Physics Lecture Demonstrator

Monika Rachelle Wood

***** ****** *** ● Westland, MI 48186 ● 734-***-**** ● ******.*****@*****.***

Summary

Physics Lecture Demonstrator with a Master’s Degree in Physics and 5+ years of proven experience operating, designing/prototyping, repairing, and instructing others on how to operate and describe physics demonstrations and student experiments used in collegiate courses and special public lectures. Proven success in organization, leadership, problem-solving, working with machines and tools, understanding and conveying difficult material, administrative skills, and public speaking.

Education

Master of Science in Physics August 2015

Eastern Michigan University – Ypsilanti, MI GPA: 3.54

Thesis: Wood, Monika. "Charging and Discharging of Lichtenberg Electrets." Order No. 10010944 Eastern Michigan University, 2015. Ann Arbor: ProQuest. Web. 10 Mar. 2016.

Bachelor of Science in Physics Research April 2008

Double Minor in Astronomy and Mathematics (Honor’s College)

Eastern Michigan University – Ypsilanti, MI GPA: 3.70

Activities

Society of Physics Students Sigma Pi Sigma Honor Society Dean’s List

Circle K International Astronomy Club Undergraduate Symposium

Relevant Project

Stirling Engine model: senior project. Worked in a group to construct a computer simulation that characterized and simulated a Stirling engine and created an animation of the working model in VPython. Presented our findings at the Undergraduate Symposium 2008 oral presentation.

Computer Proficiencies

All internet browsers Microsoft Office Suite Java Script

Adobe Illustrator/Premiere Pro LaTeX LabVIEW

Python/VPython Sharepoint 2010/2013 Nintex 2010

Spectral Suite (Ocean Optics) Matlab Logger Pro

Professional Experience

Physics Lecture Demonstrator November 2010 – Present

University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI)

Primary responsibility to set-up/tear down and repair physics demonstrations and experiments used in lectures and laboratories. Instruct lecturer on operation procedures, nuances, and hazard safety. Presented the more complicated demonstrations to both students and the public (Saturday Morning Physics), various ages and education levels.

Development, prototyping, and construction of new projects as suggested by faculty, students or Demonstration Lab staff. Machining skills on drill press, mill, lathe, and miter/table/band saw, hand tools. Electronic circuitry troubleshooting, repair.

Development and management of the laboratory website using Sharepoint 2010. Each equipment item has a page with descriptions and media, with a shopping cart style ordering system for the customer, and an inventory list. Worked directly with IT services to streamline/fine-tune operations. UM Physics Demo Lab Website: https://sharepoint.umich.edu/lsa/physics/demolab

Handle fire, liquid nitrogen, strong acid/base, strong magnets, high voltage (AC/DC), electrostatics, electromagnetic radiation, lasers, x-ray, ultra violet, vacuum, unregistered radioactive material, and high velocity object hazards. Experience using infrared and high-speed cameras.

Supervised part-time work-study students and trained new hires beginning in 2012. Increased productivity and output of lab by 4-fold in 5 years. Supervised the daily operation of lab when lab manager fell ill 3 years ago.

Videos of demonstrations and experiments posted to YouTube.com have been incorporated into online textbooks in countries around the world (S. Korea, Australia, Venezuela, etc.)

Worked both independently and as part of a group. Also, have experience collaborating with individuals and groups outside of the physics department.

Administrative Assistant July 2010 – November 2010

Manpower, Inc – Administrative Staffing Company (Ann Arbor, MI)

University of Michigan Animal Care and Use Office (UCUCA) – Administrative Assistant

oDuties include processing transfers, scheduling meetings, reviewing protocols to ensure accuracy and the information followed guidelines of regulation bodies, manage contact information, put together monthly meeting agendas, process amendments, mail delivery, etc.

Conway Freight – Data Entry Clerk

oTranscribed information from driving records to a spreadsheet for statistical analysis quickly and accurately.

Graduate Assistant/Tutor August 2008 – June 2010

Eastern Michigan University (Ypsilanti, MI)

Taught 4 laboratory sections of Mechanics, Electricity and Light, and Astronomy per semester including preparation of a 10-15 minute introduction to the material and grading of weekly laboratory reports.

Walked from group to group addressing issues and answering questions, explaining difficult topics. Guided students to use data acquisition tech/software programs, assess error analysis, and see trends.

Assigned lead of Astronomy Lab instruction, included finalizing intro presentations, student quizzes, and implementation of a new experiment and improvements to existing experiments used during the class.

Reinforced ideas of college level physics to assist struggling students during tutoring sessions.

Research Assistant July 2008 – July 2010

Eastern Michigan University – Polar Aeronomy Research Summer School (Ypsilanti, MI/Gakona, AK)

Designed and performed experiments utilizing the Ionospheric Research Instrument (IRI), a high-powered, high-frequency phased array radio transmitter, and Modular UHF Ionospheric Radar (MUIR) instruments located at the HAARP facility in Gakona, AK.

Explored the cause and effect relationship of the excitation of turbulence effects in the ionosphere using short high-frequency pulses (10’s ms) for low duty cycles. Varying the angle in which the beam and receiver were directed produced different structures due to interactions with the Earth’s magnetic field.

Used Matlab to produce high time resolution MUIR data to identify and explain wave structures, including such structures as out-shifted plasma lines, multiple-layer heating, and high frequency plasma line overshoots.

Publication:

Sheerin, J. P., M. R. Keith, et al., Studies of HF-induced Strong Langmuir Turbulence at the HAARP Ionospheric Observatory, November 2009,

Adham, N., J.P. Sheerin, M.R. Wood, et. Al., Studies of Aspect Angle Dependence of Plasma Turbulence at HAARP, December 2010,

Sheerin, J.P., M.R. Wood, et al., High Time-resolution Studies of RF Interaction Experiments at HAARP, December 2010,

Administrative Assistant September 2006 – April 2010

Weichert, Realtors – Cass Realty (Dearborn, MI)

Office duties include answering multiple line telephone, property and facilities management (i.e. schedule service and utilities), website maintenance, escrow account management, invoicing, market research, employment recruitment, and minor IT systems management (i.e. server maintenance, troubleshooting, software tutorials, etc.)

Directly assisted office manager with hiring and conversion to a franchise business.

Assisted Owner with his business tax preparation.

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