University of Rochester

Physics Department:   Graduate Research and Teaching Seminars  Fall 2012/Spring 2013
 (and archive of previous seminars)
chairs:  Arie Bodek and Steve Manly
Teaching Seminars: Allister Kwan
Research Seminars: Antonio Bad0lato
badolato@pas.rochester.edu
Updated   Sept. 17,  2012

Grad/teaching Seminars  are Fridays, 12:00-1:00 pm, room BL208   in Fall 2012

Seminars are scheduled below for :
September 14, 21, 28  October 5, 12, 19,  26  November 2, 9, 16, 30  December 7  (fall 2012)
January 18, 24, Feb. 1, 8, 15, 22,  March 1, 8, 25, 22,  April 5, 12, 19, 26  (Spring 2013)

Fall  2012

Sept 14, 2012   Teaching Seminar:   Dr. Alistair Kwan  Center Excellence Teach & Learn, UR,
    (Bodek out of town)
  Title:  Getting Started as a TA

Sept. 21, 2012 Teaching Seminar: Dr. Alistair Kwan  Center Excellence Teach & Learn, UR, 
 
Title:  How students learn

Sept. 28, 2012   Research Seminar : Dr. Alan Grossfield Assistant Professor Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics University of Rochester Medical Center
Title:  "Understanding membrane biophysics with molecular modeling".

Oct 5, 2012  Teaching Seminar: Dr. Alistair Kwan  Center Excellence Teach & Learn, UR,  
Title:  Misconceptions and a model for conceptual change

Oct. 12, 2012 Teaching Seminar:  Steve Manly, Arie Bodek  and Alistair Kwan
Title: 
Grading workshop

Oct. 19, 2012   Teaching Seminar: Dr. Alistair Kwan  Center Excellence Teach & Learn, UR 
TITLE:  Conceptual vs Algorithmic Thinking,  

Oct. 26, 2012 Research Seminar:  TBA 
 
Nov. 2, 2012  Teaching Seminar: Arie Bodek and Alistair Kwan
Title:  TA/TI Evaluation  followed by  Dr. Alistair Kwan  Center Excellence Teach & Learn, UR  Title: "Making use of individual differences"

Nov. 9, 2012  Teaching Seminar: Dr. Alistair Kwan  Center Excellence Teach & Learn, UR
Title:   Concept mapping technique.

Nov, 16, 2012  Teaching Seminar: Dr. Alistair Kwan  Center Excellence Teach & Learn, UR
Title:    Motivation

Nov. 23, 2012 - no seminar,  Thanksgiving.

Nov 30 , 2012  Teaching Seminar: - Dr. Alistair Kwan  Center Excellence Teach & Learn, UR 
Title:  Diagram and blackboard.

 Dec. 7, 2012  Teaching Seminar: Dr. Alistair Kwan  Center Excellence Teach & Learn, UR
Title:  Multiple intelligences and learning styles.

 
Spring 2013    Primarily Graduate Research
Jan.  2013

Jan, 24, 2013

 Feb. 1, 2013

Feb.  8, 2013

Feb.  15, 2013

Feb,  22,  2013

March 1,  2013

March 8, 2013

March  25,  2013

March  22,   2013

April 5, 2013

April  12,  2013

April 19,  2013

April 26, 2013

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ARCHIVE

Spring 2012
    Graduate Research and Teaching Seminars (now starting at noon)

Jan. 20, 2012  noon  Grad Research Seminar:    Prof. Qiang Lin,  Professor of Electrical Engineering and Optics UR
                Title:  Nano-optomechanics, nonlinear photonics, and quantum photonics   qiang.lin@rochester.edu

Jan 27,  2012   noon       Grad. Research Seminar: Prof   Nick Vamivakas,  The Institute of Optics.  Title: Quantum Dots – Photons, spins and nanoscale sensor
Optically active semiconductor quantum dots – so called artificial atoms –occupy a unique position in both solid-­‐state quantum optics and quantum information science. In this talk I will highlight some basic features of quantum dot optics explaining how both spins confined in a quantum dot, and the photons emitted/scattered, can be leveraged for applications in quantum information science. I will explain how the recent observation of quantum dot resonance fluorescence has enabled both the generation of sub--line-width ultra-coherent single photons and the single-­‐shot optical readout of the confined electron spin, i.e spin quantum jumps. Next, I will discuss how the nanometer size of quantum dots can be exploited with resonant laser spectroscopy to develop new modalities for nanoscale metrology. Finally, I will conclude the talk with a summary of some of the ongoing research projects in my lab.
To inquire about RA positions in Spring/Summer 2012: Email- nick.vamivakas@rochester.edu  

Feb. 3, 2012  noon    Grad Research Seminar  :  Prof. Kevin McFarland and Prof. Steve Manly , Dept of Physics and Astronomy, UR  Title:  Neutrino Physics.

