DAVID J SMITH 
Division of Science and Mathematics 
University of the Virgin Islands 
St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands  00802 
Tel 340-693-1257, dsmith@uvi.edu 
 
 
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY 
 
Professor of Physics, University of the Virgin Islands, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands  
(1986-present) 
 
Visiting Professor of Physics, one year sabbatical at Indiana University-Purdue 
University at Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN  (1996-1997) 
 
Faculty Research Assistant, Lawrence-Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA  
(Summer of 1987 and 1988) 
 
Lecturer, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA  (1984-1986) 
 
Graduate Research Assistant and Lecturer, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN  
(1975-1983) 
 
 
EDUCATION 
 
PhD in High Energy Experimental Physics, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana  
(1983) 
 
MS in Physics, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana  (1977) 
 
BS in Physics, Missouri Southern State College, Joplin, MO  (1975) 
 
AS in Computer Science, Missouri Southern State College, Joplin, MO  (1973) 
 
 
PRESENTATIONS and PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES 
 
 
Session Presenter, 13th Symposium on Education - American Meteorological Society 
Annual Meeting. Poster presentation: Mesoscale Weather Modeling at UVI.  (Jan 2004) 
 
Session Presenter, 12th Symposium on Education - American Meteorological Society 
Annual Meeting. Poster presentation: Meteorology in the US Virgin Islands.  (Feb 2003) 
 
Session Presenter, IASTED International Conference on Communications, Internet, and 
Information Technology, Mobile Location.  (November 2002) 
 
 
Author and Curriculum Director, SCI 301, Applications of  
Science in the Natural World, UVI General 
 Education science curriculum.  (1999-present) 
 
Director, UVI WebPhysics Project:  a collaboration of IUPUI Davidson College, Rose-
Hulman, Moorhead State University, NHTC, Lincoln University, University of Indianapolis, 
Mississippi State University and UVI.  (1997-present) 
 
Workshop Participant, Institute of Integrative Studies, University of Ohio at Miami.  (1999) 
 
Session Presenter, AAPT Summer Conference at the University of Nebraska,  Hurricane 
Physics on a Mountainous Island.  (1998) 
 
Plenary Speaker, American Association of Physics Teachers (Indiana Section) annual 
meeting at Purdue University, 
Title:  Mocko Jumbie Physics on the Internet.  (1997) 
 
Session Presenter, AAPT Summer Conference at Notre Dame University,  Analysis of 
Statics and Dynamics of Stiltwalking.  (1994) 
 
Curriculum Redesign Team Member and Instructor, NSF funded Summer Science 
Enhancement Program; an intensive six-week on-campus program for high school 
graduates entering UVI science programs.  (1992)  
 
Workshop Instructor, HCOP funded MCAT Physics Review Workshops for pre-med 
students.  (1990-1991) 
 
Workshop Presenter, Virgin Islands Teacher Enhancement in Math and Science (VITEMS) 
program sponsored by NSF and UVI.  (1990, 1991) 
 
Workshop Director, Utilizing HyperCard in the Classroom,  
a faculty workshop at UVI.  (1990) 
 
 
 
GRANTS and AWARDS  
 
 
Visiting Scientist, UCAR Visiting Scientist Program, sponsored by Dr, Cindy Bruyere, 
NCAR Foothills Laboratory, Boulder Colorado  (Feb 2005) 
 
Workshop Participant, NCAR MM5 User's Workshop, NCAR Foothills Laboratory, 
Boulder Colorado  (Jan 2005) 
 
Projector Investigator, incubator project in microscale weather modeling, Virgin Islands 
EPSCoR grant.  (Jan 2004) 
 
Workshop Participant, NSF Centers for Development Initiative - Cyberinfrastructure 
Workshop, Arlington, VA.  (April 2003) 
 
Participant,  Introducing Science Faculty to Materials Science and Engineering 
Workshop, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa. (June 2002) 
 
Participant,  Enhancing Diversity in the Geosciences through National Dissemination of 
Online Weather Studies Workshop, National Weather Service Training Center,  Kansas 
City, MO. (May, 2002) 
 
Project Co-Investigator,  Curriculum Development for Introductory Physics Courses, NSF 
funded grant.  (2001 - present) 
 
Project Director,  Development of a Pre-Engineering Program, 
a federally funded Title III project to initiate a 2/3 year  
Pre-Engineering program at UVI.  (1994-1995) 
 
Participant,  Transforming Physics Content Using Multi-Media Workshop, US Air Force 
Academy/University of Nebraska, Colorado Springs, CO.  (1990) 
 
Project Director,  Modern Physics Laboratory Equipment, an NSF ILI equipment grant for 
UVI.  (1989) 
 
Project Director,  Data Acquisition Stations for the Macintosh, UVI Margin of Excellence 
grant program.  (1989) 
 
 
 
RESEARCH INTERESTS 
 
 
Microscale weather modeling.  Primary author of EPSCoR infrastructure improvement 
proposal: Data and Modeling Research.  (2003-04) 
 
Mobile location using TDOA techniques in a multilateral system. (2002) 
 
WebPhysics, a network of resources for introductory physics teaching.  Pedagogical 
research utilizing the Internet to promote learning in Physics.  (1996-present) 
 
Establishment of a Two-Observatory Search for Earth Crossing Asteroids,  NASA's 
South Carolina Space Grant program.   
A synchronous search utilizing UVI’s Etelman Observatory and the College of Charleston 
Physics Observatory.  (1998-1999) 
 
Analysis of Variable Stars,  NASA's South Carolina Space Grant program.  Installation of 
optical encoders and CCD camera at UVI’s Etelman Observatory.  Data collection for 
extinction and flat field calibration.  (1994-1995) 
 
Temperature Profiles in Fluid Modeling of Hot Gas Movement, Summer Faculty 
Research Program, Lawrence-Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA.  (1987-
1988) 
 
 
COMMUNITY SERVICE and ACTIVITIES 
 
Choreographer and Performer, 
 
Caribbean Dance Company  (1994-1998) 
IUPUI Moving Company at Indiana University-Purdue  
  University at Indianapolis  (1996-1997)  
Ballet Theatre of the Virgin Islands  (1987-1989) 
Orchesis Dance Company, Cal-Poly State University  
  (1984-1986) 
Calgary City Ballet Company, Alberta, Canada (1983-1984) 
Purdue Repertory Dance Company, Purdue University 
  (1977-1983)  
 
Mocko Jumbie (stiltwalker), 
Hugo Moolenaar's World Famous Mocko Jumbies   
(1987-1989)  
Mocko Jumbie Jamboree  (1989-present) 
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade  (1995 and 1999) 
 
President, Virgin Islands Astronomy Club  (1993-1995) 
 
Faculty Advisor, UVI Dance Club  (1994-1997) 
 
Faculty Advisor, UVI Explorer’s Club  (1992-1994) 
 
 
PUBLICATIONS 
 
George Edward, Robert Jayne and David J. Smith, Mobile Location, IASTED 
International Conference on Communications, Internet, and Information Technology 
Proceedings, November, 2003. 
 
David J. Smith, Flexural Stress in Windows During Hurricanes, The Physics Teacher, 
October, 2000. 
 
David J. Smith, Friction and the Balanced Mocko Jumbie,   
The Physics Teacher, November, 1997.