Alumni of the Physics Graduate Program

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What can you do after you earn an advanced degree in Physics? Colorado State graduates have succeeded in a wide variety of career paths; here are what some of our graduates went on to do next...

Kevin Crosby, Ph.D. 1998 (Thesis advisor: Mark Bradley)

Current Position: Assistant Professor and Chair of the physics department at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

"In my current position as assistant professor in a small physics department, I have had ample opportunity to compare notes with graduates of other physics doctoral programs. It was no surprise to me that by all measures, CSU has provided me with a top-notch education. At CSU, I found a broad spectrum of research activities with faculty who were always willing to explain not only their own work, but the larger context of their research. As an educator and part-time administrator, I find myself in an environment that values this kind of breadth and exposure to a variety of physics disciplines.

"The opportunity to be involved in nationally recognized programs such as Little Shop of Physics, the early exposure to the research and publication process, and most importantly the presence of accessible and committed faculty made my years at CSU pivotal in both the direction my career has taken and in the successes I have enjoyed."


Hermann Staengle, Ph.D. 1999 (Thesis adviser: Bob Wilson)

Current position: Postdoctoral Research Associate, U Mass

"After graduating from CSU in Fall 1999 I joined the High Energy Physics group at the University of Massachusetts/Amherst as a postdoctoral researcher on the BaBar experiment. In addition to the prospects of studying CP violation in the neutral B meson system, Babar offers a variety of exciting research opportunities.

"Currently I am working on data analysis. I have greatly benefitted from the computing, analysis and hardware skills I acquired at CSU, and the extended period of time I was able to spend at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center in California where I performed my thesis work.

"Fort Collins is a welcoming and friendly place, and became a 'home away from home' for me."


Ming Chen, Ph.D. 1991 (Thesis adviser: Carl Patton)

Current Position: Principal Engineer at the RF Systems group of Boeing Company's Phantom Works division in Seattle, Washington. Develops microwave phased array antenna technology for satellite communications applications.

"The graduate education and training I received from CSU's Physics Department enabled me to fit very well into the R&D work environment in industry. I've used at work all the skills I'd learned from school---the physics, math, computing, lab work, machine shop, ..., the list goes on and on. Even more, the training I received on communication skills such as 'viewfoil engineering' and presentation has been proven to be just as useful at work. And most importantly, it was the people at the Physics Department---the faculty and staff, the students and postdocs---that made my graduate student life so much fun and memorable."