I am an Assistant Professor of Physics at Cal Maritime. I joined the faculty of Cal
Maritime in 2011 as a lecturer and have enjoyed the privilege of providing a rigorous
physics education to our students since then. When not preoccupied with physics and
the teaching of it, I can sometimes be found jogging around the East Bay or reading
science fiction.
My research background is focused on fundamental investigations of nanoscale electronics,
but is quite diverse, including papers on pattern analysis in abstract artwork and
the manifestation of statistical fractals in physiological processes. More recently,
I have turned my attention to physics education research, specifically as it applies
to small classes with maritime-focused students like we have here at Cal Maritime.
Highlighted publications include:
- “Seeing shapes in seemingly random spatial patterns: Fractal analysis of Rorschach
inkblots”, Taylor R. P., Martin T. P., Montgomery R. D., Smith J. H., Micolich A.
P., Boydston C., Scannell B. C., Fairbanks M. S., and Spehar B. PLoS ONE 12(2): e0171289 (2017).
- “Probing the sensitivity of electron wave interference to disorder-induced scattering
in solid-state devices”, B. C. Scannell, I. Pilgrim, A. M. See, R. D. Montgomery,
P. K. Morse, M. S. Fairbanks, C. A. Marlow, H. Linke, I. Farrer, D. A. Ritchie, A. R. Hamilton, A. P. Micolich,
L. Eaves, and R. P. Taylor. Physical Review B 85, 195319. (2012).
- “Fractal electronic devices: simulation and implementation”, M. S. Fairbanks, D. N. McCarthy, S. A. Scott, S. A. Brown, and R. P. Taylor. Nanotechnology 22, 365304. (2011). (Featured article, cover image)
PHY100/100L – General Physics I
PHY105/105L – General Physics II
PHY200/200L – Engineering Physics I
PHY205 – Engineering Physics II
NAU240/240L - Electricity and Electronics
PHY120 – Physics for Future Leaders
