Erica Carlson

{{Short description|American physicist}} {{Use mdy dates|cs1-dates=ly|date=March 2022}} {{Use list-defined references|date=March 2022}} {{Infobox scientist | honorific_prefix = | name = Erica W. Carlson | honorific_suffix = | native_name = | native_name_lang = | image =  | image_size = | image_upright = | landscape =  | alt = | caption = | birth_name =  | birth_date =  | birth_place = | death_date =  | death_place = | death_cause =  | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates =  | other_names = | siglum = | pronounce = | citizenship =  | nationality =  | fields = Condensed matter physics | workplaces = Purdue University | patrons = | education = | alma_mater = California Institute of Technology<br>University of California, Los Angeles | thesis_title = {{#statements:title|from=Q118869317}} | thesis_url = https://www.proquest.com/docview/304584846  | thesis_year = {{#statements:publication date|from=Q118869317}} | doctoral_advisor =  | academic_advisors = {{#statements:doctoral advisor}} | doctoral_students = | notable_students = | known_for = | influences = | influenced = | awards = | author_abbrev_bot = | author_abbrev_zoo = | spouse =  | partner =  | children = | parents = | father = | mother = | relatives = | signature =  | signature_type =  | signature_alt = | website =  | footnotes = }}

'''Erica W. Carlson''' is an American physicist specializing in superconductors, liquid crystals, and strongly correlated materials. She is 150th Anniversary Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Purdue University.{{r|profile}} As well as for her research, she is known for her work in physics education for quantum physics,{{r|quantum}} and for her introduction of innovative technologies including podcasts and wikis into her physics teaching.{{r|podcast|wiki}} She is working on developing quantum materials which can help future technological processes in the medicinal, computing, construction, and engineering fields.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Print |first=Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email |date=2024-06-06 |title=New quantum materials promise unimagined innovations in computing, memory |url=https://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/2024/Q2/new-quantum-materials-promise-unimagined-innovations-in-computing-memory |access-date=2025-09-04 |website=News |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Education and career== Carlson is a 1994 graduate of the California Institute of Technology. She went to the University of California, Los Angeles for graduate study, earning a master's degree in 1995 and completing her Ph.D. in 2000.{{r|profile|cv}}

After postdoctoral research at Boston University, she joined the Purdue faculty in 2003.{{r|profile|cv}} In 2023, she created a YouTube channel, titled The Quantum Age.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Quantum Age |url=https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN6ygeEojVhJqocfAxP2wqw |access-date=2025-05-28 |website=YouTube |language=en}}</ref> On her channel, she discusses many properties of quantum mechanics and quantum materials. The channel is targeted toward upper middle school and high school students.

== Honors == Carlson was selected for the Fulbright Scholar in 2020.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Erica Carlson: Department of Physics and Astronomy: Purdue University |url=https://www.physics.purdue.edu/people/faculty/carlson.php |access-date=2025-09-04 |website=www.physics.purdue.edu}}</ref> She also received the honor of [https://www.purdue.edu/academics/faculty-affairs/awards/charles.html Murphy Outstanding Undergrad Teaching Award] in 2016.<ref name=":0" />

==Recognition== Carlson was named a Fellow of the American Physical Society (APS) in 2015, after a nomination from the APS Division of Condensed Matter Physics, "for theoretical insights into the critical role of electron nematicity, disorder, and noise in novel phases of strongly correlated electron systems and predicting unique characteristics".{{r|faps}} Purdue University named her as a 150th Anniversary Professor in 2018.{{r|150ap}}

==Personal life== Carlson is Christian, and has spoken publicly about combining her religious faith with science.{{r|exponent|12cws}} She also is a advisor for the [https://ratiochristi.org/about/ Cru and Ratio Christi] where she speaks about the correlation of science and Christianity.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Erica Carlson |url=https://reasons.org/team/erica-carlson |access-date=2025-09-04 |website=Reasons to Believe |language=en-US}}</ref>

==References== <references>

<ref name=12cws>{{citation|url=https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2020/march/erica-carlson-physicist-christian-women-in-science.html|title=Erica Carlson|department=12 Christian Women in Science|magazine=Christianity Today|date=March 2020|access-date=2022-03-07}}</ref>

<ref name=150ap>{{citation|url=https://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/purduetoday/releases/2018/Q1/erica-carlson-named-150th-anniversary-professor.html|work=Purdue Today|publisher=Purdue University|title=Erica Carlson named 150th Anniversary Professor|date=February 7, 2018|access-date=2022-03-07}}</ref>

<ref name=cv>{{citation|url=https://www.physics.purdue.edu/~erica/EWCarlson.CV.pdf|title=Curriculum vitae|access-date=2022-03-07}}</ref>

<ref name=exponent>{{citation|url=https://www.purdueexponent.org/campus/article_16f06fef-bbf6-5b97-bf18-87019bf159d3.html|title= Physics professor reconciles faith with science|first=Grace|last=Winn|date=September 16, 2016|work=Purdue Exponent|access-date=2022-03-07}}</ref>

<ref name=faps>{{citation|url=https://www.aps.org/programs/honors/fellowships/archive-all.cfm?initial=&year=2015&unit_id=DCMP&institution=|title=Fellows nominated in 2015 by the Division of Condensed Matter Physics|work=APS Fellows archive|publisher=American Physical Society|access-date=2022-03-07}}</ref>

<ref name=podcast>{{citation|title=Missed class? Try a podcast: Digital recordings of lectures allow college students with MP3 players to catch lessons or just catch up wherever and whenever they want|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|first=Jodi S.|last=Cohen|date=October 20, 2005}}</ref>

<ref name=profile>{{citation|url=https://www.physics.purdue.edu/people/faculty/carlson.php|title=Erica Carlson|work=People|publisher=Purdue Physics|access-date=2022-03-07}}</ref>

<ref name=quantum>{{citation|url=https://www.insidequantumtechnology.com/news-archive/u-s-department-of-defense-awards-2-8m-to-purdue-university-scientists-for-quantum-education-program/|work=Inside Quantum Technology|title=U.S. Department of Defense Awards $2.8M to Purdue University Scientists for Quantum Education Program|date=October 21, 2021|access-date=2022-03-07}}</ref>

<ref name=wiki>{{citation|url=http://www.science.purdue.edu/insights/FA07/wiki.shtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090302145047/http://www.science.purdue.edu/insights/FA07/wiki.shtml|url-status=dead|title=Where there's a wiki, there's a way|work=Insights|date=Fall–Winter 2007|publisher=Purdue College of Science|archive-date=2009-03-02}}</ref>

</references>

==External links== *[https://www.physics.purdue.edu/~erica/ Carlson research group] *{{Google Scholar id|wF4sRJsAAAAJ}}

{{Authority control|state=collapsed}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Carlson, Erica}} Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people Category:American physicists Category:American women physicists Category:Physics educators Category:California Institute of Technology alumni Category:Purdue University faculty Category:Fellows of the American Physical Society

Erica Carlson

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