Joelle L. Murray

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Joelle L. Murray
Associate Professor

Graf Hall 234

503-883-2427

jmurray@linfield.edu

I’ve been fortunate to pursue my passion for physics at Linfield for the past 25 years, both inside and outside of the classroom. I teach across the physics department curriculum and one of my favorite classes is “Quantum Physics”. You can hear me discussing quantum with Dr. Crosser in his podcast.

My research is on complexity in biological systems through computational modeling and is currently focused on understanding insect swarms as a collective phenomenon. This research is regularly conducted with students, as I firmly believe the best way to learn physics is by doing it.

Education

• B.S., physics and mathematics, Beloit College
• Ph.D., physics, Michigan State University

Academic interests:

• Complexity
• Insect swarms
• Emergent phenomena
• Computational modeling
• Active pedagogies
• DEIJ efforts in STEM

Selected publications, grants and faculty-student research presentations:

J. Murray, E. Atkinson, B. Gilbert, and A. Kruchten, “A Novel Approach to Interdisciplinary Science Experience for Undergraduates Across Introductory Biology, Chemistry, and Physics Courses”, Journal of College Science Teaching, 43, 46, 2014.

J. Murray, K. Haglin, and W. Bauer, “Revisiting Low-mass Dileptons at 200 GeV/nucleon”, Phys. Rev. C 60, 017901, 1999.

NSF S-STEM grant ”Linfield College S-STEM Scholarship Recruitment and Retention Program”, B. Gilbert (PI), A. Kruchten (co-PI), J. Murray (co-PI), J. Nordstrom (co-PI), D. Preston (co-PI), fall 2015.

Troy Taylor, J. Murray “Complexity and Fly Swarms”, American Physical Society National meeting, Denver, CO, March 2019.

Austin Bebee, Troy Taylor, J. Murray “Complexity and Fly Swarms”, American Physical Society National meeting, Los Angeles, CA, March 2018.

Alleta Maier, Kuzivakwashe Rusere, J. Murray “Complexity and Fly Swarms”, American Physical Society National meeting, New Orleans, LA, March 2017.

G. Cates, J. Murray “Complexity and Fly Swarms”, American Physical Society National meeting, Baltimore, MD, March 2016.

A. Bajracharya, J. Murray “Proteins and Self-Organized Criticality”, American Physical Society National meeting, Baltimore, MD, March 2016.