Mats Selen, PhD
Title: Professor of Physics
Department: Physics
College: Engineering
Interview
What classes do you teach?
- I usually teach intro physics. This can be for physics & engineering majors (Physics 211) or non-majors (Physics 101).
- I recently developed a physics class for elementary education students (Physics 123) and I teach that every spring.
What do you enjoy most about teaching at Illinois?
The students!
Do you have a unique teaching method or project you assign?
I love doing demos and I believe that students learn more if they can get their hands on stuff and experience things for themselves.
Describe your greatest professional accomplishment.
In the realm of teaching and outreach I am most proud of the teaching awards I have won and of creating the Physics Van and Whys Guy outreach programs. In the realm of research I am most proud of my contributions to the CLEO experiment and the awards I have received related to that.
What sparked your interest in your field of study?
I have always thought science was cool. When I was a kid I loved to take stuff apart and put it back together again. When I started college I thought that perhaps I would study chemistry or veterinary medicine, but the thing that tipped the scales toward physics was the summer job my intro physics professor gave me after my freshman year. If I were starting out now I would look with great interest at biophysics.
What's your favorite aspect of life at Illinois?
I love the students, the campus and my faculty colleagues. It’s just a really great place to work.
What book, related to your field, do you recommend reading?
Hiding in the Mirror by Lawrence Krauss. A great introduction to some really strange and wonderful aspects of particle physics and cosmology.
Do you have any advice for entering students?
Don’t be shy. Visit your professors and talk to them about their classes and about getting involved in their research (if they are doing stuff that interests you.) Always remember that the squeaky wheel gets the oil.