Seminars
Seminars occur on Wednesdays from 12:00-1:00 PM Pacific in ISB 130 with a hybrid option over Zoom unless otherwise posted. To join the mailing list, please contact Prof. Christopher Smallwood at christopher.smallwood@sjsu.edu with the words "Seminars and Events" included in the subject heading.
This Week: Monday
Investigating Calculus across the Domains of Mathematics and Physics: The Curious
Case of dx
Warren Christensen, North Dakota State University
Monday, 11/10/2025, 3:00-4:15pm Pacific
Abstract: Success for students in Physics requires understanding and the application of numerous
mathematical skills. Mathematical preparation (Calc I, II, III, Diff EQ, and Linear
Algebra) are commonplace among required courses for physics majors. After close inspection,
it is becoming clearer that the mathematics taught in Math courses, and the mathematics
students are expected to use in intro- through upper-division physics courses has
a number of differences that may serve as a barrier to student success. Through qualitative
methods, we have unpacked distinct and potentially impactful differences in how students’
reason about integration and differentials. Most notably, is the limit vs. infinitesimal
definition of integration. Interview data will demonstrate the depth and nuance of
these complications, with insight into how curriculum development and instructional
intervention may assist in helping students overcome these barriers.
Bio: Dr. Warren Christensen is a Professor of Physics at North Dakota State University. He has been a founding member of the DBER REU Program at NDSU, co-hosted three conferences on Transforming Research in Undergraduate STEM Education (TRUSE), and has dedicated his career to conducting research across scientific and mathematical disciplines. His particular interests are investigating how mathematics is taught and learned in math courses and how students are expected to use those mathematical ideas in physics courses. His loves outside of academia include eating adventurously, musicals, road tripping with his sons, and hammock camping.
Wednesday
Towards High-Performance Nanoribbon Transistors with 2D Semiconductors
Tara Peña, Stanford University
Wednesday, 11/12/2025, 12:00-1:00pm Pacific
Abstract: The current age of Artificial Intelligence is a testament to the exponential advancements
in technology over the past century, which have been largely enabled by the Silicon
transistor. Silicon-based technology has continuously driven innovations by simply
shrinking the geometric features and improving gate-control in the Si-transistor,
allowing denser integrated circuits with higher performance. However, the physical
limits of Si transistors are finally being reached, raising the need for alternative
materials. In this talk, I will discuss why two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors are
compelling candidates to extend scaling in upcoming transistor nodes. I cover how
the properties and performance of 2D semiconductors can be controlled and enhanced
through strain engineering. Lastly, I will cover the challenges and our advancements
towards scaling 2D channel dimensions, particularly in width where carrier transport
and edge disorders have been largely underexplored despite their immense impact. Taken
together, these results underscore the viability of 2D semiconductors in future applications.
Bio: Dr. Tara Peña is a postdoctoral researcher in the Electrical Engineering department at Stanford University, working with Professor Eric Pop. Her research interests involve engineering low-dimensional materials to enable next-generation energy-efficient nanoelectronics. She was awarded the NSF MPS-Ascend postdoctoral fellowship. Before Stanford, she received her Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer from the University of Rochester, where she was supported by the NSF GRFP and the University of Rochester’s Provost fellowship.
