Derrick E. Boucher
Associate Professor of Physics (570) 208-5900 ext. 5427
Dept. of Chemistry and Physics Email: debouche@kings.edu
King’s College
Wilkes-Barre PA 18711
Education
Doctor
of Philosophy in Physics, October 1993, Lehigh University, Bethlehem
Pennsylvania
Dissertation title: Tight-binding Quantum
Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Hydrogen in Silicon
Master
of Science in Physics, January 1989, Lehigh University,
Bethlehem Pennsylvania
Bachelor
of Science in Physics, June 1987, University of Scranton,
Scranton Pennsylvania, Cum Laude
Employment
Associate
Professor of Physics, King’s College. (Tenured and promoted
from Assistant Professor in 2002) In this position I function as the
coordinator of the entire Physics endeavor at the college. I have one junior
professor working with me. Aug. 1996-Present
Visiting
Assistant Professor of Physics, Lehigh University,
Bethlehem Pennsylvania.
Responsibilities included the selection and
completion of scholarly research and the teaching and advisement of both
undergraduate and graduate students. The area of active research was the study
of the bulk properties and defects in gallium nitride using computer
simulations. Teaching activities included the use of modern computerized methods
for lecture presentations. Sept. 1994-Aug. 1996
Post-doctoral
Research Associate in the Department of Ceramics, Rutgers
Univ., Piscataway, New Jersey. Activities in this position centered on the
development of empirical classical potentials for molecular dynamics
simulations of lithium intercalated tungsten oxide and phosphate glasses. Also,
software and methods were developed to allow simulations of electric field
induced ion drift in silicate glasses. Jan. 1994-Aug. 1994
Research
and Teaching Assistant in Physics, Lehigh University,
Bethlehem Pennsylvania
My graduate work involved primarily the writing
of an original FORTRAN computer program to perform quantum molecular dynamics
simulations of semiconductors and the application of this program to the study
of hydrogen diffusion in crystalline silicon. Undergraduate “recitation” sessions comprised my teaching
duties. Sept. 1987--Sept. 1993
Research
Assistant in experimental atomic and molecular physics,
Lehigh Univ., Bethlehem Pennsylvania. In the laboratory of Professor John
Huennekens, this work involved the measuring of absorption and laser-induced
emission spectra of alkali gases. June 1987--Sept. 1987
Teaching
Experience
Introductory
Physics: (PHYS 111-112) At King’s College, this experience
comprises both the lecture and laboratory parts of the course. As the sole
Ph.D. physicist on campus I currently have the entire responsibility for the
physics preparation of the Biology, Chemistry and General Science majors.
Natural
Science I: (CORE 270) Part of the CORE curriculum, this
course introduces non-science majors to the scientific method and critical
thinking as it applies to science and technology. Some basic content from the
Natural Sciences is also covered including: conservation laws, thermodynamics
and the 2nd law of thermodynamics, energy, radiation, nuclear
phenomena, genetics, evolution, pseudoscience and medical quackery.
Physical
Science for Elementary Education: (PHYS 100) This course
is an adaptation of the CORE 270 course (see above) specifically for our
students who plan on becoming elementary educators. Although much of the
content is similar to CORE 270, there is an emphasis on “hands-on” activities
and demonstrations that are designed to encourage these future educators to
bring active, engaging science into their classrooms.
Applied Biophysics:
(PHYS 108) This course is a one-semester, algebra-based survey of physics aimed
directly at out Athletic Training majors. Introduction to motion, forces,
energy, torque, fluids, sound, radiation and electricity are followed by
applied examples of these principles to the human body in action and
therapies/modalities used for treatment of sports injuries.
Science and Religion:
(CORE 289: Interdisciplinary
Perspectives in Philosophy: Science and Religion) This course is taught
jointly with Dr. Gregory Bassham, one of our philosophers. He and I received a
grant from the John Templeton Foundation for the development of this course. We
lecture in turns throughout the semester and share all course responsibilities.
