College of Arts, Sciences and Education

Dear friends and alumni,

The Department of Physics stands as the oldest department in the College of Arts, Sciences, and Education, with roots tracing back to 1889–1890 and its official establishment in 1892. For more than a century, the department has grown from a pioneering academic program into a dynamic center for research and innovation. The department’s doctoral program, introduced in 1960, marked an important milestone that solidified its reputation for excellence in graduate education.

The department’s historical strength lies in atomic, molecular and optical (AMO) physics—the only program of its kind in the University of Missouri System. Over time, its research portfolio has grown substantially, with condensed matter and materials physics now representing the department’s largest and most dynamic area of inquiry, driving breakthroughs in fields ranging from nanomaterials to superconductivity.

In 2019, the department broadened its horizons once again by establishing a new focus in astrophysics, becoming home to Missouri’s only research group affiliated with the LIGO Scientific Collaboration in gravitational-wave physics. Most recently, faculty and students have turned their attention to quantum physics and emerging quantum technologies, positioning the department at the forefront of the second quantum revolution.

The department’s faculty represent the best in their fields. Five active and three emeritus professors are listed among the world’s top 2% of scientists, according to Stanford’s ranking. Professors Thomas Vojta and Ulrich Jentschura are Fellows of the American Physical Society, while Professor Marco Cavaglia is the university’s most cited researcher—with over 130,000 citations and an h-index of 124. In 2024 alone, physics faculty published an impressive 63 refereed journal papers. Nearly half of the current faculty (7 of 16) have joined since 2019, bringing a new generation of scholars and ideas to the department.

For more than 130 years, the physics department has trained some of the brightest minds at Missouri S&T. Today, physics stands as the second-largest undergraduate program in the college—second only to biology. We take immense pride in the accomplishments of our physicists, whose work continues to push the boundaries of knowledge and shape the future of science.

Sincerely,

Mehrzad Boroujerdi, Ph.D.
Vice Provost and Dean

Sutapa Bhattacharya, a doctoral candidate in chemistry, defended her dissertation titled “Exploring new Poly-Anion based Materials for LI-Ion Battery Cathodes” on Nov. 7. Her dissertation advisor was Dr. Amitava Choudhury, associate professor of chemistry.

Danielle Bowerman, a doctoral candidate in mathematics, defended her dissertation titled “Generalizations of Finiteness Conditions and Extension Monads in Algebras with Infinitely Many or Infinitary Operations” on Nov. 13. Her dissertation advisor was Dr. Matt Insall, professor emeritus of mathematics and statistics.

Farhana Bristy, a second-year graduate student in physics and a member of Dr. Simeon Mistakidis’s research group, has published her first research article, titled “Localization and splitting of a quantum droplet with a potential defect,” in the Elsevier journal Chaos, Solitons & Fractals.

Jennifer Harrell, a Ph.D. student in biological sciences, won first place in this year’s Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition—standing out as the sole representative from the College of Arts, Sciences, and Education (CASE). Her talk, ‘Running on Empty: The Metabolic Price of Inadequate Sleep,’ delivered a clear and compelling message: sleep isn’t just rest—it’s essential biological upkeep. “My research has laid a solid foundation to build upon—bridging what I’ve learned in flies to treatments that could one day protect people like our first responders, our soldiers, and our healthcare workers—people who sometimes can’t sleep when the biology demands it,” she explained. Harrell will advance to the regional competition this spring, proudly carrying CASE forward and continuing to highlight the hidden costs of sleeplessness.

On Nov. 20–21, education students Kylee Copeland (Chemistry BA), Emma Friedman (Education BS), Abigail Harrington (Education BS), and Modiest Phillips (Psychological science BA) attended the Missouri State Teachers Association (MSTA) Convention in Columbia, Missouri, accompanied by their S-MSTA advisors, Dr. Michelle Schwartze and Dr. Jami Swindell. During the convention, students participated in workshops on best practices in education and took part in the statewide S-MSTA meeting.

