Dr. Jeffrey R. Simpson received his Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Maryland (UMD), College Park in 2004. Upon completing his thesis, Dr. Simpson continued work in the Physics Department as a postdoctoral research associate. In 2006 the National Research Council (NRC) awarded him a two-year Postdoctoral Fellowship at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Gaithersburg, MD. After finishing the NIST-NRC postdoc, Dr. Simpson joined Towson University as an Assistant Professor of Physics.
Dr. Simpson’s research concentrates on understanding the physics of condensed matter and nanoscale systems through their response to light under varying experimental conditions. His recent work focuses on the optical properties of nanostructured graphitic carbon, specifically single-walled carbon nanotubes and graphene. These nanoscale systems provide wide-ranging phenomena of interest to condensed matter physics and potential technological applications in optoelectronics devices. The results of this research are published in over 15 peer-reviewed journal articles and presented in numerous conference proceedings. Dr. Simpson has extensive expertise in condensed matter/nanoscale materials, spectroscopic instrumentation, the optical properties of materials, and measurement techniques in experimental condensed matter physics. 
Though a new faculty member, Dr. Simpson gained substantial teaching experience previously as a graduate student and postdoc. From 2001-2003 he received a National Science Foundation GK-12 teaching fellowship to enhance secondary physics education through a variety of projects including curriculum development, student/teacher workshops, and after-school science clubs. UMD rewarded his classroom achievements with two departmental and one university award for excellence in teaching. In the laboratory, Dr. Simpson has mentored three graduate students and over ten undergraduate students.