Diandra Leslie-Pelecky

Diandra Leslie-Pelecky earned undergraduate degrees in physics and philosophy from the University of North Texas and a Ph.D. in condensed matter physics from Michigan State University. She was a faculty member in the Department of Physics at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln from 1994 until 2008.

Her research focused on magnetic nanomaterials – particles with diameters that one one-thousandth the thickness of a human hair. In addition to fundamental studies of magnetic materials, her research pursued ways of using magnetic nanomaterials for medical diagnosis and treatment processes such as drug delivery, magnetic resonance imaging and chemotherapy.

Diandra has been involved with science education for K-12 schools, future science teachers, and the public since graduate school. She has directed projects aimed at improving science education at all levels, supported primarily by the National Science Foundation. She has given numerous presentations for technical and non-technical audiences, including addresses for the public sponsored by the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Physical Society. She has appeared in outlets from ESPN and SPEED TV, TIME and Sporting News magazines, and professional society publications such as C&EN and the Materials Research Society Bulletin. She appears periodically on the Sirius Speedway satellite radio program to update listeners on the scientific principles that affect their favorite drivers. Most recently, she wrote and hosted the Science of Speed video series produced by the National Science Foundation. That series, as well as curricular materials for learning math and science via motorsports can be found at the Building Speed site. She also is a contributing blogger to the Cocktail Party Physics blog and runs the Stock Car Science blog.