Joe Redish earned his PhD in theoretical nuclear physics from M.I.T. in 1968 and has been at the University of Maryland ever since. His research in nuclear theory emphasized the theory of reactions and the quantum few-body problem. Since 1982 he has been actively involved in the subject of physics education and since 1992 has devoted his entire research effort to physics education. He has received numerous awards for his work in physics education including the Robert A. Millikan Medal from the AAPT in 1998 and the Director's Distinguished Teaching Scholar Award from the NSF in 2005. He is co-PI of the Learning to Learn Physics project with David Hammer.
David earned his PhD in the Graduate Group in Science and Mathematics Education (SESAME) at Berkeley. His current research focuses on student epistemologies -- what students believe about knowledge and learning -- and on teacher thinking -- how teachers perceive, interpret, and respond to their students' ideas and reasoning. David is co-PI of the Learning to Learn Physics project with Joe Redish and of the Case Studies project with Emily van Zee.
Andrew Elby did his PhD work at Berkeley where he studied the fundamentals of quantum measurement theory. Often collaborating with Prof. David Hammer, he studies (1) students' "epistemological" beliefs about the nature of learning and understanding physics, and (2) the nature of students' preconceptions about the physical world. He is currently co-writing an introductory calculus-based physics textbook for John Wiley & Sons.
Rachel Scherr did her Ph.D. work at the University of Washington, where her work focused on student understanding of basic concepts in special relativity. She spent a year at The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, teaching inquiry physics to liberal arts students.
John Layman is professor emeritus of physics and science education. He continues his work with the AAPT and with physics courses for elementary teachers to be, that utilize Microcomputer Based Laboratory work in support of conceptual development and change.
Postdoctoral Associates and Fellows
Ayush did his PhD in laser-plasma interactions and then decided to pursue a career in physics education research. His research interests include dynamic models of student thinking, interaction of student behaviors and student reasoning, and use of mathematics by uppel level physics students.
Graduate Students
 |
Paul Hutchison
Curriculum and Instruction
Phone: 301-405-5983
Room: Toll 1406
EMail: phutchis@umd.edu
|
At some point Paul decided that teaching physics was a lot more interesting to him than research in a condensed matter lab. Then he found out researching teaching was an option, and came to Maryland. His dissertation study is an examination of his own innovative teaching practice.
Tim graduated in 2000 from Michigan State University. He is studying ways of studying intro students' epistemologies ranging from surveys (MPEX2 and FCI split tasks) to qualitative case studies. In his spare time, he plays guitar in an instrumental acoustic group called Might Could.
Ray completed his undergraduate work in mathematics and physics at the University of Kentucky. He was also a high school physics teacher before beginning his Ph.D. work at Maryland. He is completing dissertation work focusing on upper level physics majors problem solving.
 |
Matty Lau
Curriculum and Instruction
Phone: 301-405-3161
Room: Benjamin 2226
EMail: mlau@wam.umd.edu
|
Matty graduated with a BA in Physics at Bryn Mawr College in 1997. After
graduating, she taught various science classes to grades 6-12. She is
currently starting her first year in graduate school in the Dept. of Curriculum
and Instruction and working with David Hammer on his Case Studies Project.
After earning his bachelor's degree in physics and a high school teaching license at Case Western Reserve University, Tom arrived in Maryland in 2003. His early research interests include cognitive blending and upper-level physics undergrads' use of mathematics.
Renee Michelle has degrees in German literature and Physics. In her previous lives she was a chef, a teacher of ESL, and a writing tutor. In her free time she cruises around College Park in the Physicsmobile, a late-80's Pontiac covered in physics equations, or on her Honda Rebel motorcycle.
 |
Brian Frank
Physics Department
Phone: 301-405-6185
Room: Toll 1322
EMail: bwfrank@umd.edu
|
Brian recently graduated from Arizona State University with a M.S. in physics. His current research interests are in modeling various aspects of students' reasoning and in characterizing instabilities in their thinking
Luke received his B.S. in astrophysics from Tufts University with honors for his thesis on cosmic evolution. After teaching high school physics for 5 years, he came to the UMD for a master's degree in science education and will continue on to pursue a Ph.D. in physics. His current research involves examining correlations between behavior modes and mechanistic reasoning of students in physics tutorials. He is also interested in the philosophy of physics and is a member of the UMD water polo team.
Visitors
Over the past decade, the University of Maryland PERG has had graduate students, postdocs, and visitors to the group. Click here to find out who spent substantial amounts of time with us and what they are doing now. Go to alumni page.
