Work with thought leaders and academic experts from Ohio University

My work is primarily focused on how teachers learn about and understand the content they teach. My work has been primarily with upper elementary and middle school teachers in the areas of mathematics and computational thinking. I got into this field because of my interest in educational technology and in school reform. My work has focused on investigating how teachers understand the content they teach, how to design effective professional development to support them, and how to assess their learning. All of this is with an eye toward how students learn and how we can build better schools to support learning. I am also a certified running coach (UESCA) and personal trainer (NASM) with a particular interest in women's physiology as it relates to running -- particularly in the menopausal and perimenopausal phases. I am interested in working on projects that are focused on improving education - particularly math education, but also education more broadly. I am also interested in projects that relate to my interest in women running.

Rajashree Majumder is an accomplished computer scientist and engineer, with a strong passion for research and innovation. She was born and raised in Bangladesh and developed an early interest in technology and computer science. During her time as a undergraduate student, she excelled in her coursework and was actively involved in various research projects.She also presented her work at several conferences and published papers. After completing her bachelor's degree in Computer Science from a prestigious university in Bangladesh, Rajashree pursued her master's degree in Computer Science from Ohio University. After completing her master's degree, Rajashree continued her academic journey and is currently persuing a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from Ohio University. Her research focused on fine-tuning LLM's for document analysis tasks.

I am an astrophysics professor (Full Professor) who is now providing clients in industry with science-based solutions to help them achieve their goals. In addition to my strong physics background, analytical and mathematical skills, and my far-ranging knowledge of applied physics, I have a diverse skill set that includes coding and communication (written and verbal) skills. I am a well-rounded physicist who has technical knowledge in virtually all fields of physics. I have consulted with clients on projects ranging from incinerating toilets to futuristic space missions. <br> I have taught a wide range of physics and astronomy courses from the Freshman to the graduate level. I regularly teach courses on thermodynamics, vibrations and waves, optics, electricity & magnetism, modern physics, classical & analytical mechanics, statistical mechanics, and quantum mechanics, in addition to a selected topics course on general relativity, particle physics and cosmology. I have also taught general astronomy courses and an introduction to astrophysics course for physics majors. At the graduate level, I have taught radiative processes, galaxies and cosmology courses. I have experience operating small telescopes, with a suite of research-grade equipment such as spectrographs, filters, and CCD cameras. Over the years, I have supervised physics senior projects with topics ranging from my research interests to quantum computing. Most recent projects were designing a magnetohydrodynamic drive, econophysics, ultra-high energy cosmic rays, design of a vertical-axis wind turbine, the physics of skiing, Alcubierre warpdrive, the physics of a bouncing ball, and designing hands-on demonstrations for modules in high school physics. I have a video lesson as part of the MIT BLOSSOMS project to describe gravity assists to high school students. You can find the video and relevant material here: [https://blossoms.mit.edu/videos/lessons/gravity_assist_or_stealing_planets_angular_momentum_and_getting_away_it](https://blossoms.mit.edu/videos/lessons/gravity_assist_or_stealing_planets_angular_momentum_and_getting_away_it).  The lesson is intended to be a teaching duet with the classroom teacher. I wrote every single word in the documentation related to the video, as well as my script. My field of research is observational astrophysics (supermassive black holes and active galactic nuclei: using multi-wavelength spectroscopy, modeling, and machine learning to study accretion physics, feedback, and the co-evolution with the host galaxy). I have published research papers in the top journals in the field of astrophysics: the Astrophysical Journal, the Astronomical Journal, and Astronomy & Astrophysics. I have also refereed for the above-mentioned journals and for the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. I have also served on NASA proposal review panels. Most recently, I have reviewed proposals for the NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP). I have a certificate from Teaching Science & Technology, Inc. (TSTI; [www.tsti.net](http://www.tsti.net/)) on “Applied Smallsat/Cubesat Engineering Development” in which I gained working knowledge in space mission analysis and design, end-to-end mission architecture, applied space systems engineering, and applied space program management. I have just finished supervising an M. S. project on the design of a cubesat mission to study the dark ages of the Universe from the far side of the Moon. We are in the process of preparing a manuscript for submission to a peer-reviewed journal.

Dr. Mike Young is the Director of Performance at Athletic Lab Sports Performance Training Center, Head Coach of the Athletic Lab Track Club and the Performance Director for the North Carolina Courage and the North Carolina FC professional football clubs. He has over 20 years working within the private sector, professional team, and collegiate sports environment as both a Track & Field coach and Strength and Conditioning coach. In the sport of track & field he won 6 team NCAA championships while coaching at LSU. With Athletic Lab Track Club, Young has coached 15 athletes across 11 different events to 32 USATF National Championship appearances including 19 finalists; 5 podium finishes and 4 national champions in addition to 3 World Championship or Olympic Games competitors.  In team sports, Young has been the Performance Director for 4 professional soccer clubs that have won a total of and is a regular consultant for some of the top sports teams in the world including 4 World Cup Rugby teams and 3 Premier League Soccer clubs. He has prepared dozens of athletes for NFL combine and Pro-Days and is the private coach for over a dozen NBA players.

If you measure it, change will follow. This adapted quote from Field of Dreams (“If you build it, they will come”) has inspired me to improve the work culture for graduate students at Ohio University. Despite being dedicated and passionate, a sense of burnout and hopelessness was palpable any time I talked with other grad students. The story began with a simple question: what if I gathered data on student attitudes and culture to find areas for improvement? As an Industrial-Organizational Psychologist, my goal was to capture a compelling picture of the graduate experience. I shared my findings from hundreds of graduate students and with my school’s President and Graduate Student Senate: A friend told me that my presentation was so impactful they cried; students I didn’t know shared their gratitude for making them feel seen; and, after several discussions, the University administration made concrete improvements graduate student work culture.  I like telling stories. Science writing is about using data and theory to discover a compelling narrative. Other hobbies include roleplaying games, reading, and juggling.