News from the Chair

P&A Welcomes New Teaching Lab Supervisor Hatem Babaa

Please join us in welcoming Hatem Babaa, the Department of Physics and Astronomy's new Teaching Lab Supervisor. Hatem started in December and will be available in Regener Hall room 112.

Hatem earned his first MS degree in Physics from the University of Jordan in 2009 and his second MS degree in Optical Science and Engineering from the University of New Mexico in 2022. Since 2005, he worked at different universities in different capacities as a teaching assistant, research assistant, and lecturer. Hatem is interested in experimental physics because it is the bridge between theory and daily life applications, and he believes that is how the beauty of physics is shown.

Hatem will supervise and maintain lecture demonstration equipment for our introductory courses. He will coordinate demonstrations with lecturers. He will test new experiments and demonstrations. He will provide technical guidance to staff and teaching assistants concerning demonstration preparation and processes and ensure compliance with health and safety standards.  He will also manage computing and AV equipment, have a prominent role in outreach events, and may help with teaching labs.

Hatem had been doing this job excellently on an interim basis since the beginning of the summer, and we are all really enjoying working with him. He will continue with his PhD studies as he takes on this new role.

Hatem enjoys scientific activities, outdoor activities, manual skills, and spending quality time with his wife and their two children.