Department of Physical Sciences
Amanda C. Hudson
Department Chair
Chemistry Professor
Education:
Ph. D., Physical Chemistry, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
M.S., Physical Chemistry, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
B.A., Professional Chemistry, University of Nevada, Reno
Research Interests:
Water and soil chemistry; particularly with environmental contaminants and their environmental fate. Atomic and molecular structure using emission spectroscopy.
Courses Teaching:
Chem 103, 108, 121, 122, 310
Email: amanda.hudson@csn.edu
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Chemistry
Mark Garner
Professor
Chemistry
Education:
Ph.D., Chemistry, University of California, San Diego
M.S., Chemistry, University of California, San Diego
B.S., Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles
Research Interests:
Applying analytical laboratory methods and techniques for quantitative analysis of chemical substances with accuracy and precision. Teaching Analytical Techniques, Quality Assurance, and Quality Control to students in the BAS-ELS program.
Courses Teaching:
Chem 103, 122, 330, 430, 495, 496, Env 260
Email: mark.garner@csn.edu
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Tom Gill
Professor
Chemistry
Education:
Ph.D., Chemistry, University of Minnesota
M.A., Math Education, DePaul University
B.S., Chemistry University of Notre Dame
Research Interests:
The photochemistry of transition metal compounds. The synthesis of organometallic compounds.
Courses Teaching:
Chem 103, 108, 121, 122
Email:Thomas Gill
James Ormord
Professor
Chemistry
Education:
M.S., Analytical/Environmental Chemistry, University of Montana
B.S., Chemistry, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Research Interests:
Environmental/Organic Analysis and Organic Synthesis.
Courses Teaching:
Chem 103, 108, 121, 122, 241, 242, 355
Email: james.ormord@csn.edu
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James Patton
Instructor
Chemistry
Education:
Ph.D., University of Tennessee Knoxville
M.S., University of Tennessee Knoxville
B.S., University of Pittsburgh
Research Interests:
Environmental analysis of contaminants in water and air. Designing new experimental procedures for undergraduate courses in instrumental analysis.
Courses Teaching:
Chem 121, 122, NRES 430, 431
Email: james.patton@csn.edu
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Roger A. Rennels
Professor
Chemistry
Education:
Ph.D., Chemistry, University of California, Riverside
M.S., Chemistry, University of California, Riverside
B.S., Chemistry, California State University, Hayward
Research Interests:
My research interests include late transition-metal catalyzed organic chemical synthesis, kinetic studies of organometallic reactions, and solar-powered hydrogen production from splitting water, using thermochemical reaction cycles.
Courses Teaching:
Chem 103, 105, 106, 107, 108, 121, 122, 241, 242, 443, 444
Email: roger.rennels@csn.edu
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Kristian Schlick
Instructor
Chemistry
Education:
Ph.D., Biochemistry, Montana State University
B.S., Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Research Interests:
Bioorganic chemistry, including biopolymer synthesis.
Courses Teaching:
Chem 103, 121, 455
Email: kristian.schlick@csn.edu
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Brian M Schmidt
Professor
Chemistry
Education:
M.S., University of Arizona
M.B.A., University of Nevada, Las Vegas
B.S., University of Southern California
Research Interests:
Electrically conductive polymers.
Courses Teaching:
Chem 103, 108, 110, 121, 241
Email:Brian Schmidt
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Sarah Wood
Instructor
Chemistry
Education:
Ph.D., University of Nevada, Las Vegas
M.A., Washington University, St. Louis
B.S., Point Loma Nazarene University
Research Interests:
Chemistry Education Research focused on general chemistry and organic chemistry students' understandings of chemistry topics.
Courses Teaching:
Chem 103, 105, 220, 106
Email: sarah.wood@csn.edu
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Astronomy, Physics, Engineering
David Batchelor
Professor
Astronomy
Education:
Ph.D., University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
M.S., McNeese State University
B.S., McNeese State University
Research Interests:
Planet formation, meteorites, environmental radioactivity.
Courses Teaching:
Ast 103, 104, 105
Email:David Batchelor
Stephanie Fiorenza
Professor
Astronomy
Education:
Ph.D., CUNY Graduate Center
M.B.A., University of Nevada, Las Vegas
B.S., Pennsylvania State University
Research Interests:
Galaxy evolution, infrared-bright galaxies.
