Alex Gianninas

Prof. Gianninas completed his Ph.D. on the spectroscopic analysis of hydrogen-atmosphere white dwarf stars at Université de Montréal in 2011 after which he moved to the University of Oklahoma as a postdoctoral researcher. After over 4 years of conducting full-time research on extremely low-mass binary white dwarfs, his focus shifted to teaching. Over the last several years Prof. Gianninas has taught introductory and upper-level astronomy courses for majors and non-majors as well as introductory-level geology and earth science courses and college physics (algebra- and calculus-based) with the associated labs. He spent two years as Visiting Assitant Professor of Astronomy at Amherst College and two years as Visiting Assistant Professor of Physics at Trinity College before joining the faculty at Connecticut College in 2023.

He enjoys exposing non-science majors to the scientific method and debunking commonly held myths and misconceptions about science, physics, and astronomy. Prof. Gianninas is keen on teaching in an interactive way, trying to engage students and having them participate as much as possible even during regular lectures.

Prof. Gianninas is a member of the American Astronomical Society as well as Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Honor Society.

View the Physics, Astronomy & Geophysics department website.

Majoring in Physics

Astronomy Minor