Prof. Paul Stanly
Former Head Coach of the U.S. Physics Olympiad National Team (10 years); Senior Lecturer in Physics at Duke University
Prof. Paul Stanly
Former Head Coach of the U.S. Physics Olympiad National Team (10 years); Senior Lecturer in Physics at Duke University
Prof. Paul Stanley is a Senior Lecturer in Physics at Duke University and has been seconded to serve as Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies at Duke Kunshan University. His research spans multiple theoretical physics fields, including nonlinear dynamics, mathematical physics, quantum theory methods, and acoustic physics, with a particular focus on the mathematical modeling of complex vibrating systems and wave phenomena. Meanwhile, he enjoys an outstanding international reputation in physics education, competition training, and the cultivation of top-tier talents, and is recognized as one of the most influential mentors in Physics Olympiads worldwide.
Prof. Stanley served as the Head Coach of the U.S. Physics Team for 10 years and has been a long-standing member of the International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) International Board. During his coaching career, the U.S. teams he led won a total of 45 gold medals, 31 silver medals, and 4 bronze medals, making significant contributions to America's sustained leadership in the international physics competition arena.
In terms of academic contributions, Prof. Stanley co-authored the fifth edition of one of the world's most influential university physics textbooks — Halliday, Resnick and Walker: Fundamentals of Physics — as well as several accompanying solution guides. This textbook is used as a standard resource for introductory physics courses at many of the world's top universities and has had a profound impact on physics education globally.
Ms. Lisa Houchins
U.S. Physics Olympiad Coach; Senior Instructor, Physics Bowl
Ms. Lisa Houchins
U.S. Physics Olympiad Coach; Senior Instructor, Physics Bowl
Ms. Lisa Houchins graduated from the University of Minnesota with a bachelor's degree in physics in 2003 and completed her masters degree in mathematics and physics education in 2009. Lisa has taught math and physics to students of all ages from elementary through college. She enjoys fostering curiosity in elementary school students and helping them see how science and physics are present in the world around them. She firmly believes that the core of education lies in sparking curiosity, allowing every student to find their own interests and path for growth in learning physics.
Dr. Jon Anderson
Chairman of the PhysicsBowl Academic Committee; Lead Mentor for AAPT Physics Teacher Capacity Building; Lecturer in the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Minnesota
Dr. Jon Anderson
Chairman of the PhysicsBowl Academic Committee; Lead Mentor for AAPT Physics Teacher Capacity Building; Lecturer in the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Minnesota
Prof. Jon Anderson is a seasoned physics educator with over 36 years of extensive teaching experience spanning both U.S. high school and university physics education systems. He currently serves as a professor in the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Minnesota and plays a key role in several important academic organizations within the American physics education community.
In terms of academic service, Mr. Anderson has long been active in the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT), serving as the Lead Mentor for AAPT Physics Teacher Capacity Building and taking responsibility for PhysicsBowl academic contentdevelopment. He has significant influence in advancing the quality of physics education in the U.S., building competition systems, and fostering physics teacher development — particularly playing a central role in the academic organization and question development of the globally renowned PhysicsBowl competition. Concurrently, he serves as the Teacher-in-Residence Head Coordinator for the PhysTEC project, responsible for the coordination and guidance of physics teacher preparation programs nationwide.
Mr. Clay Stanfield
U.S. Physics Olympiad Coach; Senior Instructor, Physics Bowl
Mr. Clay Stanfield
U.S. Physics Olympiad Coach; Senior Instructor, Physics Bowl
Mr. Clay Stanfield has over ten years of high school physics teaching experience. During his teaching career, he earned dual master's degrees in Physics and Education, advancing to become a Master Teacher in the field of physics.
In 2019, with funding from PhysTEC, he joined the Department of Physics at Texas A&M University-Commerce to help recruit, inspire, and train the next generation of physics (and STEM) teachers. He now works within the Department of Curriculum andInstruction, teaching and advising STEM undergraduate students seeking teaching certification after graduation.
Ms. Katharina Gutcher
U.S. Physics Olympiad Coach; Senior Instructor, Physics Bowl
Ms. Katharina Gutcher
U.S. Physics Olympiad Coach; Senior Instructor, Physics Bowl
Katharina Gutcher is originally from Germany and has a degree in optometry. During the first part of her career, working in an optometric office that specialized in traumatic brain injury, she participated in some notable research and co-authored the book “Vision Rehabilitation: Multidisciplinary Care of the Patient Following Brain Injury”. During that time, Katharina also worked with multiple school aged patients that struggled academically due to their vision deficits. Her work eventually led her to change careers, becoming an educator and joining AAPT as a U.S. Physics Olympiad coach and PhysicsBowl instructor.
Ms. Gutcher deeply integrates her interdisciplinary professional background with physics teaching, with a particular focus on addressing individual student differences and constructing diverse learning pathways. Her unique career trajectory brings a fresh perspective to physics education — from vision science to the physics classroom, she consistently focuses on the core question of "how students see and understand the world".
Mr. Christopher Doscher
U.S. Physics Olympiad Coach; PhysicsBowl Master Teacher; Master's Degree in Physics Education Research; K-12 Representative, AAPT Oregon Section
Mr. Christopher Doscher
U.S. Physics Olympiad Coach; PhysicsBowl Master Teacher; Master's Degree in Physics Education Research; K-12 Representative, AAPT Oregon Section
He began teaching in Miami, Florida, in 2003, following his lifelong passion for learning and physics. He was fortunate to become part of the Florida physics education community and, starting in 2006, began participating in and eventually leading physics and chemistry modeling workshops at Florida International University. In 2016, he earned a Master of Science degree in Curriculum and Instruction, with a focus on Physics Education Research. He currently teaches physics and engineering design at Winston Churchill High School in Eugene, Oregon, while also serving as the K–12 Representative for the Oregon section of the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT).
