Mario Borunda

Mario Borunda is a Professor of Physics and the Puterbaugh Foundation Faculty Fellow for Faculty and Graduate Excellence for the College of Arts and Sciences at Oklahoma State University. A physicist dedicated to both fundamental discovery and institutional progress, he has spent his career making physics more inclusive while advancing the frontiers of materials science.

Dr. Borunda currently serves as the President of the National Society of Hispanic Physicists (NSHP). His administrative experience includes serving as the Associate Dean for Academic Community Excellence and the Senior Inclusion Officer for the College of Arts and Sciences. Nationally, he has held key leadership roles within the American Physical Society (APS), including Chair of the Committee on Minorities (2018–2021) and in the executive line of the Forum on Diversity and Inclusion (2022–2025).

The Borunda Research Group focuses on the theoretical discovery of materials designed for next-generation energy production and quantum applications. By investigating how charges and spins behave within materials, his group seeks to unlock technological advancements. He is also interested in the Foundations of Quantum Mechanics and matter/phonon/photon interactions. Dr. Borunda’s work bridges the gap between fundamental condensed matter theory and the practical development of energy-efficient technologies.