Philosophy

My teaching philosophy is centered on developing students into independent problem solvers who approach engineering questions with the curiosity, rigor, and critical thinking of researchers. My approach combines clear instruction with active learning, hands-on experimentation, discussion, and collaborative problem solving. I adapt the style of instruction to the material and to students’ real-time response, with student learning and skill development as the primary goals.

In engineering courses, I particularly value connecting theory with physical observation. Laboratory demonstrations, in-class experiments, computational exercises, and open-ended projects allow students to see how mechanics concepts translate into real systems. I also encourage peer-to-peer learning and frequent feedback so that students can develop both technical understanding and the confidence to approach unfamiliar problems.

Teaching and Laboratory Leadership at UIUC

I currently serve as the Director of Mechanical Testing Instructional Laboratory at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. In this role, I oversee a high-throughput instructional laboratory that annually supports approximately 1,200 student enrollments and more than 400 laboratory sessions across multiple engineering programs.

The laboratory supports courses including ME 330, CEE 300/TAM 324, SE 312, AE 321/461, NPRE 432, MSE 308, and TAM 456, providing students with hands-on experience in mechanical testing, materials characterization, experimental mechanics, and engineering measurement.

My responsibilities extend beyond classroom instruction to the broader operation and development of an experimental teaching environment. These include:

• coordinating laboratory instruction across multiple courses and departments;
• supervising and supporting teaching assistants and laboratory personnel;
• maintaining and modernizing mechanical testing and data-acquisition systems;
• developing and improving laboratory experiments and instructional procedures;
• managing equipment, laboratory resources, and instructional budgets; and
• working with faculty and staff to ensure that laboratory activities reinforce the theoretical concepts taught in engineering courses.

I am particularly interested in modernizing experimental mechanics education by integrating contemporary instrumentation, data acquisition, image-based measurement, automation, and quantitative data analysis into undergraduate laboratories. My goal is for students not simply to follow a laboratory procedure, but to understand how measurements are generated, assess experimental uncertainty, interpret physical behavior, and connect observations to mechanics and materials theory.

During my graduate studies at UIUC, I also mentored undergraduate researchers through hands-on experimental work and supported undergraduate instruction as a Teaching Assistant. These experiences reinforced my emphasis on accessible instruction, frequent student interaction, and learning through experimentation.

I was also selected as a Mavis Future Faculty Fellow through the Grainger College of Engineering. The program provided formal training in engineering education, including STEM communication, feedback and assessment, rubric design, collaborative learning, and communicating technical research.

Teaching at BUET

Before beginning my doctoral studies, I served on the faculty of the Department of Civil Engineering at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) for five years. This experience provided the foundation for my teaching philosophy and gave me extensive experience teaching undergraduate engineering mechanics.

Courses I taught included:

• Mechanics of Solids I & II
• Engineering Materials
• Numerical Methods
• Finite Element Methods
• Design of Concrete Structures
• Dynamics of Structures
• Computer-Aided Design

Teaching fundamental mechanics courses taught me the importance of developing physical intuition alongside mathematical formulation. In introductory courses, I use worked examples, demonstrations, and structured problem solving to establish strong fundamentals. In advanced courses, I increasingly emphasize computational analysis, projects, and open-ended problems that require students to make engineering decisions rather than simply reproduce procedures.

Mentoring

My goal as a research mentor is to develop independent researchers rather than simply train students to follow established procedures. I encourage students to engage with unsolved problems, evaluate available resources and limitations, and develop their own approaches through critical analysis.

I view mentoring as a progression from guided learning toward intellectual independence. Students should ultimately be able to formulate questions, design experiments, make informed decisions, evaluate results critically, and communicate their work effectively. I strive to create an environment in which students are comfortable asking questions, discussing alternative interpretations, and learning from both successful and unsuccessful experiments.

Teaching Interests

My teaching interests span mechanics, materials, experimental methods, and biomechanics, with particular emphasis on connecting fundamental mechanics to modern experimental technologies and biological systems.

Core areas: Mechanics of Materials, Engineering Materials, Experimental Mechanics, Finite Element Methods Advanced topics: Cellular Mechanobiology, Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS), Microphysiological Systems, Mechanics in Physiology & Pathology, and Emergent Biohybrid Systems