Rate My Professor Mario Belloni

Mario Belloni is Chair and Professor of Physics at Davidson College. He holds a B.A. in Physics and Economics from the University of California, Berkeley (1987), an M.A. in Physics from the University of Connecticut (1989), and a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Connecticut (1997). Belloni joined Davidson College in 1998 as Visiting Assistant Professor of Physics, progressed to Assistant Professor (1999-2005), became Professor of Physics in 2012, and has served as Chair of the Physics Department since 2015.

His research interests encompass theoretical physics, including mathematical and computational quantum mechanics such as supersymmetric quantum mechanics, wave packet evolution, quasi-probability distributions in phase space, applications of sum rules, abelian and non-abelian quantum field theories (QED and QCD), and physics education research. In physics education, he develops and tests interactive curricular materials using Physlets and Open Source Physics for courses from introductory astronomy and physics to advanced quantum mechanics. Belloni has collaborated with over 40 undergraduate students on research, resulting in numerous co-authored publications. Funded by National Science Foundation grants, he has co-authored seven books and more than 1,000 computer-based interactive exercises, along with numerous articles. Belloni's service includes roles as North Carolina Section Representative for the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) since 2003, Chair of various AAPT committees, Associate Editor of Resource Letters for the American Journal of Physics, Elected Member At Large on the AAPT Board of Directors, and member of advisory boards for Physics Today and The Physics Teacher. His contributions have earned awards such as the American Physical Society Excellence in Physics Education Award (2020), AAPT Excellence in Undergraduate Physics Teaching Award (2009), Southeastern Section of APS George B. Pegram Award (2012), North Carolina Section AAPT John L. Hubisz Award (2009), Davidson College Hunter-Hamilton Love of Teaching Award (2020), Student Government Association Faculty Award (2021), and Thomas Jefferson Award.