Professor in the Department of Electrical, Computer, and Systems Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Research involves, primarily, the application of particle beam based diagnostics to plasmas of interest to the thermonuclear fusion community, electromagnetic phenomena, especially those associated with high frequency waves, and technology enhanced learning.  Additional biographical information.

Plasma Dynamics Lab Electrical, Computer, and Systems Engineering School of Engineering Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy , New York 12180-3590  Telephone: (518) 276-8552  FAX: (518) 276-6261  EMAIL: connor at rpi dot edu

• Courses and Teaching
• Introduction to Engineering Electronics
The above link will get you to most course materials. To access all course materials you must log onto the WebCT site, which is only possible if you are a student, instructor or TA in this class. Go to http://webct.rpi.edu and log on to my WebCT.
• Electronic Instrumentation
A general engineering course taken mostly by Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineers taught studio style for the last few years.
• Fields and Waves I
A junior level course for Electrical, Electric Power and Computer Engineers, also taken by students in Engineering Physics, Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engnieering and Physics. The most recent semester in which I taught this course was Spring 2008.
• Plasma Dynamics I
A graduate course that was taught jointly with Dave Hwang of UC-Davis. This is an experiment we hope to repeat in the future.
• Analog Electronics
I helped Prof. Ed Maby teach this course in our Circuits and Electronics Studio (Spring 97). This experience really sold me on the studio concept.
• Instrumentation Studio
The studio classroom in which I teach Electronic Instrumentation and Fields and Waves I.
• ECSE Studios
My colleagues in ECSE have done some outstanding work developing a large variety of studio courses for our undergrads in EE, CSE and IT. The websites listed contain many useful examples of learning materials for studio instruction.
• CPEP Fusion Web Course
An online interactive "course" for introductory physics students and teachers
• Energy Links
A list of energy related links for students and teachers

• ECSE Honors Program
ECSE students with grade point averages above 3.7 are encouraged to apply to this program in which we address the many professional opportunities open to talented Electrical and Computer Engineers. Honors Seminar Presentations: Spring 2000 , Spring 2001 , Spring 2002 , Spring 2005 , Spring 2006
• Fields and Waves II
The continuation to Fields and Waves I -- offered only when demand and my time permit.

• Surge Phenomena
An Electric Power Grad Course
• Research
• Heavy Ion Beam Probe Development , with particular emphasis on the MST HIBP.
• Mobile Studio, is a small, inexpensive hardware instrumentation platform for use in a classroom environment.
• Distance Delivery of Undergraduate Laboratories , a joint project with Michael Podowski of Environmental and Energy Engineering to develop labs for the Rensselaer Nuclear Navy Program, with the hope that the methodology will be applicable more broadly. Our Heavy Ion Beam Probe research program will also be using some of these distance experimentation techniques. Demos can be arranged.
• Project Links
This NSF supported project is a cooperative effort between mathematicians, engineers and scientists to develop educational materials that link mathematical topics with applications in engineering or science.
• Electrial and Computer Engineering Information
• ECEDHA
Electrial and Computer Engineering Department Heads Association.
• CRA
Computing Research Association.
• Electrical and Computer Engineering Programs
From the University of Missouri at Rolla.
• Service Activities
• ECEDHA
  I served as president of ECEDHA from 2005-2006 and on the board of this excellent organization from 2003-2008. I also maintain the ECEDHA website.
• IEEE Nuclear and Plasma Sciences Society
This is a website I have worked on for the IEEE NPSS.
• Vollmer Fries Lectures
It has been my pleasure to coordinate these lectures. .
• Personal Information
• Vegan Information
• Somnoplasty
  This is a surgical procedure that may be worth trying if you want to stop snoring.
• My Family
Some Connor Family photos and info.
• A really great carpenter, who did a lot of work on my house..
• Engineering Collection
A mostly random collection of artifacts that have had some influence on me. Some are examples of good engineering, some are just what I had to deal with at some time.
• Magsoft Corporation
An electromagnetics software company that I work with.

