Rate My Professor Erin Craig

Erin Craig Ricketson serves as Department Chair and Professor in the Physics Department at Central Washington University, positions held since 2022 and 2024, respectively. She earned a B.S. in Physics from Washington State University and a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Oregon. Her career includes roles as Associate Professor (2019–2024) and Assistant Professor (2014–2019) at CWU, Postdoctoral Research Scientist at the University of California, Davis (2009–2014), and Instructor at Lane Community College (2008–2009). Dr. Ricketson teaches Thermodynamics, Modern Physics, Molecular Biophysics, and Introductory Physics for Life Sciences. She leads the Computational Biophysics Laboratory, mentoring undergraduate students in research supported by a National Science Foundation Physics of Living Systems grant. Students under her guidance have co-authored publications, presented at conferences including the Biophysical Society Conference, and received awards such as the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship.

Her research focuses on computational biophysics, utilizing computer simulations to model cytoskeletal dynamics, microtubule organization in neurons, and mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases and injury. She collaborates with experimental scientists to study neuronal function and dysfunction. Key publications include “Microtubule polarity flaws as a treatable driver of neurodegeneration” with B. D. Eckel et al. (Brain Research Bulletin 192:208-215, 2023), “Model for Coordination of Microtubule and Actin Dynamics in Growth Cone Turning” (Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience 12:394, 2018), “Polarity sorting of axonal microtubules: a computational study” (Molecular Biology of the Cell 28:3271-3285, 2017), “Model for adhesion clutch explains biphasic relationship between actin flow and traction at the cell leading edge” (Physical Biology 12:035002, 2015), and “Membrane tension, myosin force, and actin turnover maintain actin treadmill in the nerve growth cone” (Biophysical Journal 102:1503-1513, 2012). Dr. Ricketson is a member of the Biophysical Society, American Association of Physics Teachers Washington Chapter, and the Board of Directors of the Northwest Medical Physics Center. Her publications have garnered over 740 citations.