Research Interests
- Research page (Including research opportunities for grad and undergrad students)
- Mechanical and rheological properties of cancer cells as a biomarker for cancer stem cell phenotype.
- Determination of neutrophil behavior in the lung capillary environment using in vitro techniques.
- Experimental determination of the response of single cell adhesion molecules to applied forces.
Current Teaching
- PHYS 4301/5301 - Cell and Molecular Biophysics: This course is taught in Fall semester in odd-numbered years.
- PHYS 1901 - Physics Seminar: Discussion of readings from recent physics news, back-of-the-envelope problem solving and student presentations.
- PHYS 2051 - General Physics (with calculus): Courses focus on concepts and use a modified version
of Scale Up (with pre-class quizzes, group problem solving practice in class evaluated using clickers).
- PHYS 6001 - Graduate Laboratory: Experience with equipment (SEM, EDX, X-Ray Diffraction, STM, AFM) and presentation of results (paper, poster,
webpages and abstracts).
- PHYS 8301 - Biophysics Seminar: Student and Faculty presentations of papers from Biophysics literature around a topic of interest.
Service
- Department of Physics & Astronomy Undergraduate Chair (since Fall 2011).
- Honors Tutorial College (HTC) Director of Studies for Engineering Physics (since Fall 2005).
- Faculty Senator (2014-2017) including service on University Curriculum Committee and Individual Course subcommittee.
Education
- Ph. D. (Physics), January, 1996 - McGill
University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- M. Sc. (Atmospheric Physics), October, 1989 - McGill
University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- B. Sc. (Physics), June, 1986 - McGill
University, Montreal, QC, Canada
Professional Experience
- Associate Professor - Department of Physics and Astronomy Ohio University,
Athens, OH, U.S.A. (September 2007 - present)
- Assistant Professor - Department of Physics and Astronomy Ohio University,
Athens, OH, U.S.A. (September 2001 - August, 2007)
- Research Associate - Chemical Engineering, University
of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, U.S.A. (Oct, 2000 - Aug, 2001) Research
on the biophysics of cell adhesion (supervisor:
Daniel
A. Hammer).
- Postdoctoral Researcher - Chemical Engineering, University
of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, U.S.A. (Aug, 1996 - Oct, 2000) Research
on the force dependence of reverse reaction rates for selectin-carbohydrate
bonds (supervisor:
Daniel
A. Hammer).
- Postdoctoral Researcher - Chemical Engineering, Cornell University,
Ithaca, NY , U.S.A. (Dec, 1995 - Aug, 1996) Research on the force dependence
of reverse reaction rates for selectin-carbohydrate bonds (supervisor:
Daniel
A. Hammer).
- Graduate Research Assistant - Ph.D. McGill University, Montreal, QC,
Canada (Aug, 1989 - Nov, 1995) Thesis: On the
time and force dependence of antigen-antibody mediated cell adhesion.
(supervisor: Harry L. Goldsmith)
- Graduate Research Assistant - M. Sc. McGill University, Montreal, QC,
Canada (Aug, 1986 - Aug,1989) Thesis: Range dependence of radar estimates
of rainfall: a simulation (supervisor: Geoffrey L. Austin)
Fellowships, Awards, and Honors
- 2006-2011 – National Science Foundation
CAREER Award Recipient
- 2005 – Ohio University Arts and Sciences Dean's Outstanding Teacher Award
- 1997-1999 - Recipient of two-year postdoctoral fellowship from Quebec
research funding agency Fonds pour la Formation de Chercheurs et l'Aide
à la Recherche (FCAR)
Professional Activities
- Member of
Biophysical Society,
Biomedical Engineering Society
American Chemical Society,
American Physical Society,
American Association for Cancer Research and
AAAS.
- Reviewer and panelist for the National Science Foundation and the American Heart Association.
- Reviewer of articles for Annals of Biomedical Engineering, Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering, Biophysical Journal,
Biorheology, Physical Review E, Physical Review Letters, Langmuir, PLoS One and
Mathematical Biosciences.