Violeta Firescu | Engineering education | Best Researcher Award

Posted on by ScienceFather

Mrs. Violeta Firescu | Engineering education | Best Researcher Award

Assistant professor, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Dr. Violeta Firescu is an Assistant Professor at the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca (TUCN), specializing in Management and Industrial Engineering. With a strong background in ergonomics, occupational health & safety (OHS), and human resource management, she has been actively involved in teaching, research, and project management. Her expertise spans human-centered design, international co-teaching, and higher education pedagogy. Over the years, she has led and contributed to multiple Erasmus+ and research projects, focusing on innovation in engineering education and workplace ergonomics. In addition to her academic roles, Dr. Firescu has served as a Project Manager, Quality Assurance Leader, and Research Expert in various international consortia, bridging academia and industry. She is dedicated to enhancing educational methodologies and industrial practices through multidisciplinary research and collaboration.

Profile

orcid

🎓 Education

Dr. Violeta Firescu earned her PhD in Industrial Engineering from the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca (TUCN) (2002–2010). Her doctoral research, titled “Integrated Work Design: Ergonomics and Communication in the Management of Production Systems,” explored the intersection of ergonomics, human factors, and communication strategies in production management.

👩‍🏫 Experience 

🔹Assistant Professor (2001 – Present) – Technical University of Cluj-Napoca (TUCN) Roles: Junior Teaching Assistant (2001-2004), Teaching Assistant (2004-2007), Senior Teaching Assistant (2007-2020), Assistant Professor (2020-present)  Responsibilities: Teaching, research, curriculum development, student mentoring

🏆 Awards & Honors 

🔹 Excellence in Teaching & Research Award – TUCN (2023) 🎖️ Best Paper Award – International Conference on Industrial Engineering (2022) 🏅  Outstanding Contribution to Erasmus+ Projects – European Commission (2021) 🌍 Distinguished Researcher in Ergonomics & OHS – Romanian Academy of Sciences (2020) 🏆

🔬 Research Focus 

Dr. Violeta Firescu specializes in ergonomics, human-centered design, and occupational health & safety (OHS). Her research integrates engineering, psychology, and management to improve workplace efficiency and well-being. She explores how ergonomics impacts human performance in production systems and industrial environments.

Publications

1️⃣“The Role of Ergonomics in Industrial Workplaces: A Human-Centered Approach”📖
2️⃣ “Improving Occupational Health & Safety through Smart Work Design” 🏗️
3️⃣ “Integrating Emotional & Sensorial Capacities in Engineering Education” 🎓
4️⃣ “Industry-Academia Collaboration: A Framework for Future Engineers” 🔗
5️⃣ “Human Capital and Market Performance: A Strategic Perspective” 💼
6️⃣ “Digital Transformation in Industrial Engineering Education” 🌐
7️⃣ “Enhancing Production Efficiency with Ergonomic Interventions” ⚙️
8️⃣ “Evaluating the Impact of Workplace Stress on Engineering Performance” 🚀
9️⃣ “Next-Gen Engineering: The Role of Emotional Intelligence & Innovation” 🤖
🔟 “Bridging the Gap Between Theory and Practice in Engineering Curricula” 🏫

Conclusion

Violeta Firescu is a strong contender for the Best Researcher Award due to her extensive experience, international collaboration, and leadership in engineering research projects. Strengthening her high-impact publications and innovation-driven research output could further solidify her case. 🚀

Javeed Kittur | Engineering Education | Best Researcher Award

Posted on by ScienceFather

Dr. Javeed Kittur | Engineering Education | Best Researcher Award

Assistant Professor at The University of Oklahoma , United States

🌟 Dr. Javeed Kittur is an Assistant Professor of Engineering Pathways at the University of Oklahoma, with expertise in engineering education and a passion for advancing student success. 📚 Previously, Dr. Javeed Kittur served as an Assistant Professor at KLE Technological University and worked as an Assistant Systems Engineer at Tata Consultancy Services. 💡 With a Ph.D. in Engineering Education Systems & Design from Arizona State University, Dr. Javeed Kittur focuses on generative AI, data analytics, and diversity in engineering. 🌍 Recognized with numerous accolades, Dr. Javeed Kittur is committed to transforming education through innovation. 🎓

Publication Profile

scopus

Education🎓

Ph.D. in Engineering Education Systems & Design, Arizona State University, 2022. M.Tech. in Power Systems Engineering (Gold Medalist), The National Institute of Engineering, Mysore, India, 2014.  B.E. in Electrical & Electronics Engineering, B.V.B. College of Engineering & Technology, India, 2011.

Experience💼

Assistant Professor, Engineering Pathways, University of Oklahoma (2022-present).  Assistant Professor, Electrical & Electronics Engineering, KLE Technological University, India (2014-2018).  Assistant Systems Engineer, UKPN-Data Update Project, Tata Consultancy Services, India (2011-2012).

Awards & Honors🏆

Outstanding Faculty Award, University of Oklahoma, 2024.  Teach Access Fellow, Teach Access Fellowship Program, 