RAPID CITY, SD (Sept. 5, 2017) – A joint South Dakota School of Mines & Technology and University of South Dakota physics doctoral program has its first graduate. Daniel Rederth finished his doctorate this summer with his dissertation, “A Numerical Approach to Magnetic Quantum Dots.” Research on these nanoscale semiconductors could have wide ranging future applications in everything from medicine to electronics.
“The opportunity to work with brilliant physicists from around the world was an honor. I am pleased the department will continue to use my research in spintronics and magnetism to keep building upon our understanding of quantum systems. I intend to stay in our community and utilize my knowledge and skills to contribute to local STEM education,” says Rederth.
Rederth’s work adds to long and successful history of physics research at SD Mines that includes many doctoral graduates in programs parallel to physics such as materials engineering and science and nanoscience/nanoengineering. Mines Ph.D. graduates in these fields have gone on to hold significant positions in national labs, industry and major universities around the country. Rederth marks the first physics Ph.D. graduate from the new South Dakota-based program.
“I have known Dan for many years. He was a student in many of my undergraduate classes, always among the best. I am really glad that all of it came to fruition,” says Andre Petukhov, Ph.D., and head of the physics department at Mines.
With resources like the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF), South Dakota has an opportunity to be on the cutting edge in the field of physics. This physics Ph.D. program in South Dakota saw its first students in the fall of 2013. The program was started to help supply SURF with top level researchers. The physics department at SD Mines also makes significant contributions to the study of condensed matter physics.
“It is great to see the first Ph.D. student graduating from this important and vibrant program. The graduates from this program will work on frontiers in physics, including neutrino research in the Sanford Underground Research Facility,” says Jan Puszynski, Ph.D., and interim president at SD Mines.
Rederth started as a grad student at SD Mines in the fall of 2010, completed a M.S. in physics in December 2013 under the direction of professor Petukhov and finished his Ph.D. this summer under professor Rafal Oszwaldowski, Ph.D.