Davon Ferrara

Biography

Davon W. Ferrara joined the Department of Chemistry and Physics in the Fall of 2012.  His teaching duties include introductory physics classes for non-majors (PHY 1110/1120, 1140). Before coming to Belmont, he taught a Science and Society first-year writing seminar and worked as a pre-major adviser for the College of Arts and Science at Vanderbilt.  He received his Bachelor of Science degree in physics and mathematics from Centenary College of Louisiana (2004), and his Master of Science (2007) and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in physics at Vanderbilt University (2011). His interests outside of the classroom include movies, science fiction, and ballroom and swing dancing.

Dr. Ferrara’s research interests are varied, but center around the interactions between light and matter, especially in regard to nanoplasmonics, including active metamaterials, and nano-optics.  Other areas of interest are: science education, the intersection of science, politics, and media, and the physics of ballroom dance.  Students interested in any of these topics are encouraged to contact him.

Samantha Chu, Cameron Nichols, Davon Ferrara, Robert Magruder, “Long- and Short- Range Order in Silicate Glasses Following Silver Ion Exchange,” APS March 2018 (Abstract)

Davon Ferrara, Robert Magruder, Thomas Spence, “Belmont SURFS: Early Engagement in Research,” APS March 2018 (Abstract)

Davon W. Ferrara, Marie Holzer, and Shirley Kyere, “West Coast Swing Dancing as a Driven Harmonic Oscillator Model,”  Poster presentation, APS March Meeting, 2017

Sarah A. Cannavino, Davon W. Ferrara, “Symmetry breaking in nanorod synthesis using metal salts,” SERMACS 2016

Sarah A. Cannavino, Christy A. King, Davon W. Ferrara, “Green Chemistry Techniques for Gold Nanoparticle Synthesis,” APS March 2016