keywords
- atomic and molecular physics, cold molecules, physical chemistry, physics education research
- Contact Info
Lewandowski, Heather
Positions
- Faculty Director, Research & Innovation Office
- Professor, JILA
- Professor, Physics
Research Areas
Research
Publications
selected publications
-
chapter
-
Chemistry Using Coulomb Crystals.
ACS Symposium Series.
389-410.
2021
-
Chemistry Using Coulomb Crystals.
ACS Symposium Series.
389-410.
2021
-
conference proceeding
-
Graduate student views of leadership and team structure in a self-guided instructional laboratory setting.
362-367.
2025
-
Industry Insights into Quantum Knowledge Needed for the Quantum Information Science and Engineering Workforce.
350-355.
2025
-
Industry Perspectives on Projected Quantum Workforce Needs.
148-153.
2025
-
Influence of an undergraduate quantum capstone course on students' post-graduation careers.
338-343.
2025
-
Student engagement with statistical noise features in PhET's Projectile Data Lab simulation.
234-239.
2025
-
Student perspectives on "Successful Science'' in a physics CURE and traditional lab course.
276-281.
2025
-
Investigating Opportunities for Diversity and Growth in the Landscape of Quantum Information Science Engineering Education in the U.S.
2025
-
Correlation of open-ended activities in laboratory courses with students' views of experimental physics.
250-255.
2024
-
Exploring student beliefs of traditional physics laboratory coursework in relation to authentic research.
230-236.
2024
-
Physics Instructor Views on Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs).
293-299.
2024
-
"The prettiest photos are the ones that have happy people in them": the use of photovoice in an upper-division physics capstone project course.
254-259.
2023
-
Representational differences in how students compare measurements.
114-119.
2023
-
Affordances of Articulating Assessment Objectives in Research-based Assessment Development.
475-480.
2022
-
Engagement in collaboration and teamwork using Google Colaboratory.
481-487.
2022
-
Seeing quantum mechanics: The role of quantum experiments.
57-63.
2022
-
Assessing students' views about experimental physics in a German laboratory course.
Journal of Physics : Conference Series.
2022
-
Student ownership and understanding of multi-week final projects.
221-226.
2021
- Investigating student use of a flexible tool for simulating and visualizing quantum mechanics. 155-155. 2020
-
Capturing modeling pathways using the Modeling Assessment for Physics Laboratory Experiments.
155-160.
2020
-
Creating a coupled multiple response assessment for modeling in lab courses.
400-405.
2020
-
Impact on students' views of experimental physics from a large introductory physics lab course.
533-538.
2020
-
Investigating student use of a flexible tool for simulating and visualizing quantum mechanics.
563-568.
2020
-
Investigating students' views about the role of writing in physics lab classes.
216-221.
2020
-
Student perceptions of laboratory classroom activities and experimental physics practice.
131-136.
2020
- Using custom interactive video prelab activities in a large introductory lab course 2020
-
Methodological development of a new coding scheme for an established assessment on measurement uncertainty in laboratory courses.
458-463.
2019
-
Preliminary model for student ownership of projects.
141-146.
2019
-
Using custom interactive video prelab activities in a large introductory lab course.
312-317.
2019
- Correlating students' views about experimental physics with their sense of project ownership 2018
- Initial impacts of the transformation of a large introductory lab course focused on developing experimental skills and expert epistemology 2018
- Pathways to proposing causes for unexpected experimental results 2018
- Transforming a large introductory lab course: impacts on views about experimental physics 2018
-
Impact of an introductory lab on students' understanding of measurement uncertainty.
312-315.
2017
-
Impact of perceived grading practices on students' beliefs about experimental physics.
19-22.
2017
-
Instructor perspectives on iteration during upper-division optics lab activities.
116-119.
2017
-
Student reasoning about measurement uncertainty in an introductory lab course.
244-247.
2017
- Cold controlled reactions between molecular ions and molecular radicals. ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY. 2016
-
Impact of instructional approach on students' epistemologies about experimental physics.
388-391.
2016
-
Investigating student ownership of projects in an upper-division physics lab course.
336-339.
2016
-
Investigating student ownership of projects in an upper-division physics lab course.
336-339.
2016
-
Nothing works the first time: an expert experimental physics epistemology.
100-103.
2016
-
Access to undergraduate research experiences at a large research university.
