David Harris, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor | Aerospace, Physics and Space Sciences | Florida Tech
Melbourne, FL, UNITED STATES
Dr. Harris' dissertation research investigated the Baldwin Effect using a sample of 200,000 quasar spectra.
Areas of Expertise (3)
Economics of Mars Colonization
Physics Education Research
Space Technology
About
Dr. David "Doc" Harris is a native of Melbourne, Florida. He graduated from Melbourne High School in 2002. In 2008, he graduated as a valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences from the University of Florida with a BS in Physics. At the University of Utah, where he earned his master's degree and Ph.D. in physics and astronomy, he programmed the data reduction pipeline for the Frisco Peak Observatory. His dissertation research investigated the Baldwin Effect using a sample of 200,000 quasar spectra.
In 2015, Dr. Harris started work as a visiting instructor of physics at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. He led a small group of cadets and officers in creating a computer simulation of black hole orbital dynamics in the Milky Way Galaxy. He was honored as a Robert T. Alexander Visiting Fellow in October 2015.
At the completion of the visiting instructorship, Dr. Harris returned to Florida to become a physics Instructor at Florida Gulf Coast University.
In January of 2019, he became an assistant teaching professor of physics at Florida Tech. He is the Faculty Advisor for the Student Rocket Society and the Florida Tech Rocketry Club.
Media Assets
Publications:
Documents:
Videos:
Audio/Podcasts:
Media Appearances (2)
Florida Tech Faculty Member Featured on NBC Sports Program
Florida Tech News online
2020-06-02
David Harris, an assistant teaching professor in Florida Tech’s Department of Aerospace, Physics and Space Sciences, will discuss the physics of lean angles, crashes and a particularly challenging stretch of the Laguna Seca racetrack during three upcoming appearances on the NBC Sports Network motorcycle racing program Inside MotoAmerica.
Inside MotoAmerica
MotoAmerica tv
2020-11-05
David Harris joins the Inside MotoAmerica show to discuss the physics of corkscrew turns. His segment starts at the 25:30 mark.
Education (3)
University of Utah: Ph.D., Physics and Astronomy 2016
University of Utah: M.S., Physics and Astronomy 2014
University of Florida: B.S., Physics 2008
Links (1)
Selected Articles (1)
Excerpts from an exploratory survey of units/dimensional analysis in introductory physics
Physics Education Research Conference 20202020
Affiliations (1)
- MNRAS : Peer Reviewer
Accomplishments (4)
Phi Eta Sigma Excellence in Teaching Award (professional)
2021
Student Government Association Excellence in Teaching Award (professional)
2020
Phi Eta Sigma Excellence in Teaching Award (professional)
2020
Robert T. Alexander Visiting Fellow (professional)
October 2015
