My name is Matt, and I am an Assistant Professor of Physics at Illinois State University. I study astromaterials, the solids that form inside dead stars. I also work as a science writer and scientific consultant for educational media.
Stars freeze. At the end of their lives stars cool and contract forming white dwarfs and neutron stars. In these extremely dense environments nuclei can be packed so closely that they freeze solid, forming materials many trillions of times denser than anything on earth. Dr. Caplan uses large scale computer simulations to study astromaterials and calculate their physical properties to interpret astronomical observations of dead stars.
The important stuff.
| When | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Ph.D. in Physcs | Indiana University |
| 2014 | M.S in Physics | Indiana University |
| 2013 | B.S in Physics | University of Virginia |
Awards.
| When | What | Who |
|---|
| 2018 | University Distinguished Dissertation Award |
Indiana University |
| 2017 | Outstanding Educator Award | University of Chicago |
| 2017 | Earl Sturdevant Fellowship | Indiana University |
Learn about what I do to educate the public.
Or hire me to help you do it.
Department of Physics
Campus Box 4560
Normal, IL 61790-4560
