Tim Wiser

Tim Wiser

Theoretical Physicist; Assistant Professor at Truman State University. Implementing research-backed pedagogy in the physics classroom. Research interests: particle theory, dark matter, cosmology, new experiments.

Sitemap

A list of all the posts and pages found on the site. For you robots out there is an XML version available for digesting as well.

Pages

Posts

Future Blog Post

less than 1 minute read

Published:

This post will show up by default. To disable scheduling of future posts, edit config.yml and set future: false.

portfolio

publications

Towards a Bullet-proof test for indirect signals of dark matter

Published in Physical Review D, 2015

We describe various statistical methods for analysing the spatial distribution of potential dark matter signals originating from merging galaxy clusters. Featured in Physics

P. W. Graham, S. Rajendran, K. Van Tilburg, and T. D. Wiser, Phys. Rev. D91, 103524 (2015), arXiv:1502.03824 [hep-ph]. Download here

Testing long-distance modifications of gravity to 100 AU

Published in Physical Review D, 2015

We describe a possible space mission optimized to test the inverse square law at a scale of up to 100 AU which would provide a powerful test of long-distance modifications of gravity including many theories motivated by dark matter or dark energy. Featured in Physics and Motherboard

B. Buscaino, D. DeBra, P. W. Graham, G. Gratta, and T. D. Wiser, Phys. Rev. D92, 104048 (2015), arXiv:1508.06273 [gr-qc]. Download here

teaching

Stanford Courses: Fall 2016–Spring 2018

Undergraduate courses, Stanford University Physics Department and Thinking Matters program, 2016

  • THINK 45 – Thinking About the Universe (Spring 2017 and 2018, section instructor)
    • Interdisciplinary seminar course bridging theoretical, experimental, and philosophical perspectives on cosmology, emphasizing critical analysis of evidence.
    • Course coordinator in 2018.
  • PHYSICS 63 – Electricity & Magnetism (Winter 2017 and 2018, co-instructor)
    • Second course in first-year physics sequence for highly prepared students.
    • Converted lecture-based course to integrated active learning.
      • Textbook: Purcell, Electricity & Magnetism
  • PHYSICS 45 – Light and Heat (Fall 2017, co-instructor)
    • Calculus-based introductory sequence targeting engineers.
    • Studio-style active learning technique scaled up to 100+ students per section
      • Textbook: Schroeder, An Introduction to Thermal Physics; Knight, Physics for Scientists and Engineers
  • PHYSICS 23S – Electricity, Magnetism, and Optics with Laboratory (Summer2017, primary instructor)
    • Summer version of algebra-based E&M course. Developed materials and taught in active-learning mode for four weeks (2.5× pace of academic year course).
    • Textbook: Giancoli, Physics
  • PHYSICS 67 – Introduction to Laboratory Physics (Spring 2017, replacement instructor)
  • PHYSICS 61 – Mechanics & Special Relativity (Fall 2016, co-instructor)
    • First course in physics sequence for highly prepared students. Complete course redesign from lectures to integrated active-learning sessions.
    • Primary author of active-learning materials for special relativity unit; co-author of classical mechanics unit (sample materials available here).
    • Textbook: Kleppner & Kolenkow, An Introduction to Mechanics; self-authored materials for SR

Truman State Courses: Fall 2018–present

Undergraduate courses, Truman State University, 2018

  • PHYS 185/186 – College Physics I/II (Fall/Spring 2018-19 and 2019-20)
  • PHYS 482 – Electricity & Magnetism (Spring 2019 and 2020)
  • TRU 110 – Self & Society: The Universe (Fall 2019)
  • PHYS 145 – Topics in Contemporary Physics (Fall 2018)