Joseph H. Simmons

Department Head, Materials Science and Engineering
Professor of Materials Science and Engineering
Professor of Optical Sciences

Contact Information

Photo:  Professor Joesph Simmons

Education

  • PhD, Catholic University of America, 1969

  • MS, John Carroll University, 1966

  • BS, University of Maryland, 1962

Employment

  • The University of Arizona: Department of Materials Science and Engineering; Department Head and Professor, 2000-present.

  • University of Florida: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Professor, 1984-2000; Department of Physics, Affiliate Professor, 1989-2000.

  • Catholic University of America: Department of Physics, Professor, 1979-1984; Vitreous State Laboratory, Adjunct Associate Professor, 1974-1979.

  • National Bureau of Standards: Senior Physicist, 1966-1974.

  • NASA, Lewis Research Center: Research Physicist, 1962-1966.

Awards and Honors

  • Florida Chapter of Alpha Sigma Mu, Excellence in Engineering Teaching Award, 1991-1992

  • Ford Motor Company, Outstanding Research Award, 1994, 1995, and 1996

  • Greaves Walker Honor Roll, 1996

  • American Ceramic Society, Fellow

Research

  • Quantum-size effects in the optical properties of semiconductor clusters.  

  • Optical properties and carrier dynamics in wide-gap semiconductors.

  • Photosensitivity in glass films.

  • Non-linear optical behavior of materials and glasses.

  • Optical spectroscopy of materials at the nano-scale level.

  • Molecular dynamics simulations.

  • Non-linear viscous flow and rheological behavior of molten glasses.