2020-2021 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
College of Science and Mathematics
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EnGeo Building Suite 3122-3132, 801 Carrier Drive
MSC: 4114
Phone: (540) 568-3508
Website: http://www.jmu.edu/csm
Interim Dean
Dr. Samantha C. Prins
Associate Dean
Dr. Marcus C. Davis
Interim Assistant Dean
Dr. Steven J. Whitmeyer
Interim Assistant Dean
Dr. Brycelyn M. Boardman
Academic Units Within the College
Department of Biology
Dr. Casonya M. Johnson, Academic Unit Head
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Dr. Linette M. Watkins, Academic Unit Head
Department of Geology and Environmental Science
Dr. Stephen A. Leslie, Academic Unit Head
Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Dr. Lou Anne Lovin, Interim Academic Unit Head
Department of Physics and Astronomy
Dr. W. Christopher Hughes, Academic Unit Head
Graduate Programs
The College of Science and Mathematics offers the following graduate degrees:
Mission
The mission of the CSM is to establish a culture of “discovery practice,” in which students develop their knowledge, skills and habits of mind by participating in science and mathematics practice. We place undergraduate student learning at the center of a rigorous research-based environment.
Because the most creative discoveries happen when people with different perspectives work together, the college is committed to supporting a diverse community of learners. Our faculty and staff work to ensure that every student enrolled in CSM courses experiences a welcoming and supportive learning environment.
We pursue our mission through educational goals focused on:
- Preparing future scientists and mathematicians
- Advancing science and mathematics literacy of JMU students, the Harrisonburg community, and our local schools
- Providing the scientific and mathematical foundations needed for professional careers
Resource and Service Centers
Astronomy Park
Contact: Dr. Sean T. Scully
Phone: (540) 568-4511
Website: https://www.jmu.edu/planetarium/star-parties.shtml
Located on the east side of campus near the Physics and Chemistry building is a permanent area for sky observing on campus. There are permanent mounts for six portable 10-inch computer controlled telescopes and an area for a portable 14-inch telescope. This site provides a convenient area for sky observing for introductory astronomy students. Students are able to easily see the moon, planets, nebulae, galaxies, star clusters as well as the sun using the appropriate solar filters. The department is also equipped with CCD cameras, spectrometers, a photometer and multiple solar filters that provide more advanced students with experience in astrophotography and data collection techniques. The public is invited to attend public star gazes which are held several times each semester.
The Center for Computational Mathematics and Modeling
Contact: Dr. James S. Sochacki
Phone: (540) 568-6614
This cross disciplinary institute for scientific computing houses state-of-the-art graphics workstations and a 16 PII node Beowulf computer system. The Beowulf computer system is a parallel computing environment that can be used on large-scale problems. Faculty and students will have access to this “super computer” from the center and from their offices. The center also operates an Immersive 360o Visualization System. The center uses mathematics both to simulate real-world phenomena and to generate visual data.
Faculty members from the sciences, economics and business disciplines interact with mathematicians to model problems that they are researching with undergraduate students.
Center for Materials Science
Contact: Dr. Brycelyn Boardman
Phone: (540) 568-8811
The educational mission of the Center for Materials Science is to develop and maintain an innovative interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary undergraduate program in materials science that will increase the maturation of students, their research experience and their employment opportunities. The mission includes the integration of undergraduate education with basic and applied research in materials science.
Faculty in the Center for Materials Science have expertise in a wide variety of areas including inorganic and organic synthesis, microfabrication, nanotechnology, thin film growth and surface modification, materials characterization, and modeling and simulation of complex systems. The facilities include a class 10000 clean room, electron beam lithography, and many types of microscopy and other analytical techniques.
Collaborative work is welcome and can include consultation with faculty, assignment of student projects or simply access to facilities.
Chemistry & Biochemistry LC/MS Facility
Contact: Dr. Christine A. Hughey
Phone: (540) 568-6633
Website: https://www.jmu.edu/chemistry/LCMS.shtml
The JMU liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) undergraduate research facility, housed within the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, was established in 2010 with two Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) grants from the National Science Foundation.
The LC/MS instruments housed in the facility include: (1) an Agilent 6460 triple quadrupole (QQQ) mass spectrometer coupled to two Rapid Resolution LC pumps and a diode array detector, (2) an Agilent 6224 time of flight (TOF) mass spectrometer coupled to an Infinity UHPLC pump, and (3) an Agilent 6530 quadrupole time of flight (q-TOF) mass spectrometer coupled to an Infinity UHPLC pump. All three instruments are equipped with an electrospray source. The time of flight instruments afford the high mass accuracy and high resolution necessary for identification of unknowns in complex mixtures. The MS/MS capability of the q-TOF affords additional structural information. The sensitivity of the QQQ makes this instrument ideal for small molecule quantitation. Together, these three instruments provide a robust platform for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of biological and environmental samples.