• RPDL History
Some photos and articles on the lab -- either found in old files or provided by plasma alums.
• Graduate Education Information
• National Doctoral Program Survey from NAGPS
• Science and Engineering Doctorate Awards from NSF
• Student Career Information
• Wikipedia information on Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering
• Graduating Engineer & Computer Careers from the ASEE web site.
• Careers in Science and Engineering from the National Academies Press: A student planning guide to grad school and beyond.
• The Work Circuit An EE Times Community.
• Engineering Your Future Presentation covering all of three degrees (EE, CSE, EPE) -- pdf file
• Engineering Discovery Presentation Presented to 2 pilot sections of this new first year course on 14 Feb 2005. This is a large pdf file.
• Engineering Discovery Week Presentation  To fully see reluctance motor, also download the animation -- right click with mouse and save to the same directory as the ppt file if you want to run it from powerpoint or just left click on it and it will run in your browser.
• Careers for Electrical Engineers and Computer Scientists from the IEEE
• About Electrical and Computer Engineering from Discover Engineering Online
• GradNet designed for undergraduate and graduate-level engineering students as they prepare for their careers after college.
• IEEE Spectrum Careers
• An Engineering Student Survival Guide from Richard Felder of NCSU (There is also a book by this title written by Krista Donaldson.)
• Student Resources from Agilent
• IDEO , a very creative industrial design company (they probably think this description is too limited).
• What is Engineering? career info from Purdue.
• Fundamentals of Engineering Exam Information
• Career Information from the American Mathematical Society.
• Engineer Girl information on Engineering Careers from NAE The National Academy of Engineering
• Guide Me NACME from NACME The National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering
• SWE The Society of Women Engineers
• NSBE The National Society of Black Engineers
• SHPE The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers
• NSPE The National Society of Professional Engineers
• Educational and Project Tools & Info
  • eMachineShop.com
  • PCBExpress or ExpressPCB (the latter requires that you use their layout software)
  • Digi-Key
  • Small Parts, Inc.
  • Electronics Kits from Electronix Express
  • Kits from Omnitron Electronics
  • Kits from Circuits Specialists
  • Kits from Hallbar
  • Chaney Electronics Kits
  • Hobbytron
  • QKits
  • Helpful Info from Electronic Instrumentation
  • StatLib
  • Statistical Reference Datasheets from NIST
  • SMART
  • Information Unlimited
  • Trossen Robotics
  • Phidgets
  • RFID Toys
  • SciToys Make scientific toys at home with common household materials
• Sound Files
  • The Northern Lights from Lost and Found Sound on NPR
  • Lovers of Lost Fans from Lost and Found Sound on NPR
  • Cylinder Preservation and Digitization Project from UCSB
• Weather Information
  • Average Daily Temperature Data from U. Dayton
  • NOAA National Weather Service
  • The Weather Channel
  • The Weather Underground
• Amateur Scientist
A great resource for science stuff.
• Theremin information from Theremin.info and ThereminWorld
  One of the most interesting electronic devices. The first electronic instrument.
• Prof. Paul Schoch's experiment with our favorite throw-away camera.
• The Anderson Center
The Anderson Center for Innovation in Undergraduate Education is dedicated to the advancement of innovative education. The Anderson Center was founded in 1989 and supported by major donations from Lois J. and Harlan E. Anderson, the Hewlett Packard Foundation, the David Darrin Estate and the George M. Low Memorial Fund. Dr. Jack M. Wilson was the first Director. The present director is Dr. Brad Lister.
• Places to Stay in or Near Troy
  • Franklin Square Inn & Suites in downtown Troy (preferred by most guests)
  • Rensselaer Inn (Best Western) in downtown Troy (formerly a Holiday Inn)
• Old Judge Mansion B&B in Troy (I have received very good reports on this nice place -- offers free internet access)
• The Sedgwick Inn in Berlin, NY (not close, but a nice place)
• The Morgan State House in Albany (pricey but very nice)
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