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Peter Sheldon
Charles A. Dana Professor of Physics, Natural Sciences and Mathematics Division Head
| Credentials: | BA, Amherst College MA, University of Massachusetts PhD, University of Massachusetts |
| Associated Departments: | Engineering, Physics, Robotics and Mechatronics Engineering, The Honors Program |
| Office: | Martin 316 |
| Phone: | 434-947-8488 |
| Email: | psheldon@randolphcollege.edu |
| Website: | https://www.randolphscience.org |
News Headlines
- Randolph receives Go Virginia funding for new major
- Summer research examining how satellite constellations affect astronomy
- ‘The Bumpy Ramp Problem’: Students investigate AP physics test question
- Peter Sheldon wins national Society of Physics Students award
- Summer research project investigating navigation with smartphone sensors
- Randolph Society of Physics Students honored with Outstanding Chapter Award
- Sheldon records lecture for College Board's AP program
- A hands-on approach: Summer Research focusing on curriculum guide for teachers
- President's end-of-year message to alumnae and alumni
- Randolph physics professor presents research
Peter Sheldon is the Charles A. Dana Professor of Physics & Engineering, the Chair of the Physics & Engineering Department, and the Director of the Honors Program at Randolph College. He has a PhD and an MS in Physics from the University of Massachusetts, and has a BA in Physics and a BA in Mathematics from Amherst College.
Dr. Sheldon has received nearly $5 million in grants for research and programming, currently holding a $1 million S-STEM grant from the National Science Foundation to run the SUPER program (Step Up to Physics and Engineering at Randolph) which prepares Randolph College students to be the nation’s future scientists.
His research net includes a number of fields: he is by education a low temperature physicist, but has worked in the field of ultrafast laser spectroscopy, and more recently focuses on inertial navigation (the physics of rollercoasters) and science education research. He has more than 30 publications spanning across these fields.
Dr. Sheldon’s passion is bringing science to the public. He has recently held grants from the American Institute for Physics, the Virginia Foundation of Independent Colleges, and the Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation for two major outreach projects. He directs and works with the College’s Society of Physics Students to run the Randolph College Science Festival and the College’s Science Saturdays Program for high school students.
Dr. Sheldon is the past Chief Reader of the Advanced Placement (AP) Physics exam, and is also a board member for the United States Young Physicists Tournaments, Vector Space (Lynchburg’s Makerspace), and the Lynchburg Region’s Technology Council.