Ian Bentley joined Florida Polytechnic University in 2023 as chair of the Department
of Physics. Bentley was tasked with reimagining the physics curriculum and with providing
additional support for the introductory physics courses. “Combined with the existing
faculty in the department, we can provide support for a variety of student interests
through coursework and research,” he said.
Before joining Florida Poly, Bentley taught physics at Saint Mary’s College in Notre
Dame, Indiana. He was director of the college’s Dual Degree Engineering Program from
2022-2023, director of the Physics Program from 2018-2022, an associate professor
of physics from 2018-2023, co-department chair of chemistry and physics in 2017 and
2018, and an assistant professor of physics from 2012-2018. During his time at Saint
Mary’s, Bentley developed the physics program curriculum and led the college to establish
bachelor’s degrees in physics, and physics and applied mathematics, and also a minor
in physics, all of which began in the fall of 2016. He supervised the growth of that
physics program, resulting in the classes of 2020 and 2021 graduating more physics
bachelor’s degrees awarded to women than any other college or university in the state
of Indiana. Bentley said he greatly values scientific research and that he has been
fortunate to be part of some wonderful collaborations. He was the principal investigator
for the first major National Science Foundation research grant awarded to Saint Mary’s
College.
Prior to his positions at Saint Mary’s, Bentley served as an adjunct professor of
physics from 2012-2023 at the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Indiana. Bentley
said he was grateful to be appreciated as a quality teacher there. He also was a postdoctoral
research associate at the university from 2010-2011. He also was a visiting assistant
professor of physics at Marquette University from 2011-2012, and an adjunct assistant
professor of physics at Indiana University South Bend from 2010-2011.
At the engineering physics program at Florida Poly, Bentley said Florida Poly is supporting
an exciting combination of a core physics curriculum (in mechanics, thermodynamics,
electricity and magnetism, and quantum mechanics) that is paired design-based applications.
Students are learning how to use mathematics, computation, and other tools to understand
the rules that govern the universe. Together, these skills and the knowledge that
students gain allow graduates from Florida Poly’s program to pursue traditional routes
of going to graduate school for physics or engineering, as well as to go directly
into their careers as engineers, research technicians, teachers, analysts, and a variety
of other options, Bentley said.
