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Background
Michael P. Grams
 
M.S., Physics, Arizona State University
B.S., Physics for Information Systems, Dakota State University
 
Professional Experience
 
2008 - Present:  Assistant Professor, South Dakota State University
  • I currently teach all Physics courses at the University Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

2006 - 2008:  National Research Council Postdoctoral Researcher

2005 - 2006:  Lecturer, University of Denver Department of Physics and Astronomy
  • In the summer of 2005 I was also an adjunct Physics faculty at Scottsdale Community College in Scottsdale, Arizona.
1999 - 2005:  Graduate Teaching Assistant/Graduate Researcher, Arizona State University
  • In 2005 I was a Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) Instructor of Physics for the Princeton Review.
  • From 2003 to 2004 I was a Graduate Researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Fluid Dynamics in Goettingen, Germany.  This is currently the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics und Selforganization.
Research
 
My research experience lies mainly within the field of molecular beams.  My Ph.D. research consisted of the design, construction and testing of two novel cryogenic sources of beams.  The first was an apparatus to create superfluid helium droplet beams and this work was done while I was a graduate researcher at Arizona State University.  This superfluid helium source was only the second fully operational source of its kind in the world and discharges a continuous, microscopic, single-file stream of liquid helium droplets into vacuum.  At temperatures below the superfluid transition point (2.17 K at 1 atm), the emerging droplets are superfluid.  The source offers completely novel ways of investigating superfluid helium and of characterizing and synthesizing materials, particularly on nanoscale dimensions.  The second cryogenic source was one designed for the production and characterization of micron-sized filaments of solid Argon.  This research was performed while I was a visiting graduate researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Fluid Dynamics (currently known as the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization) in Göttingen, Germany. These solid filaments can be used as wall-less cryogenic matrices for spectroscopic experiments, or targets for laser plasma sources of extreme UV and soft x-ray sources.  My postdoctoral research continued to use molecular beam techniques, but in a much different realm combining physics and chemistry in high temperature combustion.  While at the U.S. Army Research Lab I investigated combustion mechanisms of potential rocket and artillery propellants.  Molecular Beam Mass Spectrometry and Laser-Induced Fluorescence techniques were used to measure species concentration and temperature profiles throughout low pressure flames.  The results were then compared with those predicted by computer models designed to test key components of chemical mechanisms being developed at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory to model the burn rates of propellants.  My current research focuses on physics education.  I am interested in how students can better learn and understand physics concepts and have investigated the effectiveness of online websites which provide homework solutions and help to students.  Most recently, I am co-P.I. on a funded grant from the National Science Foundation to develop a "Radioactivity by Inquiry" course for undergraduate students which will cover the basic properties of radiation, its origins, health effects, and also nuclear power.  The course will be especially useful for students interested in health or engineering professions, and will attempt to dispel many of the public misconceptions and stigmas associated with radiation.
 

Grants Awarded 

 

National Science Foundation (NSF) Award Number 0942699, "Radioactivity by Inquiry for College Science Courses".  Co-PI with Dr. Andy Johnson from Black Hills State University.
 
Patents 

 

German Patent Nr. DE 10 2005 034359, "Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Bereitstellung fester Filamente in einer Vakuumkammer" (Procedure and Equipment to Produce Solid Filaments in a Vacuum Chamber)
 

Publications

 

"The Cramster Conclusion", M. Grams, submitted to The Physics Teacher, December 2010.

 

"A Laser-Induced Fluorescence, Mass Spectrometric, and Modeling Study of Neat and HN3- Doped Low Pressure H2/O2/Ar Flames", M.P. Grams and R. Sausa, submitted to  Combustion, Science and Technology, December 2010.

 

"Cramster:  Friend or Foe?", M. Grams, The Physics Teacher, accepted for publication, (2010).

 

"Experimental and Modeling Studies of Hydrazoic Acid (HN3) - Doped Hydrogen (H2)/Oxygen (O2) Flames", Michael P. Grams and Rosario C. Sausa, Technical Report ARL-TR-5302; Army Research Laboratory, (2010).

 
"Microscopic Fused Silica Capillary Nozzles as Supersonic Molecular Beam Sources", M.P. Grams, J. Turner, A.M. Cook, and R.B. Doak, Journal of Physics D:  Applied Physics, 39 (5), 930-936, (2006).
 
"Production and Characterization of Micron-Sized Filaments of Solid Argon", M. Grams, B. Stasicki, and J. P. Toennies, Review of Scientific Instruments, Vol. 76, 123904, (2005).

 

"The formation of ordered, ultrathin SiO2/Si(100) interfaces grown on (1 x 1) Si (100)", N. Herbots, J.M. Shaw, Q.B. Hurst, M.P. Grams, R.J. Culbertson, David J. Smith, V. Atluri, P. Zimmerman, K.T. Queeney, Materials Science and Engineering B87, 303-316, (2001).

 

Conference Proceedings
 
"The Combustion of a Simple, High-Nitrogen Compound:  An Experimental and Modeling Study of a Low Pressure, Hydrazoic Acid-Doped Flame", M.P. Grams and R.C. Sausa, Proceedings, JANNAF (Joint Army, Navy, NASA, Air Force) 42nd Combustion Meeting, (2008).
 
"Propellant Formulation Development For Future Army Weapons Systems By Means Of Advanced Modeling And Flame Kinetics Research", R. Sausa, M. Grams, C. Conner, and W. Anderson, Proceedings of the Army Science Conference (26th), (2008).

 

"Long-range order in ultra-thin SiO2 grown on ordered Si(100)", Q.B. Hurst, N. Herbots, J.M. Shaw, M.M. Floyd, D.J. Smith, R.J. Culbertson, M.P. Grams, J.D. Bradley, and P. Zimmerman, Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings, 567, 183 (2000). 

Conferences Attended/Presentations
 
Augustana College, Sioux Falls, SD, Colloquia Series, April 2010, Invited Talk

 

AAPT New Faculty Workshop, American Center for Physics, College Park, MD, November, 2009

 

Gordon Research Conference for Energetic Materials, Tilton, NH, June, 2008, Poster Presentation
 

JANNAF Meeting, Boston, MA, May, 2008, Oral Presentation

 

Gordon Research Conference, "Laser Diagnostics for Combustion", Oxford, UK, August, 2007, Poster Presentation

 

German/American DEA 1060 Data Exchange Meeting, U.S. Army Research Lab, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, June, 2007, Oral Presentation

 

 

 
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