Physics research professor Michael Syphers won the first “Iron Man” award, from the U.S. Particle Accelerator School, for teaching aspiring scientists and technologists.

Syphers has taught physics at NIU since September and has taught more than 500 students at the U.S. Particle Accelerator School for nearly 30 years.

The U.S. Particle Accelerator School is a national graduate program that provides graduate-level training and workforce development in the science of particle beams and their associated accelerator technologies that are not otherwise available to the scientific and engineering communities, according to its website.

“I think there are thousands of people in my field who could do this sort of thing, but I’ve done it probably more than anyone else,” Syphers said. “I think I was awarded this because of my persistence… [I try] to make the courses better.”

Susan Winchester, U.S. Particle Accelerator School group leader, said Syphers has taught at the school 15 times, which is more than any other instructor.

The school offers both graduate and undergraduate courses hosted by major U.S. research universities. Each host university vets all course offerings, grants academic credit and maintains student transcripts, according to its website.

Syphers said he believes the physics department at NIU has received more interest lately because the department participates at U.S. Particle Accelerator School. As a result, NIU has hired a total of five physics professors to do new accelerator research every day.

“Most universities have only one to two accelerator professors, if they’re lucky, but we have about five, so we really are growing as a field,” Syphers said. “We have many connections with local laboratories and the department is a growing program.”

Winchester said the award was given to Syphers because he is an extraordinary teacher and many of his textbooks are used in courses at the U.S. Particle Accelerator School because it is the perfect textbook to read when you’re starting out in accelerating physics.

Syphers said not much has changed since he was given the award, but he expects his students to have a better understanding of physics.

“I expect my students to develop enthusiasm for wanting to improve the field,” Syphers said. “I’d like to see NIU become more recognized on the national scene of accelerator science, and I think that is starting to happen.”