Educator Profile:
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| Dr. Wilbur Walters |
Assistant Professor joint-Physics and Civil Engineering
Since joining the JSU faculty in 2002, Dr. Walters has played a major
role in developing an undergraduate nanoscience curriculum.
Ph.D.: Material engineering with focus on nanostructure composite
thin films, University of Alabama, Birmingham
M.S.: Materials Engineering, University of Alabama, Birmingham
B.S.: Physics, Jackson State University
email: wilbur.walters@jsums.edu
With a research interest in the development and characterization of novel advanced materials, focusing on thin films, coatings, and nanostructured materials, Dr. Wilbur Walters has emphasized student learning and research opportunities that relate to real-world applications and the use of state-of-the-art instrumentation.
The focus of the nanoscale studies curriculum is to introduce undergraduate students to nanoscale processing and analysis techniques in the classroom. Students are taught principles of nanoscience and apply these principles with the aid of hands-on processing laboratories and interactive microscopy learning sessions.
With an emphasis on hands-on learning and early research experiences, the program has acquired four Nanosurf Scanning Probe Microscopes (SPMs), two Atomic Force Microscopes (AFMs) and two Scanning Tunneling Microscopes (STMs), which have been implemented at every level of the curriculum.
The nanoscale studies curriculum has been funded in part by three consecutive NSF grants for Nanoscience Undergraduate Education (NUE). These funds have been used to leverage other existing NSF grants, along with funds from the army and local private companies, to get a pool to fund students to work on nanoscale research projects. As Dr. Walters explains, "We saw that we had students working in different areas, and saw there were different funding sources, so we figured we should pool them to bring students together into area with a single focus, and it's worked out well. We can have a lot of students working on different projects with three or four other faculty members as well."
Undergraduate Nanoscale Studies at JSU
Nanoscale studies at JSU begins in the freshman year with the Introduction to Nanoscale Science course. more on Page 2...
With an emphasis on undergraduate research, the JSU program offers students a wide range of opportunities in materials processing, the use of advanced instrumentation, and exposure to cutting-edge topics in nanoscience. more on Page 3...
Hands-on research with SPMs reinforces science concepts and prepares students for further opportunities. more on Page 4...
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