Summer Undergraduate Research Experience  >  Research Mentors

Dr. Beaky was born and raised in Eastern Pennsylvania, and attended college at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts. He received his Ph.D. in Physics from the Ohio State University, where he became an experimental molecular spectroscopist and a lifelong Buckeye fan. After receiving his Ph.D., he spent 18 months in Cologne, Germany as a Post-doctoral Fellow through the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. Upon returning to the U.S., he spent two years at Duke University, this time as a National Research Council Post-Doctoral Fellow. Dr. Beaky joined the Physics faculty at Truman State University in the fall of 2000. At Truman he has taught a number of courses, including Introductory Physics, Modern Physics, Introductory Astronomy, Astrophysics, and a JINS course on Astronomy in Early Human Culture. He maintains an active research program, with students involved in projects on observational astronomy, photonic band gap crystals, and radio astronomy. He also manages the Truman Observatory, and is responsible for all things relating to astronomy at the University.

Most of my experience and training is in the field of molecular spectroscopy, where examining the interaction of electromagnetic waves with gas-phase molecules reveals useful information about the molecules and their interactions with one another. Another area of interest is using microwaves to study the properties of photonic band gap crystals - novel structures that one can use to manipulate light itself. Finally, I am active in observational astronomy research, including photometric and spectroscopic studies of variable stars and radio astronomy. I very much enjoy traveling to national parks and other remote areas, where I like to camp and to hike. I also enjoy visiting large cities, especially the art museums and ethnic restaurants. In my spare time at home I brew beer, which I like to share with family and friends, and I spend time with my wife and two cats.