JMU Center for Genome and Metagenome Studies
Contact: Dr. James B. Herrick
Phone: (540) 568-6653 or
Contact: Dr. Steve G. Cresawn
Phone: (540) 568-3551
Website: http://www.jmu.edu/genomics
The mission of JMU Center for Genome and Metagenome Studies (CGEMS) is to support innovative research and training in the methods and principles of genomics, metagenomics and bioinformatics in order to provide an exemplary learning experience for undergraduate and graduate students. CGEMS supports innovative, leading-edge research and training in the methods and principles of genomics, metagenomics, transcriptomics and bioinformatics for students at all levels. The center supports and fosters collaboration among researchers and students in a variety of departments and colleges. CGEMS also sponsors seminars and provides outreach to other higher education institutions in Virginia as well as area schools.
JMU Greenhouse
Contact: Dr. Heather P. Griscom
Phone: (540) 568-5525
The biology department’s greenhouse is organized into a head house section and several compartments that can be controlled individually for experimental studies. Each compartment has independent temperature and lighting controls and an automatic watering system. The greenhouse currently contains a collection of plant species used for teaching classes and conducting research, including a population of African violets from an endangered species native to Kenya.
JMU Herbarium
Contact: Dr. Conley K. McMullen
Phone: (540) 568-3805
Website: http://csmbio.csm.jmu.edu/biology/mcmullck/Herbarium.htm
The JMU Herbarium, located in Bioscience 1003, comprises 20 full-size and 14 half-size herbarium cabinets that house approximately 18,000 pressed and dried plant specimens. The herbarium is recognized in Index Herbariorum, an international listing of the world’s significant herbaria and carries the acronym JMUH. JMUH presently houses a teaching and research collection of bryophytes, ferns and fern allies, gymnosperms and angiosperms, as well as a small collection of algae. These collections are predominantly from Virginia (particularly the Shenandoah Valley) and West Virginia, although specimens from Hawaii, Poland and the Galápagos Islands are also included. The earliest specimens date from 1825. Also present in the herbarium are a full-size drying oven, upright specimen freezer, three swing-arm dissecting microscopes, 20+ complete plant presses and collecting tools. In addition, JMUH houses a small library that contains a variety of Floras (including Flora of North America), botany textbooks, identification keys and journals. The latter include the American Fern Journal, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, Castanea, Rhodora and Systematic Botany).
JMU Regional Undergraduate Laser Facility
Contact: Dr. Oleksandr Kokhan
Phone: (540) 568-1656
Website: www.jmu.edu/chemistry/lasers.shtml
Lasers are an essential part of our modern society. They are components of home electronics, manufacturing equipment, surgical procedures and atmospheric monitoring devices, and also are a key piece of technology for chemical research. Lasers have transformed modern chemistry. Currently, chemists are able to use lasers to initiate, control and watch chemical reactions on a scale that was unimaginable 50 years ago. James Madison University has a large laser spectroscopy laboratory that distinguishes it from other primarily undergraduate institutions. Researchers are able to utilize the facility’s holdings to perform an abundance of interdisciplinary scientific research.
The JMU Regional Undergraduate Laser Facility has grown through many years of support from the National Science Foundation. Holdings include Nd/YAG, nitrogen, helium/neon, argon ion and diode lasers. The facility is also equipped with an array of diagnostic tools for laser spectroscopy including an Agilent Infinium 1 GHz digital oscilloscope, five 25 MHz to 400 MHz digital oscilloscopes, a Jarrell-Ash ½ meter scanning monochromator, a CVI digital monochromator and a Princeton instrument silicon detector array. On-going research with tools in this facility include the synthesis and characterization of luminescent transition metal complexes for use as molecular probes or reporters.
Most recently, the laser facility has received support from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the James Madison University Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and a Research Corporation Department Development Award. New acquisitions include a variety of tunable single-mode diode lasers including a 75 nm New Focus Velocity laser and five NTT: NEL distributed feedback diode lasers for gas sensing of O2, H2O, CO2, and CH4. Additional diagnostic tools include a Bristol Instruments NIR ±60 MHz wavemeter, a Stanford Research Systems 100 kHz spectrum analyzer and a temperature-stabilized etalon. Emerging research on precision lineshape measurements, gas-sensing of atmospherically relevant small molecules, and optical properties of particulate matter is now underway in the JMU Regional Undergraduate Laser Facility using photoacoustic spectroscopy and cavity ring-down spectroscopy.
Electron Microscopy Center
Contact: Dr. Xiaofeng “Harry” Hu
Phone: (540) 568-8115
The Electron Microscopy Center serves faculty, staff and students who wish to use the scanning electron microscopy in scientific investigations. The center also provides demonstrations for public school groups and specialized educational programs.
