Eric Burkholder, PhD
ewb0026@auburn.edu
3117 Leach Science Center
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Short Bio
I'm a recovering theoretical physicist and the inaugural hire in Physics Education Research at Auburn University. My research focuses on integrating scientific decision-making into the physics curriculum—from introductory physics for non-science majors to graduate courses in quantum mechanics—and developing instructional strategies that try to level the playing field for students without access to high school physics instruction. I'm an active member of the American Physical Society and am constantly working to ensure that all students are able to experience the joy and wonder of physics.
Education
PhD California Institute of Technology 2019
MS California Institute of Technology 2016
BS Cornell University
Professional Experience
Auburn University, Department of Physics, Auburn, AL, Assistant Professor, August 2021-Present
Auburn University, Department of Chemical Engineering, Auburn, AL, Adjunct Assistant Professor, August 2021-Present
Independent Consultant, August 2020 - Present
Stanford University, Department of Physics, Stanford, CA, Postdoctoral Scholar & Lecturer, September 2018-July 2021
Innovation
My research agenda aims to characterize and refine physics education in the context of broader educational systems. While this system is complex, we, as physicists, strive to describe the behavior of complex systems with simpler models, which often requires probing them on multiple length- and timescales. In analogy to my graduate training in soft-matter physics, I like to think of my qualitative work in physics education research (PER) as probing the microscopic (human) behavior, which can then be used to develop continuum (classroom or curriculum) descriptions of behavior with quantitative models. Both models can both be probed on short timescales (instantaneous measurements such as grades or interviews) or long timescales (longitudinal measurements such as persistence analysis).
Engagement
Student Poster Judge, XIX Encuentro de Física, Quito Ecuador, 2025
Fermi Problems Coordinator, Alabama State Science Olympiad, 2023-2024
AP Physics C Mechanics, Item Writer, 2022
AP Physics C Mechanics Rearticulation Committee, 2020-2021
Teaching
Summer 2025: PHYS 4930, Directed Reading; PHYS 4980, Undergraduate Research
Summer 2025: PHYS 4930, Directed Reading; PHYS 4980, Undergraduate Research
Fall 2025: PYS 7930, Directed Reading
Spring 2025: PHYS 1607, Honors Physics 1; SCMH 4700, Pedagogy of Peer-Led Instruction; PHYS 7930, Directed Reading
Fall 2024: PHYS 1600, Engineering Physics 1; PHYS 4980, Undergraduate Research; PHYS 4930, Pedagogy of Peer-Led Instruction; PHYS 7930, Directed Reading
Spring 2024: PHYS 5200/6200, Teaching and Learning of STEM; PHYS 7930, Directed Reading; PHYS 4980, Undergraduate Research
Fall 2023: PHYS 1600, Engineering Physics 1; PHYS 4980, Undergraduate Research
Spring 2023: PHYS 8970, Nonequilibrium Statistical Mechanics; PHYS 7930, Directed Reading; PHYS 4980, Undergraduate Research
Fall 2022: PHYS 7930, Directed Reading; CHEN 4980, Undergraduate Research; PHYS 4980, Undergraduate Research
Summer 2022: PHYS 7930, Directed Reading
Spring 2022: PHYS 1600, Engineering Physics 1
Fall 2021: PHYS 1600, Engineering Physics 1
Former Students
Postdoctoral Scholars: Jiamin Zhang, Ph.D. (2021-2022), Yangqiuting Li, Ph.D. (2022-2023)
Graduate Students: Michael Robbins, Ph.D. (2021-2025), Nathan Davis, Ph.D. (2021-2025), Shiva Basir, M.S. (2022-2024), Erin Ball, M.S. (2021-2023)
Undergraduate Students: Jackson Belcher, B.S. (2024-2025), Aidan Sprenkle, B.S. (2023-2024), Jack Byars, B.S. (2022-2023), Matthew Shepherd, B.S. (2022), Smith Strain, B.S., EIT (2022-2025)
