Matt Jewell

I teach Materials Science & Engineering to undergraduates at the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire. I love the university community because it is a place of continual learning and growing, and there is nowhere I'd rather spend a career. I am grateful to be able to interact every day with my amazing colleagues and students, who come from a variety of backgrounds and bring with them a variety of belief systems. I'm also a Christian, and I try to let my faith lead me in every aspect of my life. The older I get, the more incredible the story of Jesus becomes to me. We live in a society that values success and achievement and maximizing personal autonomy, but in my experience, those things will consume you if you allow them to. By contrast, the Jesus we find in the Bible offers us humility and gentleness and love and forgiveness. As a child I learned to accept Jesus' forgiveness; as a college student I began to learn his gentleness; in my marriage and church life I am striving to live out his love; and by his grace I will someday realize his humility. A relationship with Jesus begins with a commitment but requires a lifetime of learning and growing, which makes it the perfect pursuit for a university environment. Feel free to come chat if you'd like to join me on the journey!

My Life

Favorite Quote

"Test everything, hold fast to what is good." -I Thessalonians 5:21

My hobbies

Cycling. Just cycling. With four kids and a more-than-full-time job, I have a strict one-hobby policy. Plus it's the best hobby.

Fantasy dinner guests

Charles Spurgeon. I mean assuming we could resurrect him?

My undergrad alma mater

University of Wisconsin - Madison

My worst subject in school

5th grade penmanship. I have benefited immensely by the transition to a digital economy.

In college I drove

Uh, I WALKED everywhere in college.

If I weren't a professor, I would

Keep learning anyway.

Favorite books

So many. Daring to Draw Near by John White. Gilead by Marilynne Robinson. East of Eden by John Steinbeck (way before Oprah made it cool). All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead. Anything by C.S. Lewis (I've read 'em all). Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund.

Favorite movies

The Fifth Element (aka the Greatest Movie of All Time). The Princess Bride (yes I'm one of THOSE people). Kenneth Branagh's ridiculous The Magic Flute (just watch it and you'll understand).

Favorite city

Aix-en-Provence, France

Favorite coffee

Coffee is disgusting. Drink tea, people.

Nobody knows I

Have 5 wisdom teeth! Mostly nobody knows this because...why would they care?

My latest accomplishment

Was hit by zero buses as I biked to work this morning. Check this space for any relevant updates.

Current Research

I do research on superconductors with undergraduates at UW-Eau Claire. In our research group we study the mechanical properties of superconducting materials that are designed for large magnet applications. We currently are focused on three materials technologies: tape-based YBCO, round wire Bi-2212, and round wire Nb3Sn. If you'd like to learn more about our projects and publications, you can download my CV from my faculty webpage at www.uwec.edu/profiles/jewellmc/.