Robert Elder

Visiting Assistant Professor Robert Elder joined Washington and Lee University’s Physics and Engineering Department in fall 2020. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Ohio Wesleyan University and a master’s degree from Michigan State University. His research focuses on the atomic nucleus, particularly the nuclear forces between protons and neutrons, and the study of unstable isotopes using experimental methods. Recently, he initiated a project exploring machine learning techniques, such as neural networks, to optimize gamma-ray detector arrays used in nuclear experiments.

• Education
  • Bachelor’s Degree – Ohio Wesleyan University
  • Master’s Degree – Michigan State University

Elder teaches General Physics 1, a lecture and lab course, and is actively engaged in integrating computational methods with nuclear physics. Outside academia, he coaches his son’s soccer team, runs Dungeons and Dragons campaigns, and enjoys karaoke. He emphasizes the importance of attention management in navigating modern information overload, reflecting his interdisciplinary approach to science and pedagogy.