Ph.D. Graduates

What area of physics did you study and when did you graduate?
I worked in condensed matter physics with Professor Peter Dowben and I graduated in 2008.
How long did your degree take? When did you start research?
I finished my Ph.D. in less than five years, and I started research immediately I came to UNL.
Why did you choose to attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln?
My good friend warmly recommended UNL - Department of Physics and Astronomy for the wonderful working atmosphere for graduate students, and especially her adviser, Dr. Peter Dowben, for the outstanding way of motivating his students to reach their full potential.
How do the skills you learned as a physics doctoral student apply to your current career?
Now I am Associate Professor of Physics at State University of New York at Oswego. My teaching and research experience at UNL helped me get this job and be successful faculty. Having an excellent adviser as a model is an important factor in becoming a great research adviser and mentor. The faculty in this department put the students first, and this is what I do as faculty, too. This is the reason I received the President's Award for Teaching Excellence and the Provost's Award for Mentoring in Scholarly and Creative Activity.
Any advice for students coming to study at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln?
Immerse yourself in the wonderful working atmosphere the Department of Physics and Astronomy has to offer. Study for your courses, do research with people you enjoy working with, present your work, connect with people at conferences. It is a very intense, but happy time of your life!

What area of physics did you study and when did you graduate?
I studied solid state and condensed matter physics. In particular, I studied the structural, thermal, and electrical behavior of ferroelectric and electroactive polymer systems. I graduated in 2007.
How long did your degree take? When did you start research?
Approximately 6.5 years. I started research work immediately.
Why did you choose to attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln?
The solid state physics and material science groups at UNL are world renowned (as are other groups). I had performed a significant amount of undergraduate research at UNL and felt that I could more easily hit the ground running by staying at UNL. This allowed me to dive into research immediately.
How do the skills you learned as a physics doctoral student apply to your current career?
I am currently a patent attorney. Although it may seem like an odd track for a Ph.D. physicist, my physics background has opened many doors in my legal career. As a generalist, my Ph.D. background allows me to more readily (and more deeply) dive into the variety of technological fields I regularly encounter as a patent attorney. Further, the reasoning and logic skills, which are naturally developed and enhanced when one attains a Ph.D. in physics, are skills that are prized in the legal field and have been invaluable in navigating the patent law.
Any advice for students coming to study at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln?
Your career is what you make of it. UNL offers the ability to quickly become engaged with real research and offers candidates a great deal of flexibility. The facilities and faculty are top notch. And so when you combine these factors one can achieve the very highest levels of success with a UNL physics Ph.D.