Dr. Cardenas joined the Physics faculty of St. Mary's University in the Fall of 2000. He received his B.A. in Physics and Applied Mathematics from the University of California at Berkeley and his M.S. in Applied Physics from the School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) at  Columbia University in New York City. After receiving his masters degree, he worked in industry for Lockheed Technical Operations Company (now called Lockheed Martin Technical Operations) and Incyte Genomics. In 1995, he returned to graduate school to pursue his doctorate which he received from Texas Tech University in 2001.

     Dr. Cardenas has research interests in Biophysics, Medical Physics, and Physics Pedagogy. He currently has an ongoing collaboration with the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of California in San Francisco, as well as with the Department of Physics at Texas Tech University. His main research area involves the study of the effects of radiation on aqueous polymer gel systems and their uses in radiation dosimetry.  These aqueous polymer gels are tissue-like, hence are useful tools for modeling radiation response of various types of tissue. In addition to the polymer gel studies, he has done research in physics pedagogy in collaboration with Texas Tech University and Harvard University using the force concept inventory.

Cheng, K.H.; Thacker, B.A.; Cardenas, R.L.; Crouch, C.H. Impact of Online Homework on Student’s Learning of Physics Concepts,  American Journal of Physics, 2004 (IN PRESS).

Cardenas, R.L.; Cheng, K.H.; Verhey, L.; Xia, P.; Davis, L.; Canon, B.L. On-site Internal Normalized Calibration Protocol for Three-Dimensional Magnetic Resonance Gel Dosimetry in a Clinical Setting. MRI, 20: 667-679 (2002).

Cardenas, R.L.; Cheng, K.H.; Sack, K. The effects of Cidofovir on the brain lesions caused by progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). Neuroradiology. (43) 5: 379 – 382. (2001)

RECENT PRESENTATIONS

RECENT GRANTS AND CONTRACTS

DoD Instrumentation Grant, $192,738 (October 2003 - October 2004) Acquisition of Advanced Scientific Instrumentation for Multi-Disciplinary Research Training and Education

Volumetrically Controlled Manufacturing (VCM) Contract with Hawthorne and York International (July 2003  - May 2004, Renewable). Software development using the finite element method.

St. Mary's University Faculty Development Grant , $1600 (2002 - 2003) Acquiring the Personal Response System (PRS) to promote active learning in an interactive classroom.