We are Hiring!
The Department of Physics and Astronomy at Siena College invites applications for a tenure track Assistant Professor position starting Fall, 2010. A PhD in physics or a closely related field is required, and postdoctoral and teaching experience are desirable. The successful candidate will be expected to teach enthusiastically and effectively in introductory and non-majors' courses, as well as in courses for physics majors. He or she will also be expected to develop an active research program involving undergraduate students. A facility for obtaining external funding is considered desirable. The ability to teach courses in Solid State or Nano physics is a plus. The department consists of seven full-time faculty, and currently there are active research programs in astronomy, atomic physics, biophysics, computational physics, elementary particle physics and space physics. Interested candidates should submit a pdf document including cover letter, statements expressing thoughts on teaching and research, a complete curriculum vita, and the names and contact information (including email addresses) of three references. At least one of the references should be able to address the candidate's teaching ability. Send applications to Dr. Mark Rosenberry, Siena College, 515 Loudon Road, Loudonville, NY 12211, (mrosenberry@siena.edu). Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, but they should be received by December 31, 2009 to guarantee full consideration. Siena College is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages applications from all qualified candidates.
Professor Rose Finn Receives NSF CAREER Award
Siena College Assistant Professor of Physics, Rose Finn, Ph.D. is out of this world—and so is her research.
Finn is working with undergraduate Siena College students to find out what causes galaxies to evolve from, actively star-forming galaxies to red, passive galaxies. Finn and her students are studying the gas and stellar properties of galaxies in 10 low-redshift groups and clusters.
Her research and collaboration have earned Finn the Faculty Early Career Development Award (CAREER) from the National Science Foundation. It is the most prestigious award given to new faculty members.
The educational objective of this $471,460 CAREER award is to increase the number of Siena College graduates who pursue careers in physics, astronomy and related fields. The CAREER program recognizes and supports the early career development of those teacher-scholars who are most likely to become the academic leaders of the 21st century.
Contact: Ken Jubie
Contact Email: communications@siena.edu
Professor Joshua B. Diamond (1944 - 2009)
It is with much sadness that we share the news of the passing of our friend and colleague Professor Joshua B. Diamond on July 11, 2009 at Community Hospice, Albany, New York.
Born February 13, 1944, in Chicago, Ill., Josh was the son of Philip Diamond and Elisa Benamy Diamond. Raised in Berkeley, Calif., he earned a B.S. degree at the University of California, Berkeley, and master's and Ph.D. degrees in physics at the University of Pennsylvania. A fruitful career in physics culminated in 29 years as a professor at Siena College, where he delighted in teaching and learning from students and colleagues, publishing his work in several physics journals.
In May 2009, he was presented with Siena College's first Matthew C. Conlin, O.F.M., Distinguished Service Award for his many years of outstanding service to promote the collegiality and intercommunication between faculty and administration that have been a hallmark of the College. His colleagues in the Physics Department also established the Joshua B. Diamond Award in Josh's honor, to be awarded annually to an outstanding senior physics major.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that those who wish to remember Josh contribute to Congregation Agudat Achim or to Siena College, Joshua B. Diamond Award Endowment.
Please send donations for the "Diamond Award" endowment to: Siena College Development Office, St. Francis House, 515 Loudon Road, Loudonville, NY 12211. Please indicate on the check to Siena College that the gift is for the Diamond Award Endowment.
Thank you in advance for any contributions in honor of Josh. He will be dearly missed.
New Diamond award for Excellence in Physics
May 17, 2009: As Dr. Josh Diamond is retiring, a new award has been created in honor of his long and tremendous service. Jason Soohoo '09 will be the first recipient of the award, in recognition of his outstanding work in Physics at Siena.Small Satellite Takes on Large Thunderstorms
November 17, 2008: Siena College and the Goddard Space Flight Center were jointly awarded a $1 million National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to lead a new satellite mission, called 'Firefly,' that will explore the elusive link between lightning and sudden bursts of high-energy radiation in Earth’s upper atmosphere.
Read more...
"Integrating innovative and creative educational efforts with front-line research is what NSF is all about," said NSF Deputy Director Kathie L. Olsen. "The new CubeSat program uses the transformational technology of CubeSats to do just that. The Firefly mission is a terrific example of a program that will pursue scientific discovery, while providing unique and inspiring educational opportunities." NSF Press Release...
NASA Press Release: "Cosmic Crash"
A team of astronomers that includes Prof. Rose Finn of Siena College discovered a pileup of cosmic proportions! This collision involves four galaxies that are slamming into each other and kicking up billions of stars in one of the largest cosmic smash-ups ever observed. These clashing galaxies, spotted by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, will eventually merge into a single, behemoth galaxy up to 10 times as massive as our own Milky Way. This rare sighting provides an unprecedented look at how the most massive galaxies in the universe form. To learn more, please visit: Caltech - Spitzer Space Telescope or NASA - Spitzer Space Telescope.
Original Source: NASA News Release
Citation: Astrophysical Journal Letters 665:L9-L13
Sigma Xi Meeting
On February 24, 2009, Siena College will host the Albany Chapter of Sigma Xi Meeting. For more information, on the meeting,
click here.
Meeting of the Astronomical Society of New York
For more information, on the meeting,
click here or contact Rose Finn
The Department of Physics at Siena College is offering a one-day workshop on the Modeling approach to teaching high-school physics. Registration is limited to 24 people, and participants will receive 6 hours of professional development that may be applied toward recertification. The workshop will take place on November 17th from 9 am to 4 pm in Roger Bacon Hall, Room 144. The workshop, including continental breakfast and lunch, will be provided at no cost to the participants. Please contact Rose Finn (rfinn at siena.edu; 518-782-6764) to register.
On Saturday October 25th, Siena College Physics Department
will host the annual fall meeting of the Astronomical Society of New York.
Workshop for High School Physics Teachers
