Education
- PhD in nuclear and molecular physics from Carnegie Mellon University
- Bachelor’s degree in physics from Yale University
- Graduated from Whitewater High School
Responsibilities
- Teaches physics
- Supports students in developing problem solving and critical thinking skills
Starr’s Mill welcomes Dr. Byron Daniel to the Panther family. He teaches physics this year.
Byron’s interest in science began as early as second or third grade.
“During the weekend I always watched Animal Planet and the Science Channel, so it was just my personal interests,” Daniel said.
While attending Whitewater High School, he pursued academics intensely, earning the nickname “High School Robot.” Peers and teachers encouraged him to pursue careers as a NASA scientist or a professor.
“My favorite experiences came from tutoring students and volunteering in the Fayetteville community,” Daniel said.
After graduating from Whitewater, Daniel studied physics at Yale University. While there, he participated in the PALS program, tutoring New Haven residents each week.
“This gave me a different perspective on the difference between academic solution and community involvement,” Daniel said.
In 2019, he began his doctoral work at Carnegie Mellon University. During that time, he connected local schools in Pittsburgh with the university observatory for rare events in Italy, focusing on simulations and contamination studies. In 2017, he interned at MIT on the NUDOT project, where he designed a 3D-printed radiation source.
After his work at MIT and Carnegie Mellon, his research experiences shaped how he approaches the classroom.
“Tony Stark made this suit in a cave with a box of scraps,” Daniel said. “I always want to focus on what the goal is. It trains or really opens up your imagination on how to reach that goal.”