The Department of Physics and Engineering faculty spans an impressive range of disciplines and interests, from civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering to optics, astrophysics, and cosmology, and from atmospheric physics and hydrology to alternative energy and sustainable energy engineering technologies.

Dr. Chuck Carson
Adjunct Instructor of Physics & Engineering

Areas of Expertise

  • Industrial Engineering
  • Systems Analysis
  • Operations Research
  • Math Models
  • Probability 
  • Optimization

Education

  • Ph.D., Operations Research, Purdue, 1975
  • M.A., Mathematics, University of New Mexico, 1972
  • M.S., Engineering, Purdue, 1968
  • B.S., Engineering Sciences, Purdue, 1967

Contact:

Phone Icon 970-259-6509
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Dr. Joanna Gordon Casey
Assistant Professor of Physics & Engineering

Expertise

  • Energy Systems and Air Quality
  • Indoor Air Quality
  • Measurements of Atmospheric Trace Gases and Aerosols
  • Atmosphere/Ocean/Ecosystem Interactions
  • Electrochemical, Metal Oxide, NDIR Sensors
  • Community Education and Outreach

Education

  • Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado - Boulder, 2018
  • M.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado - Boulder, 2013
  • B.S., Physics, Fort Lewis College, 2007

Contact:

Phone Icon 970-247-7514
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Dr. Christie Chatterley
Associate Professor of Physics & Engineering

Expertise

  • Water Quality Analysis and Treatment
  • On-Site Water and Sanitation for Low-Income Country Applications
  • Contextual Factor Influence on Technology Uptake
  • Monitoring and Evaluation of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Interventions

Education

  • Ph.D., Civil/Environmental Engineering, University of Colorado - Boulder, 2013
  • M.S., Civil/Environmental Engineering, University of Colorado - Boulder, 2009
  • B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Idaho State University, 2003

Contact:

Phone Icon 970-247-7512
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Dr. Jerry Crawford
Professor of Physics & Engineering

Expertise:

  • Cryogenics
  • Fluid Dynamics
  • Optics
  • Optoelectronics
  • Solid State Physics
  • Thermodynamics
  • Waves and sounds

Education:

  • Ph.D., Physics, University of Oregon, 1983
  • M.A., Physics, University of Oregon, 1980
  • B.A., Physics, Gustavus Adolphus College, 1979

Contact:

Phone Icon 970-247-7489
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Dr. Charlie Hakes
Senior Lecturer of Physics & Engineering

Expertise

  • Physics
  • Electrical Engineering

Education

  • Ph.D., Physics, Rice University, 1990
  • M.A., Physics, Rice University, 1987
  • M.E.E., Electrical Engineering, Rice University, 1983
  • B.A., Physics, Rice University, 1981

Contact:

Phone Icon 970-247-7242
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Dr. Jeff Jessing
Associate Professor of Physics & Engineering

Expertise 

  • Solid state physics and electronics 
  • Device physics 
  • Nanosytems and microfabrication 
  • Microsensors and actuators 

Education 

  • B.S., Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, 1992 
  • M.S., Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, 1994 
  • Ph.D., Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, 1998 

Contact:

Phone Icon 970-247-6742
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Dr. Matthew Klema
Assistant Professor of Physics & Engineering

Expertise

  • Fluid Mechanics
  • Environmental Fluid Mechanics
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
  • Turbulence & Stratified Turbulence
  • Flow Measurement Instrumentation
  • Numerical Methods

Education

  • Ph.D, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University, 2021
  • M.S., Civil & Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University, 2017
  • B.S, Engineering, Fort Lewis College, 2014

Contact:

Phone Icon 970-247-7663
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Dr. Nate Klema
Assistant Professor of Physics & Engineering

Education:

  • Ph.D., Geophysics, University of Oregon, 2023
  • B.S., Physics, Fort Lewis College, 2015

Areas of expertise:

  • Geophysics
  • Differential Geometry
  • Inverse Theory

Contact:

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Dr. Devin Leahy
Associate Professor of Physics & Engineering

Expertise:

  • Finite element analysis

  • Joint biomechanics and implant design

  • Helmet testing

  • Car, motorcycle, and airplane design

  • Lightweight structure optimization

  • Advanced composite material development

  • CNC prototyping 

Education:

  • Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Colorado State University, 2012 
  • B.S., Mechanical Engineering, The Ohio State University, 2004 

Contact:

Phone Icon 970-247-6092
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Dr. Yiyan Li
Associate Professor of Computer Engineering

