Weather Closure: Monday, February 23 Open or Close Alert Message
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Due to the expected winter storm, the University will close campus Monday, February 23.  We expect to resume normal operations on Tuesday morning. If conditions change, we will share updates promptly.

Campus Services During the Closure

While most in-person activities will pause, essential services will remain available. Public Safety and Facilities will be on campus throughout the storm, and the following services are expected to remain open or staffed:

• Residence Halls (RDs/RAs on duty)
• Dining
• Computer Labs
• Facilities/Housekeeping
• Health Services (TBD by Director)

Students living on campus should expect regular support from Residence Life and Public Safety.

Classes and Work During the Closure

Students
All offices and in-person activities are canceled for the day. In-person classes are canceled but may be held remotely at the discretion of faculty. Faculty will communicate directly, so please check your email and course site for updates. 

Classes that are already scheduled to be fully remote will continue as usual unless otherwise communicated by your instructor. 

Staff
Staff who are able to work remotely should coordinate with supervisors as appropriate. Staff whose work requires on-campus presence should follow supervisor guidance. 

Staying Informed

The University’s Inclement Weather Policy is available on the WNE website via the homepage banner. We will communicate any changes or reopening details through WNE Alert, email, and the University website.

Thank you for your cooperation and flexibility as we work to keep our community safe during the storm.

Liang Niestemski

Liang Niestemski headshot
Physical & Biological Sciences
Associate Professor of Physics
255 Center for Sciences & Pharmacy
Phone: 413-782-1584

Education

PhD, Boston College

Background

Previous Academic Positions:

  • Weiss Instructor of Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX
  • Visiting Assistant Professor of Physics, Colgate University, Hamilton, NY

Interests

I am interested in developing theoretical methods and computational simulations to study complex networks and time series in nature. 

  1. Theory of strongly correlated many electronic networks, especially high temperature superconductors.
  2. Physics based models in biological networks, such as the bacteria phage co-evolving system, COVID-19 diffusion modeling, etc.
  3. Statistical theory of the personalized critical care
  4. Dynamics of social networks

Scholarly Works

Journal Articles

Jeong-Man Park, Liang Ren Niestemski, and Michael W. Deem (2015). Quasispecies Theory for Evolution of Modularity. Physical Review E 91, 012714

Pu Han, Liang Ren Niestemski, Jeffrey Barrick, Michael W. Deem (2013). Physical Model of the Immune Response of Bacteria Against Bacteriophage Through the Adaptive CRISPR-Cas Immune System. Phys. Biol. Apr.10(2):025004

Man Chen, Liang Ren Niestemski, Robert Prevost, Michael McRae, Sharath Cholleti, Tim Buchman, Michael W. Deem (2013). Prediction of heart rate response to conclusion of spontaneous breathing trial by fluctuation dissipation theory. Phys. Biol. 10 016006

Liang Ren Niestemski, Ziqiang Wang (2009). Valence Bond Glass Theory of Electronic Disorder and the Pseudogap State of High-Temperature Cuprate Superconductors. Physics Review Letters 102, 107001

Courses Taught

  • Physics of the Life Sciences I & II
  • Mechanics
  • Electricity and Magnetism
  • Solid State Physics
  • Electronics
  • Sound and Music
  • Physics of Human Body
  • Physical Geology