About
Casey Watson serves as Professor of Physics in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Millikin University's School of Chemistry & Physics. He joined as Assistant Professor in 2006, was promoted to Associate Professor in 2012, and assumed Department Chair in 2013.
His educational background includes:
- PhD in Astrophysics and Cosmology from The Ohio State University (2006)
- Postdoctoral appointment at The Ohio State University
Dr. Watson's research centers on astrophysics and cosmology, with exclusive recent focus on dark matter. His work spans galaxy evolution, AGN, star formation, dark energy, and gravitational lensing. Through the Institute for Science Entrepreneurship, he drives interdisciplinary research bridging biology, chemistry, mathematics, and material science.
His accolades include:
- Teaching Excellence Award (2012)
- John A. Leighty Distinguished Professorship (2016)
- Coleman Foundation Fellowships (2016-2017)
He has mentored over 50 students, achieving a 100% graduate school acceptance rate for Physics Program applicants. Co-founding the Institute for Science Entrepreneurship in 2012 enabled student-industry collaborations for internships and research projects.
Dr. Watson advises the award-winning Society of Physics Students and leads the Institute for Science Entrepreneurship, creating performance learning opportunities in scientific entrepreneurship.
