Rate My Professor Savi Iyer

Savitri Iyer, known professionally as Savi Iyer, serves as Professor and Chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the State University of New York College at Geneseo, a role she assumed in 2023 after joining the faculty as an Adjunct Lecturer in 1993. Her academic career at Geneseo progressed steadily: Visiting Assistant Professor (1994-1995 and Spring 1996), Assistant Professor (1996-2003), Associate Professor (2003-2010), and Professor since 2010. Iyer has undertaken significant administrative responsibilities, including Dean of Curriculum and Academic Services (2012-2016), Interim Dean of the College (2011-2012), Rotating Associate Dean of the College (2009-2011), Assistant Provost for Curriculum and Assessment (2016-2017), Interim Chair of the Department of Art History (2012-2015), Interim Chair of the Department of Mathematics (2022-2023), and holder of the Dr. Spencer J. Roemer Supported Professorship (2022-2025). She also served as a Visiting Research Associate at Duke University in 2005 during sabbatical. Her educational background includes a Ph.D. in Physics with specialization in General Relativity from the University of Pittsburgh (1993), M.S. in Physics from Iowa State University (1989), M.Sc. in Physics from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (1986), and B.Sc. in Physics from Meenakshi College, University of Madras (1984). Throughout her tenure, she has taught a wide variety of physics courses and mentored undergraduate students in research.

Iyer's research focuses on General Relativity, particularly the bending of light near Kerr black holes, frame-dragging effects, and solutions to the vacuum Einstein equations, alongside studies of two-dimensional turbulence using random matrix theory. She conducts theoretical research with Geneseo undergraduates, employing tools like Mathematica for simulations of gravitational lensing and black hole phenomena. Key publications encompass "Asymmetric Light Bending in the Equatorial Kerr Metric" (2022, with A. B. Congdon and C. R. Keeton), "Frame-dragging induced asymmetry in the bending of light near a Kerr black hole" (2018), "Strong and Weak Deflection of Light in the Equatorial Plane of a Kerr Black Hole" (2009, with E. C. Hansen), "Light’s Bending Angle in the Equatorial Plane of a Kerr Black Hole" (2009, with E. C. Hansen), "Light’s Bending Angle due to Black Holes: From the Photon Sphere to Infinity" (2007, with A. O. Petters), "A Model of Two-dimensional Turbulence Using Random Matrix Theory" (2002, with S. G. Rajeev), "Some Pivotal Thoughts on the Current Balance" (2003, with K. A. Fletcher and K. F. Kinsey), "The Vacuum Einstein Equations via Holonomy around Closed Loops on Characteristic Surfaces" (1996, with E. T. Newman and C. N. Kozameh), and "Non-local Equations for General Relativity" (1992, with C. N. Kozameh and E. T. Newman). In 2019, she represented the department at the American Physical Society meeting to accept the Undergraduate Education Award.