Mathematics and Statistics Ph.D. students Beyza Cetin, MD Mutakabbir Khan, and Jack Lawrence Coleman attended the American Mathematical Society (AMS) Fall Central Sectional Conference alongside Dr. Elvan Akin, professor of mathematics and statistics, which was held at the University of Missouri–St. Louis (UMSL) Oct. 18–19.The conference provided an excellent opportunity for the students to present their research, exchange ideas with peers, and connect with scholars from across the country.

The arts, languages, and philosophy department held its annual Overnight Theatre Festival on Nov. 8, bringing together more than 60 students, alumni, faculty and invited guests to create six original ten-minute plays in under twenty-four hours. Playwrights had fewer than twelve hours to write their scripts; actors rehearsed in under seven; and theatre technicians built set pieces and crafted scenic and sound designs in a single afternoon. Josie Schnelten, a senior in Engineering Management, highlighted the value of the event: “Schoolwork at S&T is such a huge time commitment; not everyone can dedicate hours to weekly rehearsals. The Overnight Festival gives interested students the chance to perform and connect with others with only a one-day commitment. And actors of all experience levels are welcome—it’s a great chance to try something new.” The department plans to host the Overnight Theatre Festival again in November 2026.

The Missouri S&T iGEM team earned a silver medal for their project, “Metlock: A Biomining Library,” at the 2025 iGEM Grand Jamboree, held Oct. 38–31. Team members presenting the project included biology majors Julian Foat, Ethan Beane, Lindsay Schneider, Addison Imhof, Jenna Mueller, and Elaina Zobel, along with biomedical engineering major Tristan Crawford. The team is advised by Dr. Katie Shannon and Dr. Dave Westenberg of biological sciences.

The chemistry department hosted middle and high school students for National STEM Day with the workshop “Electrochemistry Explorers: Fuels & Feelings” on Nov. 5 at Missouri S&T. Jointly sponsored by the Kummer Center, the chemistry department, and the NSF Center for Synthetic Organic Chemistry, the workshop was led by Dr. Manashi Nath, Dr. Julia Medvedeva, postdoc Dr. Rohit Yadav, and graduate students Amarachi Nnachor, Amitav Sen, Wyatt Thurman, and Agata Rozkhova.

The workshop explored two themes: alternative energy and mental health pre-diagnosis. Students observed a live demonstration of hydrogen and oxygen generation from a fuel-cell-powered water electrolyzer and conducted hands-on experiments producing hydrogen from colored salt water using graphite pencils and a 9V battery. The second part focused on neurotransmitters and their role in mental health, with Medvedeva explaining molecular structures and binding, and students worked with simulated molecular models on a computer. In a final experiment, students and teachers shed tears that were used to detect dopamine with electrochemical biosensors developed in the Nath lab—a highlight that fascinated participants. Students from Republic, Steelville, and Alton, all cities in Missouri, participated in the activities, and teachers praised the workshop’s engaging and smoothly organized 45-minute session as a memorable STEM experience.

More than 30 members of the physics department hosted a Spooky Science event (pictured above) at the Kaleidoscope Discovery Center. Fully costumed, faculty, postdocs, and students—both undergraduate and graduate—offered hands-on experiments, demonstrations, and planetarium shows for families. The afternoon session focused on engaging children, while the evening program catered to teenagers and adults. More than 150 visitors explored physics activities and enjoyed liquid nitrogen treats in a fun, interactive celebration of science.

The Maxwell C. Weiner Humanities Endowment at CASE now has a brand-new website. Under the leadership of Dr. Margret Grebowicz, the endowment supports a wide range of initiatives, including its flagship Public Scholars Workshops.

One of CASE’s crown jewels, the Ozark Research Field Station, has recently undergone exciting expansion and renovation. Learn more about it here.

Check out chemistry department’s new graduate program recruitment video.

Dr. Gina Yosten recently joined Missouri S&T as the Kummer Endowed Chair of Biological Sciences, bringing with her nearly 20 years of leadership and scientific excellence from Saint Louis University School of Medicine. An award-winning educator and internationally recognized physiologist, Yosten has made significant contributions to the fields of metabolism, neuroendocrinology, and receptor biology. Read more about her research.

