Faculty - Susan R. McKay – Center Director

Susan McKay
Professor of Physics and Director of the Maine Center for Research in STEM Education

Office:  104 Bennett Hall (206 York Complex #1)
Phone: (207)581-1019; (207)581-4678
Email: Susan.McKay@umit.maine.edu

DEGREES:

• 1975  A.B., Princeton University
• 1979  M.S., University of Maine
• 1987  Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Research:

My research revolves around theoretical condensed matter physics; phase transitions and critical phenomena; spin glasses, amorphous magnetism, quenched disorder; nonlinear systems and chaos; pattern formation; phase transitions in non-equilibrium systems; models of lateral organization in biological membranes; science education; student learning in science.

Some of my main research foci are:

• Renormalization-group mappings of systems with competing interactions;
• Non-linear systems and transitions to chaos;
• Improving science education by providing research internships for pre- and in-service teachers;
• Development of realistic models for biological membranes (in collaboration with Professor Sam Hess);
• Developer and graduate coordinator of the Master of Science in Teaching Program; and
• Founding director of the University’s Center for Science and Mathematics Education Research.