Stephen C. McGuire
Southern University and A&M College
Candidate for General Councillor
Biographical Summary
Stephen C. McGuire is professor of physics at Southern University and A&M College and a Fellow of the American Physical Society. He received his B.S. in physics with high honors from Southern University, M.S. in nuclear physics from the University of Rochester and Ph.D. in nuclear science from Cornell University. After receiving his doctorate, he spent four years as a staff scientist at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where he was responsible for the production of and characterization of transuranic isotopes in the laboratory's high-flux isotope reactor (HFIR) and developed national strategies for disposal of high-level commercial nuclear waste. Upon joining the physics department at Alabama A&M University in 1982 he began research with the High Energy Particle Astrophysics Laboratory of the Marshall Space Flight Center. In 1987 he was honored with NASA's Office of Technology Utilization Research Citation Award for his work on the interactions of charged-particle cosmic rays with emulsions and semiconductor electronics. In 1989 he was appointed to the Cornell faculty where his research interests expanded to include novel uses of neutrons and x-rays for the study of microelectronic materials and devices and thin film intermetallic structures. In 1999 he returned to Southern University, a major producer of undergraduate minority physics majors, as chair of the department of physics, a position he held until 2009.
His research interests are in the nondestructive compositional and structural studies of solid state materials and his teaching interests emphasize the integration of research and technology in the development of effective science teaching and learning strategies. His current research focus is the investigation of optical materials for use in high power laser applications.
Additional distinctions include having been a four-year Southern University Academic Scholarship recipient in Physics, a Crown Zellerbach Foundation Fellow in Physics at The University of California, Los Angeles, a John McMullen Graduate Fellow in Nuclear Science at Cornell University, and a Martin Luther King, Jr., Visiting Lecturer in Physics and Astronomy at Wayne State University (1997). He is a past-president of the National Society of Black Physicists (1987-1989). In 2004 he was named Outstanding Research Investigator at Southern University and A&M College, the highest research honor awarded by the campus chancellor, and in 2005 he was named the Faculty Researcher of the Year in its College of Sciences.
He is a member of the APS Divisions of Nuclear Physics and Astrophysics and the Topical Group on Gravity. From 1988-1989 he served as chair of the APS Committee of Minorities (COM) in Physics. He has also served as an APS-sponsored minority speaker and as a member of the advisory board of its Insurance Trust.
McGuire holds the concurrent positions of Visiting Associate in the Division of Mathematics, Physics and Astronomy at the California Institute of Technology and Guest Researcher at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Gaithersburg, MD. He is a member of the external advisory committee of the Materials Science Research and Engineering Center of the University of Chicago and is the Southern University Principal Investigator for the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave (LIGO) Observatory Project. He also serves on the Executive Committee of the LIGO Science Education Center.
Candidate's Statement
Since my first experience at its spring meeting in Washington, DC, in the mid-seventies, the APS has had a critical impact on my life as a physicist. Through its broad array of programs in physics research and education the APS historically has played a major role in the development of the nation’s technological workforce and its research agenda. Today, that role is more important than ever.
With support for science at its highest levels in recent years this is an exciting time in physics. Our continued success will depend not only on the strength of our research enterprise but also on our ability to prepare future generations to become scientifically literate citizens. Thus, we must effectively marshal our resources within every area of the physical sciences to improve science teacher preparation at all levels.
I am interested in serving the APS in this new capacity because of the opportunity to use my experience in research and physics education as well as past service to the APS to help shape our agenda in meeting tomorrow’s challenges. It is imperative that we provide the leadership to reach and engage all portions of our society in this effort, especially under-represented groups.
I am indeed honored to be considered for the position of APS General Councillor and enthusiastic about the opportunity to work toward achieving these goals.
