Benjamin Pollard

I am a Professional Teaching Fellow in the Department of Physics at the University of Auckland in New Zealand. I previously worked at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute in the US as an Assistant Teaching Professor. I am still affiliated with WPI as a Research Scientist.

My research focuses on teaching and learning in physics laboratory courses, and on alternative grading practices. I am also involved in community building and organization to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice in STEM, including as a core organizer in The Access Network.

Before WPI, I was a postdoctoral researcher with Prof. Heather Lewandowski and the Physics Education Research group at the University of Colorado Boulder. I earned my Ph.D. from the University of Colorado Boulder in the field of nano-optics. Before that, I earned my bachelor's degree from Pomona College in physics and computer science.