Biographical Sketch

Biographical Information

You are invited to read below and click on the links to the left to learn more about my teaching and research interests.

I received a B.S. degree in physics from Butler University in Indianapolis in May 1998. The degree of Ph.D. was conferred on me by the University of California at Santa Barbara in December 2007. My thesis advisor at UCSB was Dr. Harry Nelson. My education continued as a postdoctoral scholar at UCSB. In 2010, I joined Dr. Rupak Mahapatra at Texas A&M University as a postdoc. In 2013, I joined the University of South Dakota as an assistant professor.

I am interested in finding evidence of new physics. Towards that end, my primary research focus is within the context of the SuperCDMS collaboration attempting to directly detect dark matter. I am also a founding member of the Mitchell Institute Neutrino Experiment at Reactor (MINER) collaboration.

I am also passionate about education and teach introductory physics, astronomy, and seminar courses. I have guided multiple honors thesis and served on honors committees. I have directed Masters and PhD research and served on numerous thesis committees.

Joel Sander
Office: Akeley 103

Professional Positions

• Associate Professor, University of South Dakota (2019-present)
• Physics Graduate Coordinator, University of South Dakota (2017-present)
  
• Assistant Professor, University of South Dakota (2013-2019)
• Mitchell Institute Postdoctoral Fellow, Texas A&M University (2013)
• Postdoctoral Scholar, Texas A&M University (2010-2013)
• Postdoctoral Scholar, University of California at Santa Barbara (2008-2010)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Physics, University of California at Santa Barbara (Dec. 2007)
• Bachelor of Science (Physics with a Math minor), Butler University (May 1998)

Professional Links