Dr. Mehrzad Boroujerdi, dean of CASE, attended the 60th annual meeting of the Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences in St. Louis, Nov. 5-8. He also delivered a Persian-language presentation for a UCLA Near Eastern Languages & Cultures panel exploring Iran’s current economic, political and environmental landscape. 

Drs. victoria braegger, Ryan Cheek, David Wright, Sarah Hercula, and Eric Bryan in English and technical communication received a $72,000 S&T Ignition Grant for Sustainable Educational Transformation for their proposal, "Establishing Groundwork for a New Master of Science in Communication, Media, and Technology."

Dr. Michael Bruening, professor of history and political science, presented a paper titled "Turning Swiss in the French-speaking Territories" at the Sixteenth Century Society conference in Portland, Oregon.

Dr. Ryan Cheek, assistant professor of English and technical communication, and Dr. Rachel Schneider, associate teaching professor in the same department, along with graduate student Abigail Boafo, published in the ACM SIGDOC 25 conference proceedings: ‘Zine Labs as Centers of Public Interest Communication Design.’” Their article shares insights from creating their Zine Lab, hosting zinemaking events, and offers practical guidance for developing similar spaces and integrating zinemaking into coursework. As part of their PIT-UN grant, the team also showcased student zines from the lab’s workshops at the St. Louis Independent Comics Expo on Oct. 18.

Dr. Gerald Cohen, professor of German, has recently published “Reflections on Linear B: An Egyptian Hieroglyphic Component (Draft #2)” in the working-paper series he edits, Comments on Etymology, vol. 55, nos. 2–3 (double issue), Nov./Dec. 2025. The 169-page publication compiles—with revisions—twelve earlier working papers in which Cohen examines Linear B, the earliest known form of Greek writing. Discovered on Crete in 1900, Linear B bears little resemblance to the familiar Greek alphabet. Although the script was deciphered in 1952, the origins of its characters (commonly referred to as “signs” by specialists) remain obscure. Cohen’s work represents an ongoing attempt to shed light on that mystery.

Dr. Shane Epting, associate professor of philosophy, recently published three articles: “Ethics in Transportation Innovation: The Case of Neighborhood Electric Vehicles and Municipal Partnerships” in the Journal of Ethics in Entrepreneurship and Technology; “The Ethics of House Flipping” in the International Journal of Applied Philosophy; and “No Homes Barred: A Multilevel Survey of Sundstrom’s Reconstructing Integration” in the Philosophy of the City Journal as part of a symposium on Ronald Sundstrom’s Just Shelter.  Epting also presented his transportation ethics research at the Philosophy of the City Conference in Busan, South Korea, and delivered two invited talks in Taiwan: one at National Taiwan University on ethical prioritization in sustainable urban planning, and another at National Taiwan Normal University on prioritization in sustainability management. Below, he is pictured with members of NTNU’s Graduate Institute of Sustainability Management and Environmental Education.

Dr. Mary Gillis, associate teaching professor of education, and Dr. Beth Kania-Gosche, department chair and professor of education, attended the Mental Health First Aid Instructor Summit in Columbia, Missouri, on Oct. 30. Kania-Gosche was invited to speak on a panel addressing organizational growth in Mental Health First Aid. All faculty in the education department are certified in Youth Mental Health First Aid, and the training is embedded in education courses so that all students receive it at no cost.

Matthew Goldberg, associate teaching professor of English and technical communication, was recently featured in Shenandoah Magazine’s Small Town Dispatches (Washington and Lee University). In the interview, he discusses life as a writer in Rolla, Missouri, and his work with S&T’s creative students.

Dr. Beth Kania-Gosche, department chair and professor of education, published an opinion piece for Inside Higher Ed titled "The Enrollment Cliff is Worse than We Thought."

Dr. Wumaier Maimaitiyiming, assistant teaching professor of mathematics, received a $10,000 grant from the Kern Family Foundation for a project titled “Advancing EM Integration in Trigonometry and Calculus through Curriculum Innovation and Research.”

Dr. Shelley Minteer, professor of chemistry and director of the Kummer Institute Center for Resource Sustainability, was interviewed by St. Louis NPR on federal funding for research projects.

Dr. Simeon Mistakidis, assistant professor of physics, published the article “Droplet-gas phases and their dynamical formation in particle-imbalanced mixtures” in the open-access journal Quantum Science and Technology, in collaboration with researchers from the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology. The study identifies novel phases of matter in many-body self-bound droplet systems and aims to inform future ultracold-atom experiments. Mistakidis and his postdoctoral researcher, Dr. George Bougas, also participated in the 2025 Midwest Cold Atom Workshop in Urbana–Champaign. Mistakidis delivered an invited talk, and Bougas presented a poster. Missouri S&T was the only institution represented from the Missouri system, underscoring its growing role in regional quantum research efforts.

Dr. David Samson, associate teaching professor of music, (pictured above, conducting) directed the Show-Me Central All-Conference High School Honor Band on Tuesday, Nov. 4, in Chamois, Missouri. The ensemble included students from Vienna, Chamois, Jamestown, Prairie Home, and Calvary Lutheran in Jefferson City. Samson rehearsed with the students throughout the afternoon and conducted their evening concert for parents and community supporters.

Dr. Michelle Schwartze, associate teaching professor of education, attended the Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE) annual conference Nov. 5–8 in Indianapolis, where she presented on integrating STEAM into middle school lessons and using action research in education. She also participated in the School Science and Mathematics Association (SSMA) annual convention Nov. 13–15 in Fort Worth, Texas, where she received the 2025 Award for Excellence in Integrating Science and Mathematics for her work with Project Lead the Way and preservice teachers. At SSMA, she presented on how she prepares preservice teachers to use PLTW Launch and incorporate STEM in their classrooms.

Dr. Xiaojie Wang, assistant professor of physics, received the Stefan Westerhoff Award at the 2025 fall meeting of the High-Altitude Water Cherenkov Gamma-Ray Observatory (HAWC) collaboration in Madison. The award recognizes contributions that significantly advance HAWC’s operations, performance, data analysis, and scientific interpretation. It honors the legacy of Stefan Westerhoff, a prominent leader in astroparticle physics.

Dr. Gina Yosten, professor and Kummer Endowed chair of biological sciences, received a $740,097 grant from the Breakthrough T1D organization for a project titled “Evaluating the Impact of High-Risk HLA-DR Serotypes on the Cellular Neighborhood of the Pancreatic Islets: Towards Early Identification of T1D Disease Risk and Prevention.”

The Gale-Hufham Scholarship was established by Dr. Nord Gale and Dr. James “Jim” Hufham as part of a need-based scholarship matching program. Through it, one biological sciences student receives a $1,000 scholarship each year. These two professors endowed the scholarship in the early 2000s, and it has helped support many past and present S&T students. Read more about the two faculty who helped create this scholarship. Want to get involved? Donate to a CASE need-based scholarship today.

Our heartfelt thanks to Dr. Gregg Adams, Physics, MS’81, PhD’83, and his wife, Sally, for their $25,000 gift supporting graduate students in physics. Adams attributes much of his success to the education he received at S&T (UMR) and hopes this gift will empower future scientists as they complete their studies and begin their careers. We are also grateful to Dr. Steve Christiansen, Physics’72, who has provided an additional gift of $40,000 to the physics department.

To support CASE, contact the Senior Development Officer, Michelle Shults, at shultsm@mst.edu; telephone: 573-341-4380.

Disclaimer: CASE does not endorse the arguments presented in any of the essays listed in this section of the newsletter. We share them solely as "food for thought" and encourage our enlightened audience to form their own opinions on the subjects discussed.

College of Arts, Sciences and Education

Missouri University of Science and Technology

118 Fulton Hall

301 W. 14th St., Rolla, MO 65409

573-341-4687

case@mst.edu