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Department of Physics
525 Northwestern Avenue
West Lafayette, IN 47907-2036
Telephone: (765) 494-2970
Fax: (765) 494-0706

From Our Alumni: Comments

Name, E-mail, Comments
Eugene W. Peterson, Have been retired for 14 years.
Donald E. Allen, I feel I am a bit old and out of touch for my comments to be of value to anyone.
Bob Dallmann, bobdallmann@comcast.net n/a
Anthony Dunn, aldunn@iolky.com n/a
Wilbur Kimbrough, wkimbrough1@home.com n/a
John McGuire, Jhmc040242aol.com n/a
Fritz Zuhl, fritzuhl@creative.net Never stop learning.
Brett Coryell, bcoryell@sprintparanet.com The two things I've read in the last five years that have most supported my suggestion that people skills are more critical to your success than your intellectual skills are not on web sites. One is well known book by Daniel Goleman, "Emotional Intelligence" or the follow-on book "Working w/Emotional Intelligence". The other is a trans- of a speech by important computer scientist Richard Hamming to his colleagues at Bell Labs back when they were in there prime. He spoke on why some people far outshine others in the course of their career even if they are not as smart. Unfortunately, I have no electronic copy to offer.
Robert Brubaker, brubaker@ieee.org Understand how graduate school works before you get into it. Specifically for the Purdue Physics qualifier, get 10 years of problems and solve them yourself before taking the test. Do research you find interesting, but be realistic about where it will lead you. If you go to Purdue, visit the XXX at least once late at night, and sit at one of the fountains when you get stressed.
Donald (Don) D. Cummings, don.cummings@us.endress.com "There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as if everything is." Albert Einstein
Raymond J. Dagenais, rjdag@imsa.edu A degree in physics offers many opportunities in a variety of education and business situations. Cognitive flexibility, patience, and perseverance are qualities that lead to success in any field. These are the qualities of a life-long learner, a characteristic of many physics majors.
Barney Molldrem, Bmolldrem@aol.com or Tramol@dreamscape.com A Purdue degree commands a lot of respect in the technical community. My Purdue connection has been a huge source of referrals, probably for that reason.
Dr. Katharine J Jones, kjjones@stat.rice.edu Academic tenure must be abolished! It systematically hires male foreign nationals from hostile countries, while denying equal education and permanent employment to qualified American women. It violates the 1969 Civil Rights Act. It, moreover, does for American women what segregated schools did for Afro-Americans; it denies them equal education and equal employment opportunities. It has given us state supported monasteries. Russia and China don't do this and they outstripe us technically because they give fall employment to their women scientists. The U.S. produces women who are tech illiterate.
Edward Simon, Simoned@prodigy.net Don't be afraid to make decisions but recognize when it is time to change without trying to "save face".
Carlos Guzman, eh20cegs@shellus.com E-mail me for further information. Jobs are well paid jobs and very competitive. My unit in New Orleans hired only 4 scientists in the past year. I suspect job market will improve within next 5-10 years as we continue to switch to gas for energy (Unless you have got cold fusion and fission on the works). :)
Matt Lyons, mattlyon@microsoft.com Even though I am not working in a physics field, I do believe it was valuable for me to earn an undergraduate degree in physics. However, part of the reason I did not pursue a career directly involving physics is because I never got to experience much satisfaction from any physics work I did. I tried to find research opportunities for undergraduates in the department, but the only open position I could find was a weekend technician in the PRIME lab operating the equipment. While the PRIME lab itself does interesting work, I wasn't much a part of it. If the department wants to hold on to more students after they finish their undergraduate work, it must find a way to present the exciting parts of physics in a relevant manner outside the classroom. I am encouraged to read about the REU program, since I hope this will address the problem.
G. Roger Stanley, gstanley@accd.edu Go Boilers!
Frank Richter, frichter@embl-hamburg.de How about teaming up with the Purdue Placement Center (contact: stuart@cco.purdue.edu to set up a career web page for Physics Alumni? I just returned from the APS March Meeting in Minneapolis where I have met a few Purdue alumni, current grad students and faculty, and we noticed that many universities organized a reunion but Purdue was not among them. These kind of meetings are invaluable for networking and maintaining relations. I suggest that Purdue should support people to participate in these events. For comparison, president Beering asked the German Alumni Chapter on his visit to Munich to meet with him. I am notified that he comes to London this year. However, nobody can tell me where I can ask for travel funds. I have noticed that Purdue Physics still does not know that with reunification the zip codes have changed in Germany. This may seem a banality but it could cause loss of contact to a potentially influential benefactor. I have advised the Purdue Alumni Association on this issue many years ago, so you may get the correct zips from them. It seems to me a perfect example that interdisciplinary thinking is still in its infancy at Purdue. I could imagine that a large synergy potential could be tapped by simply exploring who knows what on campus and beyond. I appreciate your initiative, Dr. Miller, to range for opportunities for Purdue Physics students and hope that my input is of some help. If the mouth of Purdue Physics is not good enough to virtually guarantee a Purdue student an intern than more work has to be done inhouse.