Expertise

  • Integrated Circuit Design
  • Embedded Systems/FPGAs
  • Robots
  • Microfluidics/Digital Microfluidics

Education

  • Ph.D., Electrical Engineering, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 2016
  • M.S., Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing University, 2012
  • B.S., Biomedical Engineering, Henan University of Science and Technology, 2009

 

Contact:

Phone Icon 970-247-6574
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Dr. Nishatul Majid
Assistant Professor of Physics & Engineering

Areas of expertise

  • Document Image Processing
  • Machine Learning
  • Signal and Systems

Education

  • Ph.D., Electrical and Computer Engineering, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho
  • M.S., Applied Physics, Electronics and Communication Engineering, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • B.Sc. (Honors) Applied Physics, Electronics and Communication Engineering, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Contact:

Cell Phone Icon 208-954-7784‬
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Dr. Don May
Professor of Physics & Engineering

Expertise:

  • Civil design
  • International development – water and sanitation
  • Water supply systems in the developing world​
  • Open channel flow
  • Surface water hydrology
  • Water supply adequacy

Education:

  • Ph.D., Civil Engineering, Colorado State University, 1993
  • M.S., Civil Engineering, Colorado State University, 1982
  • B.S., Civil Engineering, Colorado State University, 1978

Contact:

Phone Icon 970-247-7545
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Dr. William Nollet
Chair and Associate Professor of Physics & Engineering

Expertise:

  • Chemical & Exotic Rocket Propulsion

  • Nuclear Thermal Hydraulics

  • Space Physics

Education:

  • Ph.D., Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2013 
  • M.S., Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2011 
  • B.S., Space Physics, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, 2009 

Contact:

Phone Icon 970-247-6429
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Dr. Randy Palmer
Senior Lecturer of Physics & Engineering

Expertise

  • Geophysics
  • Nuclear Physics
  • Physics

Education

  • Ph.D., Geophysics, University of Oregon, 1997
  • M.S., Physics, University of Oregon, 1989
  • B.S., Physics, Fort Lewis College, 1987

Contact:

Phone Icon 970-247-7553
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 Education:

  • Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, New Mexico University, 1995 
  • B.S., Electrical Engineering, New Mexico University, 1991

Expertise: 

  • Alternative Energy, Distributed Generation, and Energy Storage Systems
  • Electric Power and Transmission Systems
  • Embedded Control Systems
  • Inertial Navigation Systems
  • Mobile Robots and Robotic Manipulators
  • Modeling, Simulation, Analysis, Control, and Visualization of Dynamic Systems

Contact:

12

Staff

Leah Hale
PEAQS & STROBE Grant Coordinator
Berndt Hall, RM 603
970-247-6532
Email Leah
 


Paula Miller

Paula Miller
Administrative Assistant

SFH 2770
970-247-6014
Email Paula 


Carl Bickford Laboratory Coordinator

Carl Bickford
Laboratory Coordinator

Berndt Hall, RM 671
970-247-6335
Email Carl

Carl is Professor Emeritus of Engineering and Renewable Energy (San Juan College, Farmington, NM). He designed and taught courses for engineering transfer for 27 years. He also started a renewable energy training program and has lived with off-grid solar electricity and heat for 20 years.


Jason Wagner
Machine Shop Coordinator
Berndt Hall, RM 634
970-247-6490
Email Jason


Emeritus Faculty

Dr Ryan Haaland

Ryan Haaland, Emeritus
Professor of Physics and Engineering (2006 - 2019)

B.A., Physics and Math, Concordia College, 1985 
M.S. Space Physics, University of California Los Angeles, 1990 
Ph.D., Physics, University of Oxford, 1999


Iverson

Martha Iverson, Emeritus
Professor of Physics and Engineering (1992 - 2005)

B.S., Physics, University of Colorado, 1971
Ph.D. Physics, University of Colorado, 1976


Tom D. Norton, Emeritus
Professor of Physics and Engineering (1973-2003)

B.S., University of Oklahoma, 1966
M.S., Physics, University of Oklahoma, 1967
Ph.D., Physics, University of Oklahoma, 1972


Carla Williams, Emeritus
Professor of Engineering (1984-2002)

B.S.S.E., John Brown University, 1969
M.A., University of New Mexico, 1973
Ph.D., Computer Engineering., University of New Mexico, 1991


James M. Costello, Emeritus
Professor of Physics (1985-2000)

B.A., Doane College, 1959
M.S., University of Nebraska, 1963
Ph.D., Physics, University of Nebraska, 1967