"Physics constitutes a logical system of thought which is in a state of evolution, whose basis (principles) cannot be distilled, as it were, from experience by an inductive method, but can only be arrived at by free invention."
-Albert Einstein
Meet the Physics Department
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Rodney Bain
Office: ROM 74
Phone: 496-1912
Email: bainr@byui.edu
Brother Bain was born in Boston and raised on the East Coast. He received his BS, MS, and PhD in Aerospace Engineering (specializing in Astronautical Engineering) from the University of Colorado. He is a retired Air Force officer and has taught at numerous institutions. Before coming to BYU-Idaho in 1995, Brother Bain taught at the Air Force Institute of Technology for six years. Brother Bain enjoys the priceless gift of family, friends, history, teaching, scripture study, science and mathematics.
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Evan Hansen
Office: ROM 180
Phone: 496-1978
Email: hansenev@byui.edu
Brother Hansen grew up in the Midwest, living in Ohio, Illinois, Missouri, Wisconsin, and Colorado. He served a mission in Seoul, Korea. He received his BS in Physics and graduated with Honors from BYU. He received his MS and PhD in Physics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Prior to coming to BYU-Idaho he spent seven years in research and development in the semiconductor industry. He and his wife Stacey met at BYU on the Ballroom Dance Team and are the parents of four children. Brother Hansen enjoys hiking, reading, skiing, golfing, fishing, and traveling.
Richard Hatt
Office: ROM 110
Phone: 496-1894
Email: hattr@byui.edu
Brother Hatt received his BS and PhD in Physics at Brigham Young University. He taught at Southern Oregon University for two years before coming to BYU-Idaho and has taught here since 2002. Brother Hatt grew up in the Salt Lake area and served his mission in Chicago. He enjoys BYU-Idaho because the professors are cooperative and the students are dedicated. In his free time, Brother Hatt works on finishing his basement, gardening, and playing with his daughter, Sabrina.
Kevin Kelley
Office: ROM 184
Phone: 496-1910
Email: kelleyk@byui.edu
Brother Kelley was born and raised in Southeast Idaho. He attended Ricks College and served in the Canada Winnipeg Mission. Brother Kelley completed his education (BS, MS, PhD) at the University of California-Davis, and conducted research in nuclear astrophysics and radiochemistry at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, California. He and his wife Kimberlee have four children. In his spare time, Brother Kelley enjoys reading, music, and outdoor activities.
Todd Lines
Office: ROM 176
Phone: 496-1919
Email: linest@byui.edu
Brother Lines grew up in Utah. He served in the Costa Rica, San Jose Mission. Brother Lines completed a BS in Physics from BYU. He received his MS and PhD in Physics from New Mexico State University. He has worked for the Army Research Laboratory and for several major defense companies. He worked in atmospheric science and remote sensing for ITT Industries in Rochester, NY, for six years before coming to BYU-Idaho. He and his wife Christine have three children. Brother Lines enjoys hiking, camping, reading, music, art, and spending time with his family.
Stephen McNeil
Office: ROM 175
Phone: 496-1927
Email: mcneils@byui.edu
Brother McNeil was born in Inglewood, California and grew up in Ogden, Utah and Placerville, California. He served a mission to Curitiba, Brazil. He was married in the Salt Lake Temple to Rosemary Tenorio and has three sons. He earned his PhD from Brigham Young University in Physics and Astronomy. His dissertation focused on evidence for supermassive Black Holes at the center of galaxies. He enjoys outdoor activities like camping and hiking.
Ryan Nielson
Office: ROM 186
Phone: 496-1916
Email: nielsonr@byui.edu
Brother Nielson was raised in Manti, Utah, and served in San Jose, California and Guadalajara, Mexico as a missionary. He received his BS from Utah State University in Physics. He completed a MS from Utah State University in Physics (Aeronomy). After graduate school he worked for the micro-meteorology lab at USU and then taught for one year at Southern Utah State College and has since taught at BYU-Idaho. Brother Nielson enjoys shooting, model rockets, lapidary and silverwork, and hunting. He and his wife Darla currently have five hobbies - four daughters and one son.
David Oliphant
Office: ROM 182
Phone: 496-1917
Email: oliphantd@byui.edu
Brother Oliphant began teaching physics at BYU-Idaho in the fall of 2000. He completed his BS and MS at BYU. He is interested in the way x-rays and electrons interact with matter. He is also interested in computer modeling, particularly in developing methods that can extract more information from the given set of measured data. Brother Oliphant served a mission to Richmond, Virginia. A few months after his return, he met his wife Leslie. They have four children who love to help in the garden, read books, learn, and play.
Brian Pyper
Office: ROM 116
Phone: 496-1925
Email: pyperb@byui.edu
Brother Pyper grew up in Salt Lake City. He served a mission to the England London South mission. He received his BS in Physics from BYU, his MS from the University of Utah, and PhD from Utah State University. He taught in the Salt Lake City area for five years and performed with the 23rd Army Band for 15 years. He has been teaching at BYU-Idaho since 1999. He and his wife Heidi, have three children. He loves music, amateur radio, rock climbing, mountaineering, back-country skiing, scouting, fishing and hunting, global warming, reading, and fitness.
Brian Tonks
Office: 114
Phone: 496-1921
Email: tonksb@byui.edu
Brother Tonks was born and reared in Teton Valley. Science always fascinated him, and he began preparing for a career in Astronomy by majoring in Physics at Ricks College. He transferred to BYU, where he completed his BS in Physics and married his sweetheart, Nancy. After graduating, he taught at the Naval Nuclear Power School. Upon completing active duty, he finished his PhD in Planetary Science at the University of Arizona, and has been teaching here at BYU-Idaho since 1993. He and Nancy have four children and he enjoys racquetball, basketball, singing, reading, and writing.
Stephen Turcotte - Department Chair
Office: ROM 118A
Phone: 496-1909
Email: turcottes@byui.edu
Brother Turcotte is a native of New York. He received his BS from Cornell University. He attended graduate school in Massachusetts where he joined the LDS church and left for a mission to Monterey, Mexico. Brother Turcotte finished school at the University of Utah, receiving his MS and PhD. Brother Turcotte worked at the Space Dynamic Lab on a number of NASA and Department of Defense projects and has received two U.S. patents. He has taught at BYU-Idaho since 1997. Brother Turcotte enjoys swimming, golf, tennis, hockey, and skiing. He and his wife have six children.