Robert E. Turner, turner12@llnl.gov I always loved teaching (I was a TA at Purdue and Rochester) but hated the idea of constant grant proposal writing. Thought that I'd end up teaching, but that hasn't happened. My career here at LLNL has been quite satisfying, as I've gotten to do the research which has always been, frankly, fun for me, while not having to do too much in the way of worrying over where the research money will come from. I know the current employment situation for new Ph D's is not good, and, frankly, I'm not sure what I'd recommend to a new student. I know I loved graduate school, thought it was a great experience. I think that I'd tell potential students to go for it, study whatever physics you think is fun, but get some "practical" (optics, vacuum system, computer programming/interfacing) experience along the way; and be prepared to look for a job which is not traditional physics, but maybe closer to engineering. Yes, some of your new colleagues will be younger with a BS in engineering!/CS; but in the long run I think the physics grad school experience is worthwhile, maybe not financially, but certainly on a personal level.
M. , I like to say, make your education round and balanced. Realize that there is a new Internet Economy that is changing our lives. Ensure that you prepare for this new market place. Above all take advantage of being at Purdue- A really world class university. Take classes that is of interest to you outside of our main plan of study. And above all enjoy and have fun (in a good sort of way).
Mike Burkland, mburkland@raytheon.com I must say that beyond these areas, what I have found lacking in the education of many scientists today is an understanding of philosophy of science. Many people become technically proficient in the sciences and are even allowed to earn Ph.D.s without ever coming to understand the philosophical underpinnings that have supported modern scientific thinking. Technical skills can always be accumulated, but critical thinking should be the mark of a true education. If a student is thinking of pursuing a doctorate in physics, then the motivating factor should be to discover something new that is of great personal interest, first and foremost. I have worked with many people during the course of my career that are very accomplished in science and do not have a Ph.D. So, it's not critical for a rewarding professional life, but can give an individual much more intellectual freedom - which is worth the effort, especially in the academic setting.
Pawan Bhartia, bhartia@chapman.gsfc.nasa.gov I see a serious shortage of young bright Ph.Ds who are interested in developing advanced satellite instruments for remote sensing of Earth and the solar system. Many NASA scientists will be retiring in the next 5 years. We are increasingly forced to look outside the US to find people interested in working these areas. There are currently good opportunities for Experimental Phycisists.
Greg Cambron, cambrong@saintxfac.com I was not the most gifted physics student walking the hallways. I gave it everything I had, and I learned alot. I know many students go on to graduate school upon graduation, and narrow the focus quite a bit. I enjoy teaching first year physics to the masses. I use my degree everyday!
Dale Lawton, lawton2@home.com I'm into genealogy now and do no physics.
Victor Kaufman, victrmn@aol.com I'm sorry that I really feel unable to answer the questions on this page. Each person has to have a good idea of his/her capabilities and desires. Mine were in experimental as opposed to theoretical. I have now been retired for over 11 years.
T. Craig Sangster, sangster1@llnl.gov It is unlikely that a single department or curriculum will provide the training and experience needed for the scientific/technology forefront during the next 25 years. Therefore, it will be up to the student to management/tailor his/her career and coursework to meet the requirements of an ever diversifying market of opportunities.
John C. Corelli, might be useful to work in industry for one year before completing Ph.D. degree!! For additional experience.
Russell W. Dreyfus, rustira@yahoo.com MISC: Fellow of American Physical Society, Fellow of Optical Society of America
James F. Kortright, jkortright@aol.com My medical physics career was in service, not research or teaching. It was very satisfying.