123-126.
2015
-
Correlating students' beliefs about experimental physics with lab course success.
367-370.
2015
-
Redesigning a junior-level electronics course to support engagement in scientific practices.
191-194.
2015
-
The role of metacognition in troubleshooting: an example from electronics.
339-342.
2015
-
The role of modeling in troubleshooting: an example from electronics.
103-106.
2015
-
Making Models of Measurement Tools: Examples from Think-Aloud Student Interviews.
291-294.
2014
-
Studying Expert Practices to Create Learning Goals for Electronics Labs.
155-158.
2014
-
Development and results from a survey on students views of experiments in lab classes and research.
381-384.
2013
-
Development and Validation of the Colorado Learning Attitudes about Science Survey for Experimental Physics.
AIP Conference Proceedings.
442-445.
2012
-
Transforming the advanced lab: Part I - Learning goals.
AIP Conference Proceedings.
391-394.
2011
-
Graduate student views of leadership and team structure in a self-guided instructional laboratory setting.
362-367.
2025
-
journal article
-
Formation of Monocyclic and Polycyclic Hydrocarbons from Sequential Toluene Reactions in Coulomb Crystals..
Journal of Physical Chemistry A.
2026
-
Vibrational Quantum-State-Controlled Reactivity in the O2+ + C3H4 Reaction..
Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters.
4621-4629.
2026
-
Students’ views of experimental physics after participating in lab courses with open-ended activities.
Physical Review Physics Education Research.
2025
-
Outcomes from a workshop on a national center for quantum education.
EPJ Quantum Technology.
2025
-
Insights from educators on building a more cohesive quantum information science and engineering education ecosystem.
Physical Review Physics Education Research.
2025
-
Landscape of quantum information science and engineering education: From physics foundations to interdisciplinary frontiers.
Physical Review Physics Education Research.
2025
-
Convolutional neural network approach to ion Coulomb crystal image analysis.
Journal of Chemical Physics.
2025
-
Quantum-State Controlled Formation of Cosmically Relevant Metallic Molecular Ions.
Physical Review Letters.
2025
-
Termination of bottom-up interstellar aromatic ring formation at C6H5+.
Nature Astronomy.
685-691.
2025
-
Affordances and challenges of incorporating a remote, cloud-accessible quantum experiment into undergraduate courses.
Physical Review Physics Education Research.
2025
-
Education for expanding the quantum workforce: Students' perceptions of the quantum industry in an upper-division physics capstone course.
Physical Review Physics Education Research.
2025
-
Student reasoning about quantum mechanics while working with physical experiments.
Physical Review Physics Education Research.
2024
-
Evidence for validity and reliability of a research-based assessment instrument on measurement uncertainty.
Physical Review Physics Education Research.
2024
-
Development of a global landscape of undergraduate physics laboratory courses.
Physical Review Physics Education Research.
2024
-
To form or not to form a reaction complex: exploring ion-molecule reactions between C3H4 isomers and Xe+ and O2+.
Faraday Discussions.
125-139.
2024
-
Using a research-based assessment instrument to explore undergraduate students' proficiencies around measurement uncertainty in physics lab contexts.
Physical Review Physics Education Research.
2024
-
Implementation of the photovoice methodology in a project-based upper-division physics course.
Physical Review Physics Education Research.
2024
-
Cold Ion-Molecule Reactions in the Extreme Environment of a Coulomb Crystal.
Journal of Physical Chemistry A.
1737-1752.
2024
-
Enhancing students' views of experimental physics through a course-based undergraduate research experience.
Physical Review Physics Education Research.
2023
-
Investigating changes in student views of measurement uncertainty in an introductory physics lab course using clustering algorithms.
Physical Review Physics Education Research.
2023
-
Seeing quantum effects in experiments.
Physical Review Physics Education Research.
2023
-
Survey of physics reasoning on uncertainty concepts in experiments: An assessment of measurement uncertainty for introductory physics labs.
Physical Review Physics Education Research.
2023
-
Cold Chemistry.
Journal of Physical Chemistry A.
7869-7871.
2023
-
Reactions of Acetonitrile with Trapped, Translationally Cold Acetylene Cations.
Journal of Physical Chemistry A.
5120-5128.
2023
-
Coronal Heating as Determined by the Solar Flare Frequency Distribution Obtained by Aggregating Case Studies.