Feb. 10, 2012   noon           TEACHING SEMINAR - Dr. Alistair Kwan  Center Excellence Teach & Learn, UR  Title:  Diagram and blackboard.

Feb. 17, 2012   noon  Grad Research Seminar:  Nick Bigelow, Dept of Physics and Astronomy, UR,  Title:  Experimental Quantum Optics

Feb. 24, 2012  noon     Grad Research Seminar:  GRADUATE RECRUITING WEEKEND  Speaker TBA

March 2, 2012  noon    Grad Research Seminar: Aran Garcia Bellido -  Hadron Collider Physics at the LHC

March 9, 2012   noon   Grad Research Seminar  Dr. Dustin H. Froula   - LLE   Title: Plasma Physics at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics   dfroula@lle.rochester.edu

March 23, 2012  noon    Graduate Outreach:  Lunch with High School Students:

March 30, 2012    noon    TEACHING SEMINAR ;  Arie Bodek and Aran Garcia Bellido, Dan Watson - Mid Semester TA evaluations  (15 min
    Followed by    Dr. Alistair Kwan  Center Excellence Teach & Learn, UR  Title: "Making use of individual differences"

April 6, 2012    noon    Grad Research Seminar  - Chuang Ren -  Physics and Mech, Engineering UR,   Title: Particle-in-Cell Simulations in Plasma Physics     Abstract
In this talk I will give a brief introduction of particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations, a versatile and first-principle-based tool in plasma physics study. I will use the study of laser-plasma interactions in inertial confinement fusion as an example to illustrate how PIC simulations can be used to tackle some of the highly nonlinear and dynamic physics in ICF, astrophysics, and high-energy-density physics. I will also discuss how to adapt PIC codes to run on graphic process units (GPU’s), an interesting topic in high-performance computing

April 13, 2012  noon    Grad Research Seminar     Lewis Rothberg  -  Physics and Chemistry  -  Chemical Physics

April 20, 2012   noon   Grad Research Seminar     Ricardo Betti,  Physics and Mech Engineering and LLE  - Plasma Physics
April 27, 2012   noon     Grad Research Seminar    Roman  Sobolewski  - Physics and Computer and Electrical Engineering, UR  -  Solid State Physics

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  Fall  2011

Sept 16, 2011   Teaching Seminar:   Dr. Alistair Kwan  Center Excellence Teach & Learn, UR,
  Title:  Getting Started as a TA


Sept. 23, 2011 Teaching Seminar: Dr. Alistair Kwan  Center Excellence Teach & Learn, UR, 
 Title:  How students learn


Sept. 30, 2011   no seminar

Oct 7, 2011   Teaching Seminar: Arie Bodek and Aran Garcia Bellido
 Title: Grading workshop


Oct. 14, 2011 Teaching Seminar: Dr. Alistair Kwan  Center Excellence Teach & Learn, UR,  
Title: 
Misconceptions and a model for conceptual change

Oct. 21, 2011  Teaching Seminar: Dr. Alistair Kwan  Center Excellence Teach & Learn, UR 
TITLE: 
Conceptual vs Algorithmic Thinking,  

Oc. 28, 2011  Teaching Seminar: Dr. Alistair Kwan  Center Excellence Teach & Learn, UR
Title:  Multiple intelligences and learning styles.

Nov. 4, 2011  Teaching Seminar: Prof. Aran Garcia Bellido  (Bodek out of town)
Title:  TA/TI Evaluation

Nov. 11, 2011  Teaching Seminar: Dr. Alistair Kwan  Center Excellence Teach & Learn, UR
Title:   Concept mapping technique.

Nov, 18, 2011  Teaching Seminar: Dr. Alistair Kwan  Center Excellence Teach & Learn, UR
Title:    Motivation

Nov. 25, 2011 - no seminar,  Thanksgiving.

