New Perspectives in Science Education

Daniela Marciu Topasna is Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Virginia Military Institute, in Lexington, VA. She earned her Ph.D. in Physics at Virginia Tech where she studied nonlinear optical properties of novel fullerene materials and ionic self-assembled polymer thin films. She worked as a research scientist at Luna Innovations on projects related to the fabrication, characterization, and applications of organic thin films for electro-optical devices. Her research interests include nanomaterials and organic thin films for device applications and sensing. She mentors undergraduate students in her research projects. She is also interested in the promotion of education of nanomaterials and nanotechnology. She initiated and advises VMI’s Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) group.