Faculty members Altukhova, Pouya awarded by College of Engineering

The Excellence in Foundational Course Teaching Award received by Altukhova recognizes outstanding performance in teaching undergraduate foundational courses (defined as engineering courses at 100, 200 level that provide critical knowledge and skills for students in a discipline or across disciplines).

Dr. Altukhova teaches AERE 161, and has done so for the past nine years. It involves computer-based problem solving using Matlab(R), with emphasis on numerical methods and introduction to solid modeling and aerospace design using SolidWorks. It teaches freshman students important tools that they use to solve engineering problems.

Altukhova redesigned the course to incorporate active learning. Group work was expanded to help build a sense of belonging and community. She has also adopted a project-based learning for introduction to SolidWorks part of the course.

The Early Achievement in Teaching award for Pouya recognizes a faculty member who has demonstrated outstanding teaching performance unusually early in their professional career.

Dr. Pouya received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering in 2018 from Michigan State University and has 29 publications and over $700,000 in funding in the general area of experimental fluid mechanics. Pouya has developed and revised three courses over the past four years: AER E 310, Aerodynamics I, Incompressible Flow; AER E 411, Aerospace Vehicle Propulsion; and AER E 344, Aerodynamics & Propulsion Laboratory. In 310 he has introduced educational videos to help students better visualize aerodynamics concepts. In 344 he led the effort to replace most of the instruments used in the lab and has recorded videos of experiments to allow students to watch them before coming to the lab.

In 411 he expanded the course contents to include dedicated lectures on solid rocket motors, liquid rocket engines as well as hybrid rockets with some preliminary design analysis. He is also developing a module to include a one-session experiential component to 411 to use the department’s educational jet engine console in the undergraduate teaching laboratory.

The department congratulates both for recognition of their contributions to the program’s undergraduate education.