Dec. 2, 2011  Grad Research Seminar:   Prof.  Oleg Prezhdo, Department of Chemisty 
  (hosted by Aran Garcia Bellido - Bodek out of town)
        Dynamics on the Nanoscale: Theory and Atomistic Simulation     
Abstract: The research in the Prezhdo group focuses on time-dependent phenomena in a variety of nanoscale materials, such as quantum dots, carbon nanotubes, graphene ribbons, molecule-semiconductor interfaces, etc. For this purpose, we start with fundamental theories in semiclassical physics, molecular dynamics and time-domain density functional theory, and develop practical computational algorithms. The studies are motivated by applications in solar energy harvesting and storage, nanoscale electronics and spintronics, DNA sequencing, drug delivery and so on.  The following “semi-popular science” reviews will give you a flavor of our research.“Photoinduced dynamics in semiconductor quantum-dots: insights from time-domain ab initio studies”, Accounts of Chemical Research, 42, 2005 (2009)
“Theoretical aspects of the biological catch-bond”, Accounts of Chemical Research, 42, 693 (2009).
“Dynamics of the photoexcited electron at the chromophore-semiconductor interface”, Accounts of Chemical Research, 41, 339 (2008) “Quantized Hamilton dynamics”, Theoretical Chemistry Accounts (Theoretica Chimica Acta), 116, 206 (2006).
To inquire about RA positions in Spring/Summer 2012: Email- oleg.prezhdo@rochester.edu
Dec. 9, 2011   No Seminar

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PREVIOUS YEARS


Spring 2011
 

 Friday  open dates in Spring 2011 January

January
14   - no seminar
21   - no seminar
28  -   no seminar
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Feb
4   Adam Frank - Astrophysics -       Computational Astrophysics; taming the beast 11

18   Prof.  Lewis Rothberg ,  Department of Chemistry and Physics, UR
 Title: Watching molecules dance and squeezing light from darkness: adventures in plasmon-enhanced spectroscopy
 Abstract Strong localization of the optical fields by interactions with silver nanoparticle plasmons enables us to study the Raman spectrum of single chromophores or to increase photoluminescence by over two orders of magnitude in particular geometries. We also investigate whether plasmon-enhancement of radiative rates can be applied to improving organic optoelectronic devices such as solar cells, phosphors and light-emitting diodes.
 
25    Aran Gracia Bellido - Physics at the LHC Grad recruitment party
-----------------------------------
Mar
4    Nick Bigelow  - Experimantal Quantum Optics

11 (no seminar Spring break)
18  Dustin H. Froula - Senior Scientist  Laboratory for Laser Energetics  -  Laser Plasma Interactions in Inertial Confinement Fusion
 (has open position for grad student)

The National Ignition Facility is now complete and experiments that employ 192 laser beams with 1.5 MJ of energy with the primary goal of producing a burning plasma are well under way. Within the next decade inertial confinement fusion will become a reality and a star will be born in the laboratory. The Laboratory for Laser Energetics is a major part of the quest for fusion as the only major laser facility in the United States where basic research in high-energy density plasmas is accessible—many of the issues encountered on the pathway to fusion have been or will be solved on OMEGA. In this talk I will focus on the interaction of the laser beams with the plasma. In the most fundamental interactions, photons scattering from free electrons, Thomson scattering will be discussed and how this process is used to measure  the basic plasma conditions and more complex plasma instabilities. I will present an update on the National Ignition Campaign where the first Megajoule indirectly driven fusion experiments are under way. I will detail how laser plasma interactions, specifically ion-acoustic waves (sound waves in the plasma), are being used to transfer energy within the plasma to tune the symmetry of the fusion capsule. I will then focus on recent results from directly drive fusion capsules at OMEGA that suggest a similar beam transfer mechanize is responsible for transferring energy from small angle rays to large angle rays. I will outline a potential project where Thomson scattering could be used to probe these ion-acoustic waves directly and quantify the beam transfer process.

25    Joe Eberly -  Theoretical Quantum Optics

------------------------------
Apr
1    Regina Demina        Experimantal Particle Physics at the LHC
8   Chuang Ren - Plasma Physics
15  Eric Mamajek -  Formation and Evolution of Stars and Planetary Systems  ( Astrophysics)
22  Kevin McFarland/Steve Manly  -    Experimental Neutrino Physics
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Options for PhD Research

 U of Physics Physics and Astroromy:   Faculty research groups

 Faculty who gave graduate research seminars in Spring 2010

Jan 29 , 2010   Eldred Chimowitz   Chemical Engineering  Enhanced Thermal Transport Near the Critical Point (had opening in Spring 2010)

Feb 12 , 2010    Edward Thorndike,  Charm Physics at BES3.  (had opening in Spring 2010).

