Peter, the Morris L. Clothier Professor of Physics at Swarthmore College and an Adjunct Professor of Physics at the University of Pennsylvania, brings a wealth of experience in many areas of the physics community. Before joining the Swarthmore faculty, his permanent and visiting appointments included Kenyon College, Kent State University, University of Paderborn, Technical University Berlin, and the Naval Research Laboratory. He is the author of 100 journal articles, 6 chapters in edited volumes, and 4 books, one of which is in its 2nd edition. His research has been supported by grants from a multitude of groups including the National Science Foundation, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Research Corporation for Science Advancement, and the National Academy of Sciences.

Peter is a Fellow of the American Physical Society and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. His teaching and research have been recognized by several awards, including the American Physical Society Prize for Research in an Undergraduate Institution, the Alan Berman Research Publication Award of the Naval Research Laboratory, and the Outstanding Academic Book Award from Choice Magazine.

In addition to serving as Associate Editor of the American Journal of Physics, Vice-President of the International Liquid Crystal Society, and Chair of the Forum on Education of the American Physical Society, Peter has been a member of the Advisory Committees of the Research Corporation for Science Advancement and the M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust.