Prof. Ellen Keister to Give Final Fall 2013 Physics Careers Seminar on Nov. 21

The Fall 2013 Physics Careers seminar series concludes on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2013 with a seminar by alumna Prof. Ellen Keister (PhD '10):

Time: 11 a.m. on Thursday, November 21, 2013 (refreshments served at 10:30 a.m.)

Location: 204 Loomis Laboratory (Interaction Room)

Title:  Big Research to Small College: Pursuing a Career at a Liberal Arts College

Speaker: Prof. Ellen Keister (PhD '10) of the Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, Earlham College, in Richmond, Indiana

Abstract:  The stereotype of PhD advisers is that they create clones of themselves. Thus the distance between a large university like UIUC and a small liberal arts college seems unconquerable. It is not. A graduate education from UIUC is good preparation for a whole breadth of possible careers, including faculty jobs at small liberal arts colleges. By seeking out teaching experiences and developing a flexible research program, it’s possible to be a competitive applicant for small liberal arts college jobs. If you enjoy working with undergraduates, both in teaching and research, there are some great places to work out there!

Bio: Ellen received her BS in Physics from the College of William and Mary. She completed her PhD at the University of Illinois in the group of J. Gary Eden (in ECE) working on laser induced plasmas and gas-phase recombination dynamics. Following graduate school, she worked as a post-doctoral researcher at JILA and the University of Colorado Boulder in the group of Margaret Murnane and Henry Kapteyn, working on ultrafast molecular and nanoparticle dynamics. In August 2013, she joined the faculty at Earlham College as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy.

Note: While she's in Urbana, Ellen is willing to meet with any students interested in discussing a career teaching at a liberal arts college. If you would like to meet with her on Thursday, Nov. 21, please send me an e-mail, slcooper@illinois.edu, so I can arrange a meeting.

You can see the rest of the Fall 2013 Physics Careers Seminar series here: http://physics.illinois.edu/events/seminars.asp?cal=4014