Feb. 19, 201
0    Cynthia Ebinger,  EES  "Earthquakes as recorders of molten rock movement through Earth's plate" had opening in Spring 2010

Feb 26 , 2010 
   Regina Demina,  Physics at the LHC   -,had opening in Spring 2010

March 5 , 2010   John Howell    had opening in Spring 2010

 March 19 , 2010   Doug Turner, Predicting RNA Structure."  (had opening in Spring 2010)

March 26 , 2010  12:30-1.00    Chunlei  Guo,  Institute of Optics,   Femtosecond laser-matter interactions (had opening in Spring 2010)

April 2 , 2010        Prof. D. Meyerhofer  (Physics and LLE)  "Research Opportunities at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics" had opening in Spring 2010
 
April 9 , 2010        Prof. Ha Youn Lee  Dept. of Biostat Computational Biology, University of Rochester
   Tracking HIV/SIV evolution within host using single genome amplification and ultradeep pyrosequencing   
had opening in Spring 2010

April 16, 2010    Prof. Stephen Teitel Dept. of Physics & Astronomy, University of Rochester (had opening in Spring 2010)

April 23, 2010      Prof. Ruola Ning and Dr. Weixing Cai,
Department of Imaging Sciences, Radiation Oncology, Oncology (URMC) and Biomedical Engineering and Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Rochester,
: Cone Beam CT Imaging (had opening in Spring 2010).  


Faculty who replied with possible positions for summer 2010 and Fall/Spring 2010

About 12-14 possible positions and up to  24 under most optimistic scenario in which all proposals are funded)


Y.  Gao - Exp Condensed Matter (Received  NSF grant April 2010 and has opening for students)
Chunlei  Guo Professor of Optics,   Femtosecond laser-matter interactions (has two positions, will give a short seminar March 26, 10)
ldred Chimowitz /Shapir - Chemical Physics  (one position,  Seminar  Jan 29, 10)
Ed Thorndike  paticle physics (one position)  Seminar Feb. 12, 10
Cynthia Ebinger - Earth and Environment Science (may have a position,  seminar  Feb. 19, 10).
Regina Demina - Particle Physics  (one or two positions) Seminar   Feb. 26, 10
J. Howell - Quantum Optics (one postion)  Seminar March 5, 10
D. Turner (Dept of Chemistry)   Predicting RNA Structure ( has one position)  Seminar March 19, 10
R. Betti  - Plasma Physics (positions at LLE)  seminar April 2, 10
D. Meyerhofer  Plasma Physics (exp/LLE) (2-3 positions in experimental plasma physics at LLE)
Ha Youn Lee  - Medical Physics (1 position, talking to one student)   seminar April 9, 10
Steve Teitel  - Condensed Matter theory (1 position,  Seminar, April 16, 10)
Ruola Ning - Medical Physics   (1 postion, Seminar April 23, 10)
    AND
L. Novotny exp quantum optics  (already taking one of the students, name identified )
K. McFarland  - Exp particle/neutirno physics (has positions)
Aran Garcia Bellido - Particle Physics/CMS one position (can give a seminar)
Jianhui Zhong  - Medical Physics,  possible one position (waiting for funding decision) - students should contact him.
Carlos Stroud (quantun optics) (at most one student)
Hanan Dery - Condensed Matter Theory  (full but one possible position for excellent  student, could  give a seminar)
U. Schroder - Nuclear Physics  (full, but may have position later in AY10/11) (could give a seminar).
C. Ren - Plasma Physics - Theory  (full but one possible for excellent student , could give a  seminar)
S. Manly  Exp particle/neutrino physics   (talking to one student, may have a position, no seminar)
David Mathews  - possible one position (waiting for funding decision)
F. Wolfs - Exp. Dark Matter -(may have one position if NSF proposal is funded).
G. Agrawal (Optics) (full, but may have a position if a new NSF grant is funded)
D. Watson - Astrophysics (possibly one position, more likely to wait till a year from now)
Bill Forrest (Astrophysics) - (possible one position if Grants are funded, could give a seminar)
S. Rajeev  Particle theory (one opening, already talking to a couple of students)
E. Brown - medical physics , (annot be sure for now,  will only know in a few months about funding)
A. Badolato - exp condensed matter  (has one year student, and two 2nd year students expressed interest)

W. Knox (Optics) (full, but will talk to students and direct them towards faculty in optics who have openings)

For additional faculty who were not contacted yet (from  Cross Disciplinary Web page)
http://www.pas.rochester.edu/urpas/page/cross_disciplinary