This is a truly magnificent opportunity for ourselves and the students
Computer
Skills: (CS101) Part of the CORE curriculum at King’s
is a one-semester course focusing on computer literacy. I teach sections of
this course aimed specifically at science majors, so in addition to the basic
word-processing, spreadsheet and web skills, I emphasize skills that science
majors will find useful in their careers.
Experience
at Lehigh University:
Course
Leader, Co-Lecturer and Recitation Instructor for
Physics 11 (First semester undergraduate physics course at Lehigh University). Fall 1995
Physics
431, Theory of Solids. This is a
graduate level course Spring 1995
Recitation
instructor for Physics 11. 1988-1989 and Fall 1994
Research
and Technical Experience
Expertise
in Molecular Dynamics Simulations: I have used my own
program as well as others to simulate a variety of systems under a variety of
conditions. This includes the study of high-temperature diffusion and vibrational
modes in solids, the elucidation of reaction pathways and dynamic many-body
atomistic mechanisms, and atomic motion at surfaces and interfaces.
Quantum
Mechanical Computations: Familiarity with the application of
computational quantum
mechanical methods including Empirical
Tight-binding (see below), semiempirical Hartree-Fock (MINDO-3, MNDO) and
ab-initio Hartree-Fock (SPARTAN, GAUSSIAN-90 and GAMESS) to study the
energetics and electronic structure of defect environments in solids. I have
also used density functional techniques with the software packages WIEN-97 and
CRYSTAL-98.
Expertise
in scientific FORTRAN programming: For my graduate and
much subsequent work, I wrote and modified an original FORTRAN program, MOVIT,
that uses empirical tight-binding quantum mechanical forces to perform
molecular dynamics simulations of molecules and solids. I have used this
software on three different platforms; a CDC Cyber 850 mainframe, IBM RS6000
workstations and Linux workstations.
Extensive
computer skills: Expertise using the UNIX/LINUX operating
systems on a variety of platforms; VMS and NOS/VE operating systems experience;
extensive experience with MS-DOS and Windows on PCs; familiarity with the HTML
language and Apple MacIntosh computers.
Laboratory/Experimental
Skills: While working for Prof. Huennekens, I became
familiar with the use of nitrogen and Nd:YAG pulsed lasers, as well as tunable
dye lasers, monochromators, photomultipliers, lock-in amplifiers, the setting
up of visible and UV optics, and the use of various metal machining tools. As
an undergraduate, I worked with a Varian 9GHz EPR spectrometer.
Scholastic
Awards
FST: In 2001 I was elected to Phi Sigma Tau,
the philosophy honor society.
DES: In 1999, I was elected to Delta Epsilon
Sigma, National Scholastic Honor Society.
1990 to 1993; Lehigh University Scholarship
1987 to 1990; Sherman Fairchild Graduate
Fellowship (Lehigh University)
1987 Joseph P. Harper award for excellence in
physics (Univ. of Scranton)
Professional
Affiliations
American Physical Society
American Association of Physics Teachers
Research
and Professional Development Interests
My scholarship is divided into two main
categories: physics and the interface between science and religion. I have
recently spent most of my time and energy on the latter. It is my hope that the
pendulum will begin swinging back toward physics in the coming years.
In physics, I am
primarily interested in the study of dynamical and finite-temperature phenomena
in solids and surfaces through the use of molecular dynamics simulations. I
prefer to develop and use simple, computationally efficient models that allow
the study of large systems and long timescales. Such models allow a wide range
of systems to be studied, and also lend themselves to student involvement at
many levels.