The Astrophysical Journal (ApJ).
2023
-
Student experiences with authentic research in a remote, introductory course-based undergraduate research experience in physics.
Physical Review Physics Education Research.
2023
-
Implementation and goals of quantum optics experiments in undergraduate instructional labs.
Physical Review Physics Education Research.
2023
-
Students? views about experimental physics in a large-enrollment introductory lab focused on experimental scientific practices.
Physical Review Physics Education Research.
2023
-
Investigating undergraduate students' views about the process of experimental physics.
Physical Review Physics Education Research.
2022
-
Student engagement with modeling in multiweek student-designed lab projects.
Physical Review Physics Education Research.
2022
-
Instructor perspectives on the emergency transition to remote instruction of physics labs.
Physical Review Physics Education Research.
2022
-
Assessing the Needs of the Quantum Industry.
IEEE Transactions on Education.
592-601.
2022
-
Student use of a quantum simulation and visualization tool.
European Journal of Physics.
2022
-
Assessing student engagement with teamwork in an online, large-enrollment course-based undergraduate research experience in physics.
Physical Review Physics Education Research.
2022
-
Undergraduate student experiences in remote lab courses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Physical Review Physics Education Research.
2022
-
Classification of open-ended responses to a research-based assessment using natural language processing.
Physical Review Physics Education Research.
2022
-
Building a Quantum Engineering Undergraduate Program.
IEEE Transactions on Education.
220-242.
2022
-
Investigating students' views of experimental physics in German laboratory classes.
Physical Review Physics Education Research.
2022
-
Impacts on student learning, confidence, and affect and in a remote, large-enrollment, course-based undergraduate research experience in physics.
Physical Review Physics Education Research.
2022
-
Skills-focused lab instruction improves critical thinking skills and experimentation views for all students.
Physical Review Physics Education Research.
2022
-
Formation of astrochemically relevant molecular ions: Reaction of translationally cold CCl+ with benzene in a linear ion trap.
Physical Review A (PRA).
2022
-
Data sharing model for physics education research using the 70 000 response Colorado Learning Attitudes about Science Survey for Experimental Physics dataset.
Physical Review Physics Education Research.
2021
-
Velocity-tunable beam of continuously decelerated polar molecules for cold ion-molecule reaction studies.
Review of Scientific Instruments.
2021
-
Remote advanced lab course: A case study analysis of open-ended projects.
Physical Review Physics Education Research.
2021
-
Framework for evaluating statistical models in physics education research.
Physical Review Physics Education Research.
2021
-
Achieving a quantum smart workforce.
Quantum Science and Technology.
2021
-
Lab instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic: Effects on student views about experimental physics in comparison with previous years.
Physical Review Physics Education Research.
2021
-
Introductory physics lab instructors’ perspectives on measurement uncertainty.
Physical Review Physics Education Research.
2021
-
Using isotopologues to probe the potential energy surface of reactions of C2H2++C3H4.
Journal of Chemical Physics.
2021
-
Isotope-specific reactions of acetonitrile (CH3CN) with trapped, translationally cold CCl+.
Journal of Chemical Physics.
2021
-
Characterization of a vacuum ultraviolet light source at 118 nm.
Journal of Chemical Physics.
2021
-
Online administration of research-based assessments.
American Journal of Physics.
7-8.
2021
-
Investigating the landscape of physics laboratory instruction across North America.
Physical Review Physics Education Research.
2020
-
Incorporating writing in advanced lab projects: A multiple case-study analysis.
Physical Review Physics Education Research.
2020
-
Impact of a course transformation on students' reasoning about measurement uncertainty.
Physical Review Physics Education Research.
2020
- Preparing for the quantum revolution: What is the role of higher education?. Physical Review Physics Education Research. 2020
-
Preparing for the quantum revolution: What is the role of higher education?.
Physical Review Physics Education Research.
2020
-
Isomer-selected ion-molecule reactions of acetylene cations with propyne and allene.
Physical Chemistry, Chemical Physics - PCCP.
20303-20310.
2020
-
A rapid, spatially dispersive frequency comb spectrograph aimed at gas phase chemical reaction kinetics.
Molecular Physics.
2020
-
Reactions of translationally cold trapped CCl+with acetylene (C2H2).
Journal of Chemical Physics.
2020
-
Framework of goals for writing in physics lab classes.
Physical Review Physics Education Research.
2020
-
Cold and controlled chemical reaction dynamics.
Physical Chemistry, Chemical Physics - PCCP.
9180-9194.
2020
-
Collisions between ultracold atoms and cold molecules in a dual electrostatic-magnetic trap.
Physical Review A (PRA).
2020
-
Process of transforming of an introductory mechanics lab course at Fort Lewis College.
569-574.
2020
-
Quantum-state-specific reaction rate measurements for the photo-induced reaction Ca+ + O2 CaO+ + O.
Molecular Physics.
3036-3042.
2019
-
Using the life grid interview technique in STEM education research.
International Journal of STEM Education.
2019
-
Using think-aloud interviews to characterize model-based reasoning in electronics for a laboratory course assessment.
Physical Review Physics Education Research.
2019
-
Characterizing lab instructors' self-reported learning goals to inform development of an experimental modeling skills assessment.
Physical Review Physics Education Research.
2018
-
The Modelling Framework for Experimental Physics: description, development, and applications.
European Journal of Physics.
2018
-
Quantum-state-controlled reactions between molecular radicals and ions.
Physical Review A (PRA).
2018
-
Pulsed operation of a ring Stark decelerator.
Journal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics.
2018
-
A high-voltage amplifier for traveling-wave Stark deceleration.
Review of Scientific Instruments.
2018
-
A summary of research-based assessment of students' beliefs about the nature of experimental physics.
American Journal of Physics.
212-219.
2018
-
Recommendations for the use of notebooks in upper-division physics lab courses.
American Journal of Physics.
45-53.
2018
-
Student ownership of projects in an upper-division optics laboratory course: A multiple case study of successful experiences.
Physical Review Physics Education Research.
2017
-
An ion trap time-of-flight mass spectrometer with high mass resolution for cold trapped ion experiments.
Review of Scientific Instruments.
2017
-
Qualitative investigation of students' views about experimental physics.
Physical Review Physics Education Research.
2017
-
Using lab notebooks to examine students' engagement in modeling in an upper-division electronics lab course.
Physical Review Physics Education Research.
2017
-
Production of carbon clusters C3 to C12 with a cryogenic buffer-gas beam source.
Journal of Chemical Physics.
2017
-
Investigating the role of socially mediated metacognition during collaborative troubleshooting of electric circuits.
Physical Review Physics Education Research.
2017
-
Improvement or selection? A longitudinal analysis of students' views about experimental physics in their lab courses.
Physical Review Physics Education Research.
2017
-
Students' views about the nature of experimental physics.
Physical Review Physics Education Research.
2017
-
Measurements of trap dynamics of cold OH molecules using resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization.
Physical Review A (PRA).
2017
-
Developing skills versus reinforcing concepts in physics labs: Insight from a survey of students' beliefs about experimental physics.
Physical Review Physics Education Research.
2017
-
Electronics lab instructors' approaches to troubleshooting instruction.
Physical Review Physics Education Research.
2017
-
Collapse and revival of the monopole mode of a degenerate Bose gas in an isotropic harmonic trap.
Physical Review A (PRA).
2016
-
Open-ended versus guided laboratory activities: Impact on students' beliefs about experimental physics.
Physical Review Physics Education Research.
2016
-
Research-based assessment of students' beliefs about experimental physics: When is gender a factor?.
Physical Review Physics Education Research.
2016
-
Lab notebooks as scientific communication: Investigating development from undergraduate courses to graduate research.
Physical Review Physics Education Research.
2016
-
Alternative model for administration and analysis of research-based assessments.
Physical Review Physics Education Research.
2016
-
Investigating the role of model-based reasoning while troubleshooting an electric circuit.
Physical Review Physics Education Research.
2016
-
Students' epistemologies about experimental physics: Validating the Colorado Learning Attitudes about Science Survey for experimental physics.
Physical Review Physics Education Research.
2016
-
Observation of a persistent non-equilibrium state in cold atoms.
Nature Physics.
1009-+.
2015
-
Model-based reasoning in the physics laboratory: Framework and initial results.
Physical Review Special Topics. Physics Education Research.
2015
-
Method for traveling-wave deceleration of buffer-gas beams of CH.
Physical Review A: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics.
2014
-
Incorporating learning goals about modeling into an upper-division physics laboratory experiment.
American Journal of Physics.
876-882.
2014
-
Epistemology and expectations survey about experimental physics: Development and initial results.
Physical Review Special Topics. Physics Education Research.
2014
-
A search for varying fundamental constants using hertz-level frequency measurements of cold CH molecules.
Nature Communications.
2013
-
The process of transforming an advanced lab course: Goals, curriculum, and assessments.
American Journal of Physics.
63-70.
2013
-
State purity of decelerated molecular beams.
Journal of Molecular Spectroscopy.
1-6.
2012
-
Large Effects of Electric Fields on Atom-Molecule Collisions at Millikelvin Temperatures.
Physical Review Letters.
2011
-
Theoretical study of the quenching of NH ((1)Delta) molecules via collisions with Rb atoms.
Physical Review A (PRA).
2009
-
Experimental Demonstration of Classical Hamiltonian Monodromy in the 1:1:2 Resonant Elastic Pendulum.
Physical Review Letters.
2009
-
High-energy-resolution molecular beams for cold collision studies.
New Journal of Physics.
2009
-
Production of cold formaldehyde molecules for study and control of chemical reaction dynamics with hydroxyl radicals.
Physical Review A: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics.
2006
-
Cold molecule spectroscopy for constraining the evolution of the fine structure constant.
Physical Review Letters.
2006
-
Efficient Stark deceleration of cold polar molecules.
European Physical Journal D.
351-358.
2004
-
Cold free-radical molecules in the laboratory frame - art. no. 043410.
Physical Review A (PRA).
2004
-
A pulsed, low-temperature beam of supersonically cooled free radical OH molecules.
Chemical Physics Letters.
53-57.
2004
-
Decoherence-driven cooling of a degenerate spinor Bose gas - art. no. 240404.
Physical Review Letters.
2003
-
Phase space manipulation of cold free radical OH molecules - art. no. 243001.
Physical Review Letters.
2003
-
Normal-superfluid interaction dynamics in a spinor Bose gas - art. no. 150402.
Physical Review Letters.
2003
-
Simplified system for creating a Bose-Einstein condensate.
Journal of Low Temperature Physics.
309-367.
2003
-
Effect of cold collisions on spin coherence and resonance shifts in a magnetically trapped ultracold gas - art. no. 053616.
Physical Review A: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics.
2002
-
Spatial resolution of spin waves in an ultracold gas.
Physical Review Letters.
2002
-
Observation of anomalous spin-state segregation in a trapped ultracold vapor.
Physical Review Letters.
2002
-
Laser Guidance and Trapping of Mesoscale Particles in Hollow-Core Optical Fibers.
Physical Review Letters.
1574-1577.
1999
-
Formation of Monocyclic and Polycyclic Hydrocarbons from Sequential Toluene Reactions in Coulomb Crystals..
Journal of Physical Chemistry A.
2026
Teaching
courses taught
-
CHEM 6901 - Research in Chemistry
Primary Instructor - Spring 2026
May be repeated up to 15 total credit hours. -
PHYS 1140 - Experimental Physics 1
Primary Instructor - Spring 2018 / Fall 2018 / Fall 2020 / Spring 2021 / Fall 2021
Introduces experimental physics through laboratory observation of a wide range of phenomena. Covers experiments on physical measurements, including mechanics, electricity & magnetism, and optics, with the mathematical analysis of physical errors associated with the experimental process. -
PHYS 2150 - Experimental Physics 2
Primary Instructor - Spring 2023 / Fall 2023 / Fall 2024 / Fall 2025
One lect., one 2-hour lab per week. This course explores topics in physics through a combination of experimental investigations, data analysis, and teamwork skills. Normally taken concurrently with PHYS 2130 or PHYS 2170, this course may be taken after PHYS 2130 or PHYS 2170.
Background
education and training
- Ph.D., University of Colorado Boulder 2002
- M.S., University of Colorado Boulder 2001
- B.S., Michigan Technological University 1997
awards and honors
International Activities
geographic focus
- Costa Rica Country
- Denmark Country
- Germany Country
- Greece Country
- Ireland Country
- Italy Country
- Netherlands Country
- Norway Country
- Poland Country
- South Africa Country
- United Kingdom Country