Gilliss McNaughton Dyer successfully defended his dissertation (Experimental Study of Isochorically Heated Warm Dense Matter) to earn his doctorate in Plasma Physics in August 2007. Born and raised on Kaua‘i, Gilliss Dyer is the son of Michael and Charlene Dyer.
Gilliss McNaughton Dyer successfully defended his dissertation (Experimental Study of Isochorically Heated Warm Dense Matter) to earn his doctorate in Plasma Physics in August 2007.
Born and raised on Kaua‘i, Gilliss Dyer is the son of Michael and Charlene Dyer. He attended Kaua‘i schools including Kilauea School and Island School from kindergarten through eighth grade and graduated from Iolani High School in 1996. He subsequently earned his bachelor’s in Math and Physics at New College of Florida and earned a Doctorate of Philosophy degree in Physics from the University of Texas at Austin.
At the University of Texas, Gilliss worked as a graduate research assistant in the Fusion Research Center and Texas Center for High Intensity Optical Research under the supervision of Professor Todd Ditmire.
His dissertation pertains to high energy density physics, with applications to astrophysics and fusion energy.
An internationally recognized research institution, the Physics department of the University of Texas at Austin was recently ranked one of the top in the nation by the National Research Council in a survey of research-doctorate programs in the United States. The program currently enrolls about 270 students.
Gilliss has accepted a postdoctoral at UT Austin where he will be involved with both teaching and research.
Among his many talents, Gillis also plays guitar, bass, and “sings sweetly,” according to his mother, who adds that he also rides a bicycle to work, plays team basketball and ultimate Frisbee, works out and is “a pretty good cook.” Much of his research in physics took place at LLNL (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory) in California.
To celebrate the landmark occasion, Gillis and his parents held a reception at the Polynesian Cafe in Kapa‘a to honor those he called his “Guiding Lights” of Kaua‘i: teachers, mentors, coaches, “aunties,” “uncles,” neighbors and friends who have helped him on his road to success throughout the years.
The evening was complete with banners and a cake which read “Mahalo nui loa for your important lessons, sage advice, understanding and kind support.”
An indication of the regard his “Guiding Lights” have for him, despite extremely short notice, 40 people joined the celebratory reunion including several of his former teachers, his karate sensei, Dallas Grady, his music mentor, Mary Alfiler, Island School founders, Denise Kaufman and Merlyn Wenner and Dean of Students, Adie Seibring.
Gilliss’ “uncle” Tony LeHoven’s Jazz Bugs provided the music and an introduction of “Dr. D”.
