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Faculty
Dr. Alan Peel
Alan Peel is a research associate and lecturer here at UMd in the Astronomy Department, studying the dynamics of galaxies and galaxy clusters and determining what that can tell us about cosmology. He spent a "gap year" between degrees as an Environmental Scientist in Berkeley, California, doing field work for site remediation which somehow lasted seven years. After a PhD in physics (cosmology) at UC Davis, he spent two years at Cambridge working in Stephen Hawking's group on modeling galaxy cluster velocities.
Married with three kids (two daughters growing up too fast and a very short, hairy son who looks remarkably like a Beagle), Alan's other interests include music, homebrewing, dancing as a Foggy Bottom Morris Man, performing in the Revels, singing sea chanteys in questionable locales, fencing and convincing people that anyone can learn physics.
Dr. Paul Romani
Paul Romani got interested in science in 5th grade, and in 7th grade his science teacher hooked him on astronomy by giving him a copy of Nigel Henbest's The Exploding Universe. While attending the University of Michigan, he discovered his interest in planetary sciences and found that the atmospheric science department was the place to be for planetary studies. He did his senior honors thesis work in that department and used it as a springboard to start his graduate work, thus making him a product of a large state school for both his undergraduate and graduate education. That's where he also began his interest in education and public outreach by giving planetarium shows. He currently is a scientist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Most of his research work involves atmospheric chemistry and cloud physics in the atmospheres of the outer, or giant, planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Right now he works on the infrared spectrometer on board the NASA-ESA Cassini mission to the Saturn system both in uplink operations and science analysis.
Dr. Neal Miller
Neal Miller taught a freshman colloquium with SDU from 2003 through 2007, and is returning to teach the sophomore colloquium. He is an active researcher in astronomy, using radio emission to locate interesting galaxies and then studying their properties at optical, ultraviolet, and X-ray wavelengths. He received his bachelor's degree from Princeton University and his doctorate from New Mexico State University. In his life outside of academics, he serves as the personal assistant to an extremely energetic four-year old and three lazy cats.
Ms. Lee Ann Carnes
Lee Ann Carnes earned her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in developmental psychology from the Tulane University of New Orleans (as well as a minor in British Literature). While earning her degrees, she served as the lab coordinator and a researcher for the Center for Infant and Toddler Development. Following the events of Hurricane Katrina during her senior year, she continued to work for an additional three years to help rebuild the city. Ms. Carnes began her Ph.D. candidacy in School Psychology at the University of Maryland in the fall of 2009. Her research focuses on school-aged children who have emotional and/or conduct disorders. She now serves as the Assistant Director for SDU. Ms. Carnes looks forward to working with the SDU students and helping them develop both personally and academically!
Mr. Sasha Slutsker
Sasha Slutsker is a senior majoring in Computer Science and Government/Politics. Sasha and Adil Bukhari are the current webmasters of the SDU website; Sasha is teaching the Scholars Webship along with Adil Bukhari in Fall 2009.
Mr. Adil Bukhari
Adil Bukhari is a senior majoring in Computer Science, Statistics, and Economics. Adil and Sasha Slutsker are the current webmasters of the SDU website; Adil is teaching the Scholars Webship with Sasha Slutsker in Fall 2009.