- 513-745-3633
- Lindner 107
- Fax: 513-745-3695
- ML LIN-110
Dr. Jonathan Morris
Professor and Chair, Physics and Engineering Department
Dr. Morris joined the physics department at Xavier University in August 2013.
He earned his PhD from the University of Liverpool in the United Kingdom in 2007. Using diffuse x-ray and neutron scattering and computer simulations he was able to determine the physical reason that sodium ions become trapped in regular repeating patterns in sodium cobaltate. This material had been studied for its wide range of properties from being a potential battery material to being a good thermoelectric material - all properties that are impacted by the sodium ion ordering.
The next 5 years was spent at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin for Materials and Energy in Berlin, Germany, working with Prof. Dr. Alan Tennant. During this time the highlight was confirming the existence of an analog of Dirac strings between defects that resemble magnetic monopoles in a material called "spin ice". Most noticeably his work became the foundation of a storyline in an episode of the Big Bang Theory where Sheldon Cooper was annoyed by Dr. Morris' conclusions.
A short stay at Argonne National Laboratory near Chicago followed before Jonathan joined the faculty at Xavier for a year as visiting assistant professor in 2013. Dr Morris joined the tenure track faculty in 2014, and then earned tenure in 2020, before being promoted to professor in 2026. He has continued collaborating with Prof. Tennant, now at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, studying water ice, and also collaborates with his wife, Dr Kathryn Morris (Xavier biology department), combining his experience with x-rays and neutrons with her chemical ecology background in radiography experiments at Oak Ridge National Laboratory studying plant-to-plant communication pathways.
During his spare time Dr. Morris enjoys relaxing with his family by playing boardgames or taking the family dog for walks, speaking to his family back in the UK, and is a supporter of Liverpool Football Club in the English Premier League.
- 513-745-3633
- Lindner 107
- Fax: 513-745-3695
- ML LIN-110
Dr. Morris joined the physics department at Xavier University in August 2013.
He earned his PhD from the University of Liverpool in the United Kingdom in 2007. Using diffuse x-ray and neutron scattering and computer simulations he was able to determine the physical reason that sodium ions become trapped in regular repeating patterns in sodium cobaltate. This material had been studied for its wide range of properties from being a potential battery material to being a good thermoelectric material - all properties that are impacted by the sodium ion ordering.
The next 5 years was spent at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin for Materials and Energy in Berlin, Germany, working with Prof. Dr. Alan Tennant. During this time the highlight was confirming the existence of an analog of Dirac strings between defects that resemble magnetic monopoles in a material called "spin ice". Most noticeably his work became the foundation of a storyline in an episode of the Big Bang Theory where Sheldon Cooper was annoyed by Dr. Morris' conclusions.
A short stay at Argonne National Laboratory near Chicago followed before Jonathan joined the faculty at Xavier for a year as visiting assistant professor in 2013. Dr Morris joined the tenure track faculty in 2014, and then earned tenure in 2020, before being promoted to professor in 2026. He has continued collaborating with Prof. Tennant, now at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, studying water ice, and also collaborates with his wife, Dr Kathryn Morris (Xavier biology department), combining his experience with x-rays and neutrons with her chemical ecology background in radiography experiments at Oak Ridge National Laboratory studying plant-to-plant communication pathways.
During his spare time Dr. Morris enjoys relaxing with his family by playing boardgames or taking the family dog for walks, speaking to his family back in the UK, and is a supporter of Liverpool Football Club in the English Premier League.
- PhD, University of Liverpool