Rate My Professor Nathaniel Smith

Nathanael Smith is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Middle Tennessee State University. His research specializes in experimental studies of soft matter physics, acoustics, and fluid dynamics. Current projects encompass acoustic levitation, utilizing high-intensity sound waves to suspend small objects mid-air, with the goal of stably levitating water droplets up to several millimeters in diameter. Another investigation focuses on measuring the mass of a soap bubble, requiring innovative non-invasive techniques due to its fragile structure. Smith examines the dynamics of soap bubbles bouncing through air subjected to strong temperature gradients, such as over dry ice, to understand influences on stability and motion. He also analyzes the thinning dynamics of liquid films during spin-coating processes on rotating substrates, employing optical interference to monitor evolution and validate theoretical models.

In his earlier research affiliated with Middle Tennessee State University, Smith contributed to nanomaterials and photovoltaics, including studies on few-layer graphene as a support film for transmission electron microscopy (2009), the effect of dielectric constants on electrophoretic deposition of CdSe quantum dots (2013), and assessments of quantum dot-sensitized solar cells. With 11 research works and 327 citations noted on academic profiles, his contributions span interdisciplinary applications. Smith mentors undergraduate researchers, participates in department outreach like the 2019 Star Party lecture on the physics of time, and serves on the Advisory Board of the Interdisciplinary Microanalysis and Imaging Center (MIMIC). He previously held leadership positions, such as President Elect of the Tennessee Area Association of Physics Teachers in 2012, advancing physics education regionally.