College of Arts & Sciences Physics

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Committed to Excellence

Faculty members are committed to teaching excellence and represent a wide range of physics interests, including condensed matter physics, nuclear and particle physics, astrophysics and solid state physics.

Small classes provide increased access to both faculty and learning experiences.

Christina Keller  Christina Keller, Director
Associate Professor
Ph.D., North Dakota State University, 1988
605-677-6125

Christina (Tina) Keller received her B.S. in 1984, her M.S. in 1986 and her Ph.D. in 1988 from North Dakota State University. She joined the faculty at USD in 1989 and has been involved in all aspects of the department since then. Tina regularly teaches the calculus-based introductory physics, modern physics and experimental modern physics. In addition, she has taught the algebra-based physics course, astronomy and many of the upper level courses including, classical mechanics, electromagnetism, quantum mechanics and optics. Her research interests lie in theoretical physics, particularly hard sphere liquids and high-Tc superconductivity. She is also involved in promoting physics education, having presented several summer workshops and courses for high school teachers.

 
Yongchen Sun 

Yongchen Sun
Associate Professor
Ph.D., Montana State University, 1993
605-677-5063

Yongchen Sun received his B.S. in 1982 from Henan Normal University, his M.S. in 1984 from Shaanxi Teachers University and his Ph.D. in 1993 from Montana State University. He joined the faculty at USD in the fall of 2004. Sun teaches General Physics, Digital Electronics, Thermodynamics, Statistical Physics and Quantum Mechanics. His research interests lie in the area of solid state materials for lasers, phosphors and scintillators, optical memory and signal processing device development.



Dongming Mei  Dongming Mei
Assistant Professor
Ph.D., University of Alabama, 2003
605-677-6124 
Dongming Mei received his B.S. in 1983 from Hua Zhong Normal University in China, his M.S. in 2001, and his Ph.D. in 2003 from the University of Alabama. He spent the last three years at Los Alamos National Lab as a post-doc before joining the faculty at USD in the fall of 2006. His teaching duties include Introductory Astronomy and labs. Dr. Mei conducted research in Cosmic Ray Physics for ten years at the Tibet Air Shower Array and was an Associate Professor at Tibet University, Tibet, China. He was a Visiting Scholar at the Institute of Cosmic Ray Research in Japan, INFN, Dipartimento di Fisica dell'Universita, Napoli, Italy, and the University of Michigan. His Ph.D. from Alabama was based on his research in collaboration with the KamLAND neutrino experiment. As a Post-Doctoral Research Associate with the Weak Interactions Team at Los Alamos National Laboratory, he has been instrumental in a program to develop sophisticated background models for the Majorana, DEAP, and CLEAN experiments using a combination of Monte Carlo techniques and verification experiments in the laboratory. His primary interest is to help create a Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory (DUSEL) at the Homestake Mine in Lead, SD. 

 

Vincente Guiseppe 

Vincente Guiseppe
Assistant Professor 
Ph.D., Physics, University of Maine
605-677-5649

Vincente Guiseppe received his B.S. in Physics from Millersville University of Pennsylvania. Most recently, he was a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Dr. Guiseppe's research interests include:

  • Neutrino physics
  • Dark matter detection
  • Astroparticle physics
  • Deep underground science
  • Low-background detectors and experimental techniques
  • Radon

 

Vernon Mcbride 

 Vernon Mcbride
Instructor
M.A., University of South Dakota, 2001
605-677-6141
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Vernon Mcbride received his B.S. in Mathematics and Physics in 1999 as well as his M.A. in Mathematics in 2001 from the University of South Dakota. Since receiving his M.A. in 2001, he has taught a variety of courses for the math department including college algebra, pre-calculus, statistics, and trigonometry.

 

Mary Nielsen  Mary Nielsen
Department Secretary
605-677-5649