Reichl named Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

Dr. Linda Reichl, professor of physics, has accepted the appointment as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs for the College of Natural Sciences effective December 11, 2006.

Reichl came to The University of Texas at Austin in 1973 and was acting director of the Center for Statistical Mechanics and Complex Systems from 1974 to 2005. The center was recently renamed the Center for Complex Quantum Systems and Reichl serves as director. She was chair of the university’s Faculty Council in 2004-2005.

“Linda has brought great intelligence, dedication and creativity to every role she has filled at UT, and I know she will be a great asset to the college as associate dean,” said Mary Ann Rankin, dean of the college.

Reichl received her doctor’s degree at the University of Denver in 1969 and was a National Science Foundation Faculty Associate at The University of Texas at Austin from 1969 to 1971. From 1971 to 1973, she was a Fulbright-Hays Research Scholar at Free University of Brussels.  She then became an assistant professor of physics at The University of Texas at Austin in 1973 and was promoted to associate professor in 1980 and full professor in 1988.

Her research has ranged over a number of topics in statistical physics and nonlinear dynamics. They include the theory of low temperature Fermi liquids, quantum transport theory, application of linear hydrodynamics to translational and rotational Brownian motion and dielectric response, the transition to chaos in classical and quantum mechanical conservative systems, the dynamics of open quantum systems, and the new field of 'stochastic chaos' theory.

Reichl has published more than 120 research papers, written three books and edited several more. She is currently U.S. editor of the journal Chaos, Solitons and Fractals.