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Physics Faculty
Our faculty are a unique blend of researchers, educators and professionals who are proven experts in their fields.
Bob Baer, Specialist
Bob Baer is an academic professional staff member in the Southern Illinois University Carbondale School of Physics and Applied Physics. He is the Director of the Physics Department’s public astronomy observation program and co-chair of the Southern Illinois Eclipse 2017 - 2024 Steering Committee. He is a board member in the Astronomical Association of Southern Illinois, a member of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, and the NASA SMD Science Activation community and is currently serving as Co-Chair of the Local Planning Working Group on the AAS Solar Eclipse Task Force. Bob is currently working on the Dynamic Eclipse Broadcast Initiative and other NASA and NSF funded projects involving nation-wide STEM engagement.
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Neckers 418
618-453-2729
rbaer@siu.edu
Corinne Brevik, Associate Professor
Courses taught here are:
- PHYS 103 - Astronomy
- PHYS 203A - University Physics
- PHYS 203B - University Physics
- PHYS 390- Sudy Abroad
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Neckers 478
618-453-3659
corinne.brevik@siu.edu
Mark Byrd, Professor
Mark Byrd is a professor of physics specializing in Theoretical Quantum Computation and Quantum Error Correction. He received his PhD from The University of Texas Austin in 1999. He has been at SIU since 2003. Please visit his personal webpage for more information. Dr. Byrd is a member of the Quantum Computing Group at SIU, and maintains the Qunet Quantum Information and Computation wiki.
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April Hendley, Lecturer

Neckers 489
618-453-1062
ahendley@siu.edu
Richard Holland, Lecturer
Richard Holland is a Lecturer of Physics. He received his PhD from Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 1999. He has been at SIU since 1998.
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Neckers 491
hansolo@siu.edu
Thushari Jayasekera, Associate Professor, Undergraduate Advisor, Assistant Director, School of Physics and Applied Physics
Dr. Jayasekera joined the Department in the Fall of 2011. She graduated with a Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma, with Prof. Kieran Mullen and Prof. Michael A. Morrison. She did her postdoctoral work with Prof. J. W. Mintmire at Oklahoma State University, and with Prof. M. Boungiorno Nardelli and Prof. K. W. Kim at North Carolina State University.
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Neckers Room 487
618-453-1055
thushari@siu.edu
Bumsu Lee, Assistant Professor
Dr. Bumsu Lee is an assistant professor in the Department of Physics at SIUC starting in Fall of 2019. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Yonsei University, South Korea, and a Ph.D. degree in Physics from Rutgers University. Prior to the current position, he was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Pennsylvania and an NRC research associate working at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory.
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Neckers 473
618-453-2048
bumsu.lee@siu.edu
Lab: Q-squared Lab
Dipanjan Mazumdar, Associate Professor

Neckers 480
618-453-3659
dmazumdar@siu.edu
Research Lab
Sangchul Oh, Assistant Professor
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Neckers
sangchul.oh@siu.edu
Matt Penn, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Practice
K. V. Shajesh, Associate Professor of Practice
Office Hours
MWF 9:30-11:00 AM
MF 3:00-4:00 PM
Teaching Assignments (Fall 2023)
- PHYS 205A-002 - University Physics.
- PHYS 205B-001 - University Physics.
- PHYS 206A - Problem Solving for PHYS 205A.
- PHYS 206B - Problem Solving for PHYS 205B.
- PHYS 500A - Mathematical Methods (graduate level).
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Neckers 491
618-453-5212
shajesh@siu.edu
Poopalasingam Sivakumar, Associate Professor, Graduate Program Director
Poopalasingam Sivakumar is an Assistant professor in the Department of Physics at Southern Illinois University Carbondale since Fall 2015. He received his Ph.D. in Experimental Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics from the University of Oklahoma in 2009. He then continued his research as a post-doctoral research fellow at the Delaware State University.
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Neckers 462
618-453-2272
psivakumar@siu.edu
Laser Spectroscopy and Optical Physics Lab
Saikat Talapatra, Professor and Chair
Office Hours
T 11:00 am – 1:00 pm or by appointment R 12:30 pm – 3:30 pm or by appointmentBy appointment: Over Zoom platform or F2F (depending upon the situation)
Please email:saikat@siu.edu
Office Hours for Graduate Students
W: 11:30am - 12:30pm
Location: Neckers 474 (for F2F) virtual on Zoom
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Neckers 474/485
618-453-2270
saikat@siu.edu
Lab Website
Niranjan Warnakulasooriya, Assistant Professor of Practice
Neckers 240G
wmn1@siu.edu
Richard West, Lecturer

618-453-2643
rdwest@siu.edu