Ben Zwickl
Associate Professor
School of Physics and Astronomy
College of Science
585-475-4512
Office Location
Ben Zwickl
Associate Professor
School of Physics and Astronomy
College of Science
Education
BS, Purdue University; MS, Ph.D., Yale University
585-475-4512
Areas of Expertise
physics education research
career pathways
STEM workforce development
laboratory education
optics and photonics education
quantum technology education
assessing research experiences
Currently Teaching
PHYS-225
Introduction to Computational Physics and Programming
3 Credits
This course introduces methods for using computers to model the behavior of physical systems. Students will learn how computers represent numbers, limits of computation, how to write computer programs, and to use good programming practices. Students will also apply numerical methods of differentiation and integration, and numerical solutions to differential equations in physical situations.
PHYS-365
Physical Optics
3 Credits
In this course light waves having both amplitude and phase will be described to provide a foundation for understanding key optical phenomena such as interference, diffraction, and propagation. Starting from Maxwell's equations the course advances to the topic of Fourier optics.
Latest News
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September 13, 2019
![Gloved hands work on semiconductor wafer.]()
RIT Sponsored Research garners $74 million in funding
RIT had its second best year ever in sponsored research funding and a record year for research expenditures in fiscal year 2019. RIT received 366 new awards totaling $74 million in funding, and expenditures grew to $61 million.
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March 26, 2019
![Three students stand around lighted spherical structure on a table.]()
RIT faculty earns federal award to study how to help more students become scientists and engineers
Assistant Professor Ben Zwickl has earned a prestigious National Science Foundation award to explore how lab-based, project-based and work-based learning environments can teach sophisticated problem-solving skills not attainable in lecture courses.
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August 15, 2019
Associate professor leads optics education meeting
Select Scholarship
Journal Paper
Martin, Kelly Norris, et al. "Spewing Nonsense [or not]: Communication Competence and Socialization in Optics and Photonics Workplaces." Communication Education 67. 4 (2018): 414-437. Print.
Leak, Anne E, et al. "Hidden Factors that Influence Success in the Optics Workforce." Physical Review Physics Education Research 14. (2018): 10136. Web.
Hu, Dehui and Benjamin M Zwickl. "Examining Students’ Views about Validity of Experiments: From introductory to Ph.D. students." Physical Review Physics Education Research 14. (2018): 10121. Web.
Zwickl, Benjamin, et al. "Alternative Model for Administration and Analysis of Research-Based Assessments." Physical Review PER 12. (2016): 1-7. Print.
Zwickl, Benjamin M, et al. "Model-based Reasoning in the Physics Laboratory: Framework and Initial Results." Physical Review Special Topics Physics Education Resesarch 11. (2015): 20113. Web.
Hoskinson, Anne-Marie, et al. "Bridging Physics and Biology Teaching through Modeling." American Journal of Physics 82. 5 (2014): 434-441. Print.
Zwickl, Benjamin M., et al. "Epistemology and Expectations Survey About Experimental Physics: Development and Initial Results." Physical Review Special Topics - Physics Education Research 10. (2014): 10120. Web.
Zwickl, Benjamin M., Noah Finkelstein, and H. J. Lewandowski. "Incorporating Learning Goals About Modeling Into an Upper-division Physics Laboratory Experiment." American Journal of Physics 82. 9 (2014): 876-882. Print.
Published Conference Proceedings
Owens, Lindsay, et al. "Misaligned Visions for Improving Graduate Diversity: Student Characteristics vs. Systemic/Cultural Factors." Proceedings of the 2018 Physics Education Research Conference, Washington, DC. Ed. Adrienne L. Traxler, Ying Cao, and Steven F. Wolf. Washington, DC: n.p., 2018. Web.
Zwickl, Benjamin M. "Contextualizing Problem-Solving Strategies in Physics-Intensive PhD Research." Proceedings of the 2016 Physics Education Research Conference Proceedings. Sacramento, California: American Association of Physics Teachers, 2016. Print.
Zwickl, Benjamin M. "Characterizing Problem Types and Features in Physics-Intensive PhD Research." Proceedings of the Physics Education Research Conference. Sacramento, California: American Association of Physics Teachers, 2016. Print.
Zwickl, Benjamin M, et al. "Preparing Students for Physics-intensive Careers in Optics and Photonics." Proceedings of the Physics Education Research Conference, College Park, MD, July 29-30, 2015. Ed. Alice D. Churukian, Dyan L. Jones, and Lin Ding. College Park, MD: n.p., 2015. Web.
Hu, Dehui and Benjamin M Zwickl. "Framework for Students’ Epistemological Development in Physics Experiments." Proceedings of the Physics Education Research Conference, College Park, MD, July 29-30, 2015. Ed. Alice D. Churukian, Dyan L. Jones, and Lin Ding. College Park, MD: n.p., Web.
Zwickl, Benjamin M. "Framework for Students’ Epistemological Development in Physics Experiments." Proceedings of the 2015 Physics Education Research Conference. College Park, Maryland: American Association of Physics Teachers, 2015. Print.
Zwickl, Benjamin. "Preparing students for physics-intensive careers in optics and photonics." Proceedings of the 2015 Physics Education Research Conference. College Park, Maryland: American Association of Physics Teachers, 2015. Print.
Zwickl, Benjamin M. "Framework for Students’ Epistemological Development in Physics Experiments." Proceedings of the 2015 Physics Education Research Conference. College Park, Maryland: American Association of Physics Teachers, 2015. Print.
Zwickl, Benjamin. "Preparing students for physics-intensive careers in optics and photonics." Proceedings of the 2015 Physics Education Research Conference. College Park, Maryland: American Association of Physics Teachers, 2015. Print.
Invited Keynote/Presentation
Zwickl, Benjamin M. "Preparing Students for Research Excellence in Optics and Photonics." Division of Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics (DAMOP). American Physical Society. Columbus, OH. 11 Jun. 2015. Conference Presentation.
Zwickl, Benjamin. "Physics Education Research for the Laboratory Classroom." Making Laboratory-based Teaching More Effective. University of Liverpool. Liverpool, UK, NY. 13 Nov. 2013. Conference Presentation.
Zwickl, Benjamin. "Physics Education Research for the Laboratory Classroom." Invited Colloquium given to the Univ. of Rochester Institute of Optics. Institute of Optics, Univ. of Rochester. Rochester, NY. 23 Aug. 2013. Lecture.