Publications
Derrick E. Boucher, Gary G. DeLeo and W. Beall
Fowler, “Simulations of GaN using an environment-dependent empirical
tight-binding model” Physical Review B 59,
10 064 (April 1999)
Derrick E. Boucher, “A Visual and Acoustic
Demonstration of Beats and Interference”
in The Physics Teacher, Vol. 37, March 1999, p. 177
Derrick E. Boucher, Zoltan A. Gál, Gary G. DeLeo
and W. Beall Fowler, “Simulation of Vacancy Pairs in GaN Using Tight-Binding
Molecular Dynamics” in Nitride
Semiconductors, Symposium Proceedings Vol. 482, (Materials Research
Society, Pittsburgh, 1998)
Derrick E. Boucher and Stefan K. Estreicher,
“The theory of defects in GaN and related materials” in GaN and Related Materials, Editor; S.J. Pearton (Gordon and Breach,
Newark NJ, 1998)
Derrick E. Boucher and Gary G. DeLeo, “Tight-binding Quantum Molecular Dynamics
Simulations of Hydrogen in Silicon”, Physical Review B 50, 5247 (1994)
Papers
presented at recent meetings
“Quantum Mechanics and Eastern Mysticism” Presented
jointly with Dr. Gregory Bassham at the 1st World Hongming
Philosophy Congress, Honolulu Hawaii, July 22, 2004
Gregory H. Bassham and Derrick Boucher, “CORE
289 Interdisciplinary Perspectives in Philosophy; Religion and Science” This was a presentation of our award-winning
course design at the July 1999 CTNS/Templeton Conference on Science and
Religion, Toronto, Ontario, July 9, 1999
“Simulation of Vacancy Pairs in GaN Using
Tight-Binding Molecular Dynamics”, Presented at the 1997 Fall Meeting of the
Materials Research Society, Boston, Massachusetts
“Tight-binding Model for Gallium Nitride with Total Energy
Capability“, Presented at the 1995 March Meeting of the American Physical
Society, San Jose, California.
“Tight-binding Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Hydrogen in
Silicon“, Presented at the 1994 March Meeting of the American Physical Society,
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Conferences and Meetings Attended
1st World Hongming Philosophy
Congress, Honolulu Hawaii, July, 2004
SENCER (Science Education through New Civic
Engagement and Responsibilities) conferences in August 2001, 2002
Templeton Foundation Science and Religion
Conferences: Toronto, July, 1999; Oxford, July 2000
Project Kaleidoscope meetings:
Materials Research Society: Fall Meetings in
1995, 1997
American Physical Society: March Meetings in
1991-1995, 1997
Community Service
Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science: I was a
scholarship judge in the years 1998-2000, and a presentation judge in 2002-2004
Dallas Middle School Science Fair Judge:
1998-present (yearly in spring)
Outreach: Physics presentation with my
colleague, Dr. Concannon, at Kistler Elementary School in Wilkes-Barre, May
2003
Various communications with local newspaper
reporters (Times-Leader) regarding science stories throughout the years (I am
on someone’s Rolodex over there!)
Science Coordinator
and Co-Director for the STAR Summer Mathematics and Science
Enrichment Camp, which is one part of the larger STAR Academy at Lehigh
University, Summer 1995
Lecturer/Demonstrator
for Lehigh University's volunteer outreach program for the Bethlehem
Pennsylvania Area school district. 1992—1996
College Service (all at King’s College)
Faculty Council (Primary faculty committee of
the College): Elected representative 2003-2005 AYs
Curriculum and Teaching Committee: Chair,
2003-2004 AY
Elected
Representative, 2000-2003 AYs
Academic and Professional Affairs Committee:
Elected Representative, 1997-2000 AYs
Strategic Planning Committee (an
administratively-appointed committee that draws up 5 and 10-year plans for
College programs, development, etc.) 2001-present
Middle States Accreditation Steering Committee
(coordinated and authored the College’s report to our regional accrediting
agency) 2001-present. (p.s. We were accredited easily and were praised for our
report to Middle States. Our report now serves as a model for other colleges to
try to emulate.)
CORE Science Project Team: I have been a member
since 1997. In AY 2004-5 I will serve as Leader of the team.
Public Policy and Social Research Advisory
Board: Elected Representative 1999-2001 AY