The Department of Physics, Astronomy, & Geology
Programs of Study
The Physics, Astronomy, and Geology Department offers a physics major with a concentration for students aiming for careers in physics or for students interested in secondary school teaching, or a concentration for students interested in transferring to an engineering school. A physics minor is also offered. The Geology program at Berry supports the major in Environmental Science and offers a minor in Geology. The relevant curricula are listed in the Berry College Catalog.
More information about the Physics major or minor, as well as information about the Dual-Degree Engineering program, can be found in the Physics & Astronomy Pages.
More information about the Geology minor and the Geosciences concentration in Environmental Science can be found in the Geology Pages.
- Work Opportunities
Work opportunities in the Department include work in the physics lab or observatory as a lab assistant, work in the physics office as a physics tutor, or work as an office assistant in the department. Similar opportunities are available within the Geology program.
- Career Possibilities
Career opportunities are abundant for those that choose the physics major. You will learn of career opportunities in your field as you are enrolled in the programs in the department. Alumni come back to campus on a regular basis to discuss different career options. The department and the Career Development Center also provide information that will help you make career decisions.
- Graduate School Opportunities
Recent students accepted to graduate schools (since 2001): Frank Petruzielo at Cornell University (physics), Carly Donahue at the University of Colorado (physics), Courtney Griffin at the University of Texas (finance), Jason Buzcyna at the University of Virginia (astronomy/physics), Matt Lewis at Dartmouth College (astronomy), Danny Hobbs at Vanderbilt University (physics), and John Foreman at Duke University (physics).
- Physics, Astronomy, & Geology Faculty
- Dr. Tamie Jovanelly, Assistant Professor of Geology
- Education: B.S., University of Michigan; M.S., University of Nebraska; Ph.D., Kent State University
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- Courses: Physical Geology, Environmental Geology, Historical Geology, Hydrology
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- Research Interests: modern and ancient tsunami deposits, groundwater and surface water interactions with a focus on environmental issues/variables, fluvial sediment transport in the Gulf Coast region.
- Dr. Charles Lane, Associate Professor of Physics, Chair of Dept
- Education: B.S., University of Tennessee; M.S., Ph.D., Indiana University
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- Courses: General Physics with Calculus, Mathematical Methods in Physics, Electricity & Magnetism, Astrophysics
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- Research Interests: Fundamental symmetries, high-energy physics, and mathematical physics
- Dr. Usama al-Binni
- Education: Ph.D., University of Tennessee at Knoxville
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- Courses: General Physics with Algebra, Modern Physics, Thermodynamics & Statistical Mechanics
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- Research Interests: theoretical high energy physics
- Dr. Todd Timberlake, Associate Professor of Physics and Astronomy
- Education: B.S., Vanderbilt University; Ph. D., University of Texas at Austin
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- Courses: The Copernican Revolution, The Discovery of Galaxies, Computational Methods in Physics, Classical Mechanics, Quantum Mechanics
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- Research Interests: Quantum chaos in strongly driven systems, quantum recurrences, eigenvalue statistics, history and philosophy of science