Faculty and Staff Profile
The Physical Sciences Department consists of faculty with graduate levels degrees in astronomy, chemistry, geology, geography, environmental sciences, engineering, physics, and natural resources. The department offers transferable associate degrees and two bachelor's degrees in environmental laboratory sciences (Chemistry) and environmental management (environmental sciences).
Chemistry
Amanda C. Hudson
Professor of Chemistry
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 contaminates and their fate in the environment. Atomic and molecular structure using emission spectroscopy.
Courses Teaching:
Chem 103, 108, 121, 122, 310
Email: Amanda Hudson
Brian M Schmidt
Professor of Chemistry Chemistry lead
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
James Ormord
Professor of 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
James Patton
Instructor of 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
Kristian Schlick
Instructor of 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
Mark Garner
Professor of 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
Roger A. Rennels
Professor of 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
Sarah Wood
Instructor of 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
Tom Gill
Professor of 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
Astronomy, Physics, Engineering
Andrew Lerwill
Instructor of 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
David Batchelor
Professor of 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
David R. Goldwater
Professor of 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 of 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
Pete Lanagan
Professor of 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: Pete Lanagan
Qilin Wu
Professor of 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
Sergiy Kaim
Instructor of 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
Stephanie Fiorenza
Professor of 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
Geology, Geography, and Environmental Sciences
Barbara Graham
Professor of Geography
Education:
M.A., Geography, West Virginia University
B.A., Geography, University of Maryland
Courses Teaching:
Geography 103, 104, 117
Email: Barbara Graham
Janine Roza
Instructor of 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
John Keller
Professor of 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
Melissa K. Giovanni
Professor of 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.
YouTube
Courses Teaching:
Env 101, Geog 103
Email: Melissa Giovanni
Paulus McBurnett
Professor of 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
Taly D. Drezner
Instructor of 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.
YouTube
Courses Teaching:
Geog 103, 104
Email: Taly Drezner