James O'Brien

James O'Brien, PhD, is the Chair of the Department of Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science and serves as an Associate Professor of Physics and Mathematics at Springfield College. His research focuses on cosmology, alternative gravitational theories beyond Einstein's relativity, and physics education, including the development of educational board games like Sector Vector. He holds a B.S. and B.A. in Mathematics from SUNY New Paltz (2003) and an M.S. (2005) and Ph.D. (2010) from the University of Connecticut. Before academia, he worked as a VHDL Engineer at IBM for four years. O'Brien is actively involved in professional organizations such as the American Physical Society and the International Association of Relativistic Dynamics (serving as Vice President). Beyond academia, he is a musician with over 20 years of experience and an avid reader in the philosophy of science. He joined Springfield College in 2018 and actively supports campus Pride initiatives.

• Education:
• Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, SUNY New Paltz, 2003
• Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics, SUNY New Paltz, 2003
• Master of Science, University of Connecticut, 2005
• Doctor of Philosophy, University of Connecticut, 2010
• Professional Memberships:
• Vice President, International Association of Relativistic Dynamics
• American Physical Society
• American Association of Physics Teachers
• American Association of Engineering Educators
• Courses Taught:
• General Physics 1
• General Physics 2