Local Organizing Committee

A warm welcome from the local organizing committee of the APS CUWiP 2024 @ UPenn!

In addition to the people listed on this page, there are dozens of staff members and volunteers making this conference possible.

We look forward to seeing you in Philadelphia in January!

Arnold Mathijssen (Conference Chair)

Assistant Professor, Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania

Arnold is interested in exploring the physics of life: In our lab, we want to understand the physical limitations of living systems, and to learn from biology to develop new technologies. Our main projects are to determine how bacteria can swim upstream, how cells can communicate with each other quickly, and how individual organisms can work in groups to perform complex tasks together. 

Outside the lab, Arnold is interested in cooking. He wrote a paper about “culinary fluid mechanics” and, supported by a Klein Family social justice grant, he organizes outreach events about kitchen science at local Philadelphia schools.

Evelyn Thomson (Conference Vice-Chair)

Professor, Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania

Cullen Blake (Conference Vice-Chair)

Associate Professor, Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania

Philip Nelson (Conference Vice-Chair)

Professor, Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania

Philip Nelson is the author most recently of Physical Models of Living Systems, Second Edition and past Chair of American Physical Society’s Division of Biological Physics.

Professor, Department of Physics, Drexel University

Dr. Michelle Dolinski is a nuclear physicist and faculty member at Drexel University. She loves working with students in the classroom and in the lab.

Associate Vice Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, University of Pennsylvania

Professor, Department of Physics, Swarthmore College

Eleni Katifori

Associate Professor, Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania

Shannon O’Reilly

Assistant Professor of Clinical Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania

Dr. Shannon O’Reilly is the Director of the Medical Physics Graduate Programs and an Assistant Professor at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. O’Reilly earned her BS in Nuclear Engineering (with a physics minor) and an MS and PhD in Biomedical Engineering with a concentration in Medical Physics from the University of Florida. She is certified by the American Board of Radiology in Therapeutic Medical Physics and specializes in proton therapy. Dr. O’Reilly’s research interests include functional lung imaging, Monte Carlo dosimetry, and reducing radiation-induced toxicities.  Dr. O’Reilly is on the Board of Directors of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine.

Ravi Sheth

Professor and Graduate Chair, Department of Physics, University of Pennsylvania

Ravi develops physical models and statistical methods which allow the data from large scale galaxy and cluster surveys to constrain models of galaxy formation and cosmology.  He also works with the International Centre for Theoretical Physics in Trieste, which promotes engagement with scientists in developing countries.

Brigita Urbanc

Professor, Department of Physics, Drexel University

Brigita Urbanc is a professor and the associate head for graduate studies in the Department of Physics at Drexel University. Her biophysics research revolves around conformational dynamics, folding and self-assembly of intrinsically disordered peptides and proteins as well as protein-protein and protein-lipid interactions associated with human diseases. She strives to support and promote women and underrepresented minorities in STEM fields.

James M. Skinner Professor of Science, and Chair, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania

Arjun Yodh was recently Director (2009-2020) of Penn’s Materials Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC). Ongoing areas of research include the physics of soft materials such as colloids and liquid crystals, and Biophotonics – especially functional imaging and monitoring of living tissues with diffuse light. In addition to mentoring more than one hundred PhD students and post-doctoral associates, Yodh has made significant contributions to education, outreach and diversity at the University of Pennsylvania, for example leading partnerships with the University of Puerto Rico and research experience programs for undergraduates and high school students/teachers.