Name: Ponn Maheswaranathan
Title: Professor of Physics
Education: Ph.D., Purdue University
M.S., Purdue University
B.S., Peradeniya University
Office: 213B Sims Science Building
Phone: 803/323-4940
E-mail: mahesp@winthrop.edu
Web:
Area(s): Experimental Solid-State Physics, Materials Science, Physics Education, Professional
Development of Teachers
Dr. Maheswaranathan, professor of physics at Winthrop, has been involved with teaching and scholarly activities in physics for the past 32 years, first as an assistant lecturer in Sri Lanka, then as a teaching and research assistant followed by a post-doctoral appointment at Purdue University, and finally as a faculty member at Winthrop. He joined Winthrop as an assistant professor in 1985. He was promoted to associate professor in 1992 and professor in 2003.
Maheswaranathan has taught a variety of courses including algebra and calculus based introductory physics, introductory physics laboratory, electronics and circuit analysis, advanced experimental physics, musical acoustics, materials science, engineering mechanics, and graduate-level professional development courses for teachers.
His research deals with the experimental investigation of the elastic, structural, electrical, and magnetic properties of materials such as semiconductors and superconductors. Experimental techniques include ultrasonic velocity and attenuation measurements, transport measurements, and materials preparation and characterization.
Maheswaranathan has written several book chapters and testing units for ACT and MCAT and published in referred journals such as the Physics Teacher, Physical Review B, Journal de Physique, and the Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials.
In an effort to provide professional development opportunities to teachers, he has obtained extramural grants totaling $178,886 from the S.C. Department of Education and conducted summer institutes for physical science teachers at Winthrop. In addition, as a consultant for the College Board he has reviewed virtual laboratory and course syllabi for the Advanced Placement Program and served as AP reader.
Maheswaranathan is married and the couple has two sons.