Stephen Craxton - Senior Scientist LLE Plasma Physics, Lasers and fusion (supervised several physics PhD students in the past)
William R. Donaldson, Senior Scientist , LLE   Optical Physics and Lasers  (supervised several physics PhD students in the past)
James M. Farrar,  Professor of Chemistry, - Chemical Physics  (supervised physics PhD students in the past , but not recently)
James Fienup, Professor of Optics,  Image Processing, Wave  Front Sensing (did not have physics students in the past)
Chunlei  Guo Professor of Optics,   Femtosecond laser-matter interactions (supervised one physics PhD student in the past)
Jim Knauer,  Senior Scientist, LLE  Plasma Physics and Fusion 
(supervised several physics PhD students in the past)
Todd Kraus, Professor of Chemistry,   Spectroscopy of nanometer scale materials (supervised several physics PhD students in the past)
Misha Ovchinnikov,  Prof, of Chemistry  Quantum molecular dynamics
(supervised  physics PhD students in the past)
Wolf Seka, Prof of Optics and Senior Scientist, LLE  optical physics and lasers (supervised several physics PhD students in the past)
Gary Wicks, Professor of Optics,
Material Science, Condensed Matter Physics, Nano-materials (supervised several physics PhD students in the past)
Alexandre Pouget, Prof. of BCS, 
Biological Physics,cortical mechanisms of motion and form perception; visual memory 
(supervised one physics PhD student in the past)
John Marciante, Professor of Optics and Senior Scientist LLE,  Laser, waveguide and fiber optics (supervised physics PhD students in the past)

Waiting to hear from
Ben Miller - medical physics , 
(supervised  physics PhD students in the past)
P. Fauchet  - exp Condensed matter physics   (supervised  physics PhD students in the past)

Thomas B. Jones,  Prof. of Electrical Engineering, High-speed microactuation of liquid for the laboratory on a chip (did not have physics students in the past)
David Wiliams, Professor of Optics- Biological Optics (did not have physics students in the past)
David Wu, Prof. of Chemical Engineering,  Biological and Medical Physics
(did not have physics students in the past)
Hong  Yang, Prof of Chemical Engineering, nanoparicles
(did not have physics students in the past)
Matthew Yaters, Prof. of Chemical Engineering,  Colloids and Interfaces
(did not have physics students in the past)
J
es Zavislan,  Prof. of Optics, Biomedical Optics. (did not have physics students in the past)
Duncan Moore,  Professor of Optics, Optical engineering  (did not have physics students in the past)
Chen, Shaw-Horn,  Professor of Chemical Engineering - Chemical Physics (did not have physics students in the past)
Jacob Jorne Professor of Chemical Engineering - Chemical Physics  (did not have physics students in the past)
Thomas Hsiang, Professor of ECE,  Optoelectronics, superconductivity, ultrafest phenomena (did not have physics students in the past)
Robert Waag, Prof. of Electrical Engineering,  bio-ultrasound; tissue characterization; nondestructive testing (did not have physics students in the past)


Faculty who will only have positions in fall 2011

John Tarduno (EES) (full now, may have a position  for Fall 2011).
E. Mamajek  (Astrophysics) (full now, but may have a position in Fall 2011 and may give a seminar next spring)
Walter O'Dell  (Medical Physics) - wodell@rochester.edu   (seminar in Spring 2011 will have new funding for students at that time)
Adam Frank   Astro/Plasma Physics (no openings for new students, but maybe in 2011 - will give a seminar),
A. Bodek (probably no positions for now, will likely to have positions in Fall 2011).
R. Sobolewski   exp condensed matter  (full now, will be on sabbatical, probably will have positions for Fall 2011)

Faculty who  were contacted and are not likely to have positions for graduate students in physics in summer 2010

R. Boyd - Optics  (probably no positions)
A. Berger  - Optics (no opening now but could give a seminar)
Andrew Jordan - Condensed Matterr Theory (but  could give a seminar)
Nick Bigelow - Quantum Optics  (but  could  give a semianr)
L. Orr  - Particle theory - no openings at this time
Quillen Astrophysics (no openings for new students), 
Kevin Parker - Medical Physics  (no openings for new students)
E. Blackman  Astrophysics  (full, no openings)
J. Eberly   - Quantum Optics Theory (full, no openings)
John Thomas  - Astrophysics (no positions now or in future)
A. Das - Particle Physics Theory  (full no positions now)
Ching Tang  - Chemical physics (full , no positions at this time)
Nicholas Kuzma  Medical Physics  (full, no positions at this time)
M. Alonso  - Optics (full, no positions at this time)
L. Rothberg -  Chemical and Biological  Physics (full, no positions this year and possibly no positions next year)
T. Foster  - Biological Physics (no positions at this time)
Mark Bocko - Electrical Engineering  (no positions at this time)
D. Cline - nuclear physics (does not take gradaute students any more)
E. Wolf  Optics ( probably does not take garduate students any more)