Michael received his B.S. in physics from Duke University. He received his M.S. and Ph.D. in physics with a specialty in education research from the University of Maryland while investigating how students make sense of the physics of mechanical waves. During his time in Maryland, he won multiple teaching awards. After graduating, he stayed at the University of Maryland as a post doc, guiding the work of the physics education research group while Joe Redish was on sabbatical. His activities include research into student reasoning about and with physics, curriculum development, and teaching (pre- and in-service teachers, introductory and advanced physics courses).