, detector development, magnetic levitation space-launch assist.
Samuel T. Durrance, Ph.D., space-borne instrumentation development,
UV spectroscopy, atmospheric physics, nuclear physics, space environment
and human space exploration, NASA astronaut.
Joseph R. Dwyer, Ph.D., thunderstorm and lightning physics, x-rays
from lightning, space physics, solar and heliospheric energetic particle
observations, space instrumentation.
T. Dwayne McCay, Ph.D., materials science, materials processing in space.
Terry D. Oswalt, Ph.D., stellar spectroscopy and photometry, white dwarf
stars, binary stars, stellar activity, small solar system bodies.
Hamid K. Rassoul, Ph.D., space physics, physics of planetary lightning,
observations of solar energetic particles and cosmic rays, magnetic storms
and substorms, photochemistry of planetary upper atmospheres, space
instrumentation..
Matthew A. Wood, Ph.D., astrophysics, theory and observations of white
dwarf stars and cataclysmic variables; computational astrophysics.
Ming Zhang, Ph.D., cosmic radiation and interactions with the plasma
and magnetic fields in the interstellar medium, the heliosphere and
magnetospheres.
Interdisciplinary Science Professors
Michael W. Babich, Ph.D., chemistry.
Hakeem Oluseyi, Ph.D., physics and space sciences.
Thomas V. Belanger, Ph.D., marine and environmental systems.
David E. Cook, Ph.D., science education.
TBD, humanities.
TBD, biological sciences.
Gary A. Zarillo, Ph.D., oceanography.
Associate Professors
Marcus Hohlmann, Ph.D., particle physics, experimental high-energy
physics with L3 and CMS experiments at CERN, heavy ion collisions with
PHENIX at Brookhaven National Laboratory, development of particle
detectors.
Eric S. Perlman, Ph.D., active galactic nuclei, jets, observational
cosmology, high-energy and multiwavelength astrophysics.
Ke-gang Wang, Ph.D., condensed matter physics, statistical physics,
computational materials science, materials theory.
Assistant Professors
Ningyu Liu, Ph.D., theoretical studies, numerical modeling, atmospheric
electricity, plasma physics.
Hakeem M. Oluseyi, Ph.D., solar/stellar atmospheres, cosmology, history of
astronomy, physics education, instrumentation development.
Benjamin M. Sawyer, M.S., physics education.
Niescja E. Turner, Ph.D., space physics, inner magnetosphere, ring current,
energetics of magnetic storms, physics and astronomy education research.
Stephane Vennes, Ph.D., stellar astrophysics, ground-based and spaceborne
astronomical observations.
Interdisciplinary Science Assistant Professor
Hector Gutierrez, Ph.D., mechanical and aerospace engineering.
Adjunct Research Professors
Bernard Foing, Ph.D., ESA science program, SMART-1, international
lunar exploration, TRC, SOHO, XMM, ISS-expose, biopan-photon, Marsexpress,
COROT.
James G. Mantovani, Ph.D., condensed matter theory and experiment,
surface physics, scanning-tunneling microscopy, Mars and moon
environments.
Edward L. Principe, Ph.D., materials science, metrology, material
characterization, failure analysis.
Professors Emeriti
Joel H. Blatt, Ph.D.; Jay Burns, Ph.D.; Rong-sheng Jin, Ph.D.;
James D. Patterson, Ph.D.
Director of Undergraduate Laboratories
J.A. Gering, M.S.
uNDerGraDuate DeGree ProGrams
Bachelor of Science
Interdisciplinary Science ______________________
Program Coordinator
Hakeem Oluseyi, Ph.D.
Because of the increasing importance of science and technology
in our daily lives, Florida Tech has recognized the need for an
interdisciplinary program in the sciences that allows a student to
enroll in a wide variety of science and engineering courses, supplemented
by certain core courses and several carefully chosen
electives. The most important characteristics of this degree are
that it is flexible and tailored to the individual student’s needs,
and that it emphasizes broad training in science. The graduate
will have a well-rounded appreciation of science and its place in
society, and will have acquired specific tools for his or her career.
The bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary science is intended for
students who plan graduate study in professional fields, those
who are interested in a broad-based degree oriented toward the
sciences or engineering, former science and engineering students
who want a degree with wider scope and students seeking
military careers.
Graduates normally seek employment opportunities in aerospace,
environmental work, medicine and health technology, personnel
work, purchasing, development, management, the military, social
work, marketing—in general, a wide variety of positions requiring
an interdisciplinary background, as well as opportunities for
advanced study, especially in the professional fields.
Degree Programs—College of Science 135