Courses Teaching:
Ast 103, 104, Phys 151
Email: stephanie.fiorenza@csn.edu
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David R. Goldwater
Professor
Physics and Astronomy
Education:
M.S., California State University Northridge
B.S., California State University Northridge
Research Interests:
Solar phenomena and stellar evolution.
Courses Teaching:
Ast 103, 104
Email:David Goldwater
John Howard
Professor
Physics and Engineering
Education:
Ph.D., University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Research Interests:
The crystalline structures of solids as they relate to their physical and chemical properties.
Courses Teaching:
Phys 180, CEE 121, 241, ME 242
Email:John Howard
Sergiy Kaim
Instructor
Physics
Education:
Ph.D., Physics, University of Central Florida
Research Interests:
My research interests lie in the field of shaping short light pulses using chirped volume Bragg gratings (CBG). I focus on developing analytic models for CBG diffraction efficiency and beam properties, comparing them to numerical simulations, and exploring practical applications such as multiplexed gratings and heat deposition management.
Courses Teaching:
Phys 110, 151, 152, 180
Email: sergiy.kaim@csn.edu
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Pete Lanagan
Professor
Physics and Astronomy
Education:
Ph.D. Planetary Sciences, University of Arizona
M.Ed. Higher Education, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
B.S., Geological Sciences, Virginia Tech
Research Interests:
Planetary analogs, Remote sensing.
Courses Teaching:
PHYS 151, 152, AST 103, 104
Email: peter.lanagan@csn.edu
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Andrew Lerwill
Instructor
Physics
Education:
Ph.D., Nottingham Trent University, PGCE Exeter University
M.Sc., Reading University
B.Sc., University of Hertfordshire
Research Interests:
Optical metrology to aid the conservation of cultural heritage and the natural environment.
Courses Teaching:
Phys 110, 151
Email: andrew.lerwill@csn.edu
Qilin Wu
Professor
Physics
Education:
Ph.D., University of Oregon
M.S., University of Oregon
B.S., Peking University, China
Research Interests:
Condensed matter physics and quantum optics.
Courses Teaching:
Phys 110, 181, 182
Email: qilin.wu@csn.edu
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Earth and Environmental Sciences
Melissa K. Giovanni
Professor
Environmental Science
Education:
Ph.D., Geology, University of California, Los Angeles
B.S., Geology, University of Arizona
Research Interests:
Conservation of public lands via science communication and civic engagement. TEDx speaker for the Climate Countdown series. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0cTHl6TIaY
Courses Teaching:
Env 101, Geog 103
Email:Melissa Giovanni
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John Keller
Professor
Environmental Science/ Environmental Geology
Education:
Ph.D., Environmental Resources and Policy, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale
M.S., Hydrogeology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale
B.S., Geology, University of Kansas
Research Interests:
Groundwater modeling specializing in well hydraulics and the analysis of aquifer tests.
Courses Teaching:
ENV 101, 206, GEOL 330, 334, 474
Email: john.keller@csn.edu
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Paulus McBurnett
Instructor
Environmental Science/Geology
Education:
M.S., Geology, California State University, Northridge
B.S., Geology, California State University, Northridge
Research Interests:
Primary interest in Paleoenvironmental dynamics and Paleoseismicity and the Active Tectonics of the Basin and Range geomorphological province in the American southwest.
Courses Teaching:
ENV 101, 201, 260, 492, NRES 210, GEOL 362, 495
Email: paul.mcburnett@csn.edu
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Taly D. Drezner
Instructor
Geography
Education:
Ph.D., Geography, Arizona State University
M.A., Geography, Arizona State University
B.A., Geography, California State University, Fullerton
Research Interests:
Desert environments and ecosystems, including plant-climate interactions and cactus ecology.
Courses Teaching:
Geog 103, 104
Email:Taly Drezner
Barbara Graham
Professor
Geography
Education:
M.A., Geography, West Virginia University
B.A., Geography, University of Maryland
Courses Teaching:
Geography 103, 104, 117
Email:Barbara Graham
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Janine Roza
Instructor
Geology
Education:
M.S., California State University, Bakersfield
B.S., California State University, Chico
Research Interests:
Rock magnetics includes paleomagnetism and environmental magnetism.
Courses Teaching:
Geol 101, 220, 448
Email: janine.roza@csn.edu