Brian Shotwell

Brian Shotwell is an Associate Teaching Professor of Physics at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). He holds a Ph.D. in Physics from UCSD (2015) and specializes in physics education research, quantum mechanics pedagogy, and theoretical physics. His work bridges gaps between undergraduate and graduate curricula through materials like the Quantum Mechanics Primer and contributes to STEM education through innovative teaching methods.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Physics, UC San Diego (2015)

Research Focus: Dr. Shotwell's scholarly activities include developing physics education resources (e.g., homework problems for Pearson textbooks, in-class clicker questions for statistical mechanics), exploring student learning dynamics (e.g., preferences for exam question types), and theoretical work on electromagnetism and particle physics. His recent projects investigate cultural differences in how students perceive mathematics versus physics education.

Teaching Contributions: He has authored over 1,050 homework problems, created pre-lecture reading videos for YouTube, and developed open-access problem sets used internationally. His materials emphasize clarity and alignment with physics education research principles.