Jeff Achtermann, j.achtermanncomputer.org n/a
Roger Alig, ralig@sarnoff.com n/a
David L. Banner, banner@llnl.gov n/a
Patricia Banogon, pbanogon@paebell.net n/a
Kenneth Chad Bastian, cwlkjbastian@juno.com n/a
Mark Boriack, mboriack@dctd.saic.com n/a
Joseph Brown, n/a
Cyrus A. Bryant, bryantcy@hotmail.com n/a
Richard Glen Carter, rgcarter@home.ffni.com n/a
David C. Cassidy, chmdcc@hofstra.edu n/a
Yok Chen, yok.chen@science.doe.gov n/a
Jeff Czajka, jc7ta4@rochester.infi.net n/a
Tony B. deBellis, Tjdebe@aol.com n/a
Colonel William DeGraf, peredg@aol.com n/a
Joe R. Dickinson, Jr., patch@evansville.net n/a
Gary Doolen, gdd@lanl.gov n/a
Bob Dulude, bob.dulude@baltimore.com n/a
Earl Ebert, eetheta@aol.com n/a
R. Edward English Jr., n/a
Dan Fleetwood, dan.fleetwood@vanderbilt.edu n/a
Hellmut Fritzsche, hellmutf@aol.com n/a
Jeffrey Fuhr, jeffrey.fuhr@nist.gov n/a
G. , n/a
Owen Gailar, mudz@ix.netcom.com n/a
John Garrison, garrison@physics.berkeley.edu n/a
Melvin J. Glimcher, M.D., GLIMCHER@A1.TCH.HARVARD.EDU n/a
Michael Goehring, mgoehring@nttc.edu n/a
Timothy Gong, Tim_Gong@mvis.com n/a
Robert M. Goodwin, rmgoody@frontiernet.net n/a
Griffith L. Gordon, k4vx@nemonet.com n/a
Andy Hauger, jhauger@aug.edu n/a
Steven A. Havstad, steve.havstad@trw.com n/a
Donald (Don) D. Heim, donaldcheim@earthlink.net n/a
Robert M. Hill, robert.hill@kirtland.af.mil n/a
Kara Hoffman, kara@hep.uchicago.edu n/a
Michael Humnicky, michael.s.humnicky@lmco.com n/a
Ira Jacobs, ijacobs@vt.edu n/a
Bryan Jenkins, bryan.jenkins@us.wmmercer.com n/a
John , n/a
Rajinder P. Khosla, rkhosla@nsf.gov n/a
Herbert Kleiman, kleiman@ll.mit.edu n/a
Peter H. Klose, n/a
William C. Larson, wmslarson@vswest.net n/a
Herman A. Lauter, lauter@oxy.edu n/a
Franklyn K. Levin, fklevin@swbell.net n/a
Robert K. Linback, robertl@primary.net n/a
Peter L. Lindley, n/a
Mark Lucas, lucasm@ohiou.edu n/a
David K. Lyon, grandtx@aol.com n/a
Dan MacIsaac, danmac@nau.edu n/a
D. Catalina Marinescu, dcm@clemson.edu n/a
Dr. Mark May, may@pha.jhu.edu n/a
James Mayhan, james.d.mayhan@exxon.com n/a
Kenneth Mendelson, mendelsonk@marquette.edu n/a
John J. Mennel, n/a
William C. Morse, morse@bnl.gov n/a
Keith Mounts, keithm@his.com n/a
William C. Murphy, wjm4@cdc.gov n/a
N. , n/a
Richard Olenick, olenick@acad.udallas.edu n/a
Thomas E. Parker, tparker@boulder.nist.gov n/a
Pierce Kelly, piece@naps.edu n/a
Ken Ports, kports@ee.fit.edu n/a
Ron Reger, RonaldKReger@aol.com n/a
Bill C. Riemers, n/a
David N. Ruzic, druzic@uiuc.edu n/a
Tom Sandin, sandint@ncat.edu n/a
Leila Wilson Shiozawa, lshiozawa@nls.net n/a
George Simler IV, ivsimler@attbi.com n/a
Hastings A. Smith, Jr., hsmith@lanl.gov n/a
William Struzinski, wstruz@gateway.net n/a
Joe D. Thompson, jdt@mst.lanl.gov n/a
Albert Vest, alvest@columbus.rr.com n/a
Douglas Verret, d-verret@ti.com n/a
Karen Visnovsky, n/a
James R. Voss, Physics is a fun career. Technically you always know what is going on. There are no mysteries. It gives you tools to go ahead when others are stopped.
Dan Stockelman, Physics is the basis of the world. It pops up in surprising places. Look for them.
Gerald Peterson, peterson@physics.umass.edu Purdue is a fine school. My Purdue education of many years ago has served me well.
Roshan L. Aggarwal, aggarwal@ll.mit.edu Purdue provides excellent educational opportunities to a large number of young men and women from United States and abroad. Purdue graduates have done very well in their professional careers after graduation. Particularly, I loved the quiet atmosphere of West Lafayette, a big plus compared to the urban setting of many other well-known schools.
James F. Goff, Solid basis in mathematics and chosen field at physics is necessary for a career at the Ph.D. level. The training and observation and analysis will carry one in many endeavors, especially at retirement. Best advice: learn how to teach yourself!
Helmut Paul, helmut.paul@jku.at The chance to study and live in the US soon after World War II, coming from Austria, was a fantastic opportunity for me, fundamental to my development as a person and as a physicist.
Jonathan Meyer, jon.meyer@motorola.com This is a very good time (this is being written in Spring 2000) to enter the intellectual property law field. The "new economy" is creating great demand for IP lawyers with internet skills. Salaries for attorneys within their first few years out of law school have been rising dramatically.
Paul G Shiffler, pshiffler@nmh.nerthfield.ma.us Though it might appear I am a little over-qualified to teach highschool, if you enjoy teaching physics, the right boarding school provides a great environment with many opportunities and really pretty high-powered kids.
Ronald K. White, ronwhite@llnl.gov Whatever you plan to do in your career, you will be fortunate if you can pursue that even for a little while. Things change. You will want variety too. Funding cycles in both government and industry come and go as perceptions about the value and direction of research and development change. You will have to adapt, continually learning and working new areas. Your formal education is a springboard only. It will always be a challenge and a struggle to find the right work for yourself, and to stay in it.
J. Trent Anderson, mbp928@aol.com While I have not used my Physics degree directly in my profession, I continue to believe that the discipline required in the sciences is a very good basis for a lawyer.