Suzanne White Brahmia

Director, Extended Physics Program;

Associate Director, Math and Science Learning Center

Email:             brahmia@physics.rutgers.edu

Telephone:     (732) 445-3914
                        (732) 445-3123 MSLC
                        (732) 445-4343 fax

Office:            Serin W127

Mail:          Department of Physics and Astronomy
                   Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
                   136 Frelinghuysen Road
                   Piscataway, NJ 08854-8019 USA

Extended Analytical Physics

The Math and Science Learning Center

Rutgers Science Explorer

Physics, the First Science

My Curriculum Vitae

Biographical Sketch (updated May 2007)

The passion for adventure that led me to become Peace Corps physics teacher in Gabon, Africa transformed into a passion for teaching that drives everything I do. While in graduate school at Cornell University I pursued my love of physics by doing research in solid state physics. Though my brain was happy, my social conscience wasn’t satisfied so I decided to devote my career to researching and practicing the best methods of teaching physics. I came to Rutgers University to head the Extended Physics program and help run the Math and Science Learning Center . I have been teaching the Extended Analytical Physics course for ~150 under prepared engineering physics students ever since. Many of the students are female and/or underrepresented ethnic minorities.

My course provides a laboratory for testing various teaching theories and innovations. Currently I am working with Eugenia Etkina and Alan Van Heuvelen on the introduction of ISLE (Investigative Science Learning Environment) methods into a calculus-based course for underprepared students. I am also implementing student-designed projects and talks in a large introductory course, and developing curricular materials and methods for promoting scientific reasoning through numeracy and critical reading in physics.

I have won several teaching awards, the most recent a 2004 EOF Champion award from the state of New Jersey Equal Opportunity Fund for “having developed new approaches that have had a significant impact on EOF (engineering) students”

I am currently writing an introductory physics textbook with Peter Lindenfeld entitled Physics, the First Science. I am the Physical Science Supervisor developing curricula for use on the Rutgers Science Explorer, the mobile science learning laboratory for middle school students at the Math and Science Learning Center.