Before starting my postdoc I did a three-month science policy fellowship at the National Academy of Sciences studying science education at the undergraduate level with the Board on Science Education. My time at the Academies convinced me that relatively modest changes to the way that we teach can significantly increase student learning (article by Carl Wieman in Physics Today).
I graduated in December 2005 with a Ph.D. in physics from the University of California, Berkeley with financial support from a Hertz Graduate Fellowship. My research was in experimental single-molecule biophysics in the laboratory of Professor Carlos Bustamante (mostly in collaboration with the Cozzarelli lab). My primary research was in the study of twist and torque in single DNA molecules.
I also enjoy hiking, tennis, volleyball, economics, politics, and reading. In my (very limited) free time I am also trying to retire the penny. If you are looking for a good book to read (especially non-fiction), check out my books page.
