Rate My Professor Glenn Spiczak

Glenn Spiczak serves as Department Chair and Professor of Physics at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, a position he has held since 2001. He earned his B.S. in Astrophysics, M.A. in Astronomy, and Ph.D. in Astrophysics from Indiana University, Bloomington, completing his doctorate in 1995. Prior to joining UWRF, Spiczak was a research scientist at the Bartol Research Institute at the University of Delaware, studying cosmic rays using the South Pole Air Shower Experiment (SPASE) and the Antarctic Muon and Neutrino Detector Array (AMANDA). His research explores the composition, origin, and acceleration of cosmic rays through characteristics of high-energy particle debris from collisions with Earth's atmosphere. He continues this work as a member of the international IceCube Collaboration, utilizing the IceTop surface array of the IceCube Neutrino Observatory at the South Pole.

Spiczak teaches a wide array of courses, including astronomy (on campus and online), astrophysics, algebra-based and calculus-based physics with labs (on campus and online), conceptual physics, capstone design, digital electronics, linear integrated circuits, engineering dynamics, nuclear and particle physics, thermodynamics, and sustainable energy (online). He has co-authored highly cited publications such as 'Neutrino emission from the direction of the blazar TXS 0506+056 prior to the IceCube-170922A alert' (Science, 2018), 'Multimessenger observations of a flaring blazar coincident with high-energy neutrino IceCube-170922A' (Science, 2018), 'Observation of high-energy astrophysical neutrinos in three years of IceCube data' (2014), and recent contributions like 'Observation of Seven Astrophysical Tau Neutrino Candidates with IceCube' (2024). Spiczak mentors UWRF high-power rocket teams competing in NASA's Collegiate Rocket Competitions, physics robotics teams, and serves as faculty advisor for the Society of Physics Students chapter, nominated for the 2023 American Institute of Physics Outstanding Chapter Advisor Award. Additional roles include Observatory Director, Institutional Representative for the Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium, STEM Fellow for active learning, Wisconsin Teaching Scholar, and operator of the Uniview Fulldome and OpenSpace planetarium.