Elizabeth Beise, Professor of Physics and Associate Provost for Academic Planning and Programs, has been named a University of Maryland Distinguished Scholar-Teacher.

An internationally-recognized expert in experimental nuclear physics, Dr. Beise researches the fundamental, underlying properties of neutrons and protons, the constituents of the nuclei in atoms.  She has led experiments in electron scattering at the MIT-Bates accelerator and at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (JLab) in Newport News, Virginia.  At JLab, scientists use high-current beams of electrons to probe the structure neutrons and protons, to try to understand the origin their charge, spin, and magnetic moment, the latter being fundamental to such widely-used technology as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

Among her accolades have been the National Science Foundation’s Young Investigator Award, the American Physical Society’s Maria Goeppert-Mayer Award, and Fellowship in the American Physical Society and in the American Association for the Advancement of Science, in which she was cited for the elucidation of the internal structure of nucleons and small nuclei by experimental electron scattering.

In 2008, Dr. Beise received the George A. Snow Memorial Award of the Department of Physics. This award, established in honor of the late UMD professor for whom it is named, recognizes someone who personally helps to advance the representation of women in the field of physics.

Distinguished Scholar-Teachers receive $5000 to support scholarly and instructional activities. They also deliver a public address; the date for Dr. Beise’s talk will be posted in the Fall 2012 Physics Colloquium listing.