Kelly Lave

Assistant Professor of Physics
College of Arts and Sciences

Academic Bio

Dr. Lave earned her bachelor’s in physics from Knox College. From there, she went on to earn her master’s and doctorate from Washington University in St. Louis. However, her time in the academic world didn’t end there — it was just getting started.

In fact, Dr. Lave’s career began at Washington University in St. Louis. Throughout her ten years there, she went from a graduate teaching assistant to graduate student mentor in physics to graduate research assistant in just two years. She then became a postdoctoral research associate before moving into the role of research scientist for the university.

Dr. Lave spent two years as an adjunct lecturer for Maryville University where she was a lecturer and laboratory instructor for algebra-based introductory physics courses (General Physics I & II) and the Physics of Light and Color course.

She moved from there to adjunct instructor at Trinity Christian College in Chicago where she taught the Introduction to Physical Sciences course for the Adult Studies program. While at Trinity, she also was head tutor at Huntington Learning Center, helping prepare high school students and adults for the ACT, GED, ASVAB, and SAT.

Since 2016, Kelly has served as assistant professor at Maryville University in St. Louis, where her courses include General Physics I and II (and laboratories), College Physics I and II (and laboratories), the Physics of Light & Sound, Modern Physics, Current Topics in Physics, Astronomy, and the occasional independent study.

Notable Publications:

“Elemental Composition at the Cosmic-Ray Source Derived from the ACE-CRIS Instrument. I. 6C to 28Ni” M. Israel-K. Lave-M. Wiedenbeck-W. Binns-E. Christian-A. Cummings-A. Davis-G. Nolfo-R. Leske-R. Mewaldt-E. Stone-T. Rosenvinge – The Astrophysical Journal – 2018

Lave, Kelly, “The Interstellar Transport of Galactic Cosmic Rays” (2012). All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs). 707.

Honors and Awards:

  • Graduate Student Researchers Program (GSRP) Fellow
  • Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) Fellow
  • Elizabeth B. Smith Prize for Excellence in Physics
  • Robert R. Mariner Family Research Award

Classes Taught:

  • General Physics I & II (PHYS 103 & 104)
  • The Physics of Light and Sound Waves (PHYS 120)
  • Calculus-Based Physics I & II (PHYS 153 & 154)
  • Current Topics in Physics (PHYS 350)
  • Modern Physics (PHYS 440)
  • Astronomy (SCI 105)
  • Science Research II (SCI 402)

Areas of Expertise:

  • Space Sciences and Astrophysics
  • Modern Physics
  • Medical Health physics

Contact Info

Phone: 314-529-9983

Email: klave@maryville.edu

Office: Anheuser-Busch Hall 3262