JMU Meteorite Collection
Contact: Dr. W. Christopher Hughes
Phone: (540) 568-6109
Website: https://www.jmu.edu/physics/meteorite-collection.shtml
The James Madison University Meteorite Collection is a growing collection of the many sorts of meteorites to strike the Earth, and is located on the second floor or the Physics and Chemistry building. The display is open to the public year-round during university business hours, and after hours by special arrangement.
Microscopy Facility
Contact: Dr. Kristopher E. Kubow
Phone: (540) 568-4521
Website: http://www.jmu.edu/microscopy
The Biology Department’s Microscopy Facility is equipped with several light and fluorescence microscopes, including a Nikon C1 Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope, enabling time lapse imaging, 3-D image reconstruction and fluorescence imaging. The facility has a dedicated staff member who can provide training on the equipment and help faculty and students with any microscopy aspects of their research projects.
Mineral Museum
Contact: Dr. Stephen A. Leslie
Phone: (540) 568-6130
Website: http://sites.jmu.edu/mineralmuseum
Housed with the Department of Geology, the JMU Mineral Museum contains more than 700 exceptionally beautiful display specimens that provide mineralogy students with outstanding visual examples of some of the finest crystals from around the world. Each year, numerous educational groups, mineralogical societies and individual collectors visit the collection.
Office of Statistical Services
Contact: Dr. Hasan Hamdan
Email: statconsult@jmu.edu
Through this office, statistics faculty members and students provide JMU and the local community with assistance in the design and analysis of statistical surveys and experiments. Students obtain practical experience and an appreciation for the impact of statistical methods on today’s society.
Planetarium - John C. Wells Planetarium
Contact: Dr. Geary E. Albright
Phone: (540) 568-2659
Website: http://www.jmu.edu/planetarium/
Located in Miller Hall, the planetarium serves as a teaching laboratory for both the undergraduates and the local community alike. The facility is used as a resource for introductory astronomy classes and well as welcoming school groups from the region. Several public planetarium shows are offered every month that vary with the seasons. The planetarium is equipped with a GOT0- Chronos/Digistar-3 hybrid planetarium system that offers full dome video as well as exceptionally clear and accurate simulations of the night sky.
Science and Mathematics Learning Center
Contact: Student Success Center, Room 1107
Phone: (540) 568-3379
Website: http://www.jmu.edu/smlc/
The College of Science and Mathematics has established a Learning Center for Science and Mathematics, located in the Student Success Center Room 1107, support to JMU students enrolled in first and second year science and mathematics courses by providing a secure, supportive learning environment that fosters independent thinking. The center provides a walk-in tutoring service by both faculty and trained peer tutors in the following subject areas: physics, chemistry, mathematics and statistics. Consult the website for a current list of supported courses. The SMLC is equipped with a 34 unit educational computing lab.
Shenandoah Valley Regional NMR Facility
Contact: Dr. Jun Yin
Phone: (540) 568-3683
Website: http://www.jmu.edu/chemistry/NMR.shtml
The Shenandoah Valley Regional NMR Facility was established with grants from The National Science Foundation (9650132) and The Merck Foundation with matching funds provided by James Madison University, Eastern Mennonite University and Bridgewater College.
The JMU NMR Facility is comprised of three NMR spectrometers: 300, 400 and 600. These instruments are housed at JMU and can be accessed remotely by the Regional NMR Consortium. The group is composed of chemists from Bridgewater College, Eastern Mennonite University, James Madison University, Mary Baldwin University and the University of Virginia.
Science Fair
Contact: Dr. Corey Cleland
Phone: 434-284-0543
The Shenandoah Valley Regional Science Fair has been administered by the JMU science faculty for over four decades. The science fair is a competition open to all students in grades 6-12 who live in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley.
Annual Events
New Graduate Student Orientation
Contact: Dr. Janet C. Daniel
Phone: (540) 568-2322
Every August, the department welcomes incoming first year graduate students with a one-day orientation to the program, faculty, fellow students and departmental procedures. Students will receive guidance in the transition into graduate student life, expectations and responsibilities.
Biology Department Seminar Series
Contact: Dr. Kristopher E. Kubow
Phone: (540) 568-4521
Contact: Dr. Dana L. Moseley
Phone: (540) 568-6665
Contact: Dr. M. Rocky Parker
Phone: (540) 568-5116 or
Contact: Dr. Louie L. Wurch
Phone: (540) 568-5601
The departmental seminar series features speakers addressing a variety of research methodologies and programs. They are given by JMU scientists, visiting scientists and graduate students. Every March, first year graduate students give a presentation of their thesis proposals to the department. Seminars are held in the Biosciences Building Room 1007 from 12:20-1:10pm every Friday during the academic year.
Graduate Student Symposium
Contact: Dr. Janet C. Daniel
Phone: (540) 568-5030
Held each spring, this symposium gives students a chance to present their thesis work to their peers, faculty and undergraduates. As well, students prepare the talk in the format of a 15-minute research conference talk in preparation for future conference attendance.
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