Dr. Kidd has been a professor of physics at UNI for 15 years and served as a post-doc at Brookhaven lab for 3 years after earning a PhD in 2002 from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He has mentored over a hundred undergraduate research students, including dozens as co-authors on peer reviewed papers and having nearly all present at regional or national conferences. Dr. Kidd has also developed curriculum and other materials related to preparing students for life after an undergraduate degree, whether that be graduate school or employed directly from college. Dr. Kidd previously served as ZC for Zone 11 and has served UNI as chair or co-chair of the local SPS chapter for most of the past decade. Dr Kidd’s has also served in various capacities within university governance as Faculty Chair, Faculty Senate Chair, and many other university level committees. In addition to his research program in condensed matter physics, Dr. Kidd is also currently developing a new slate of outreach activities to engage K-12 students through their schools, local libraries, and other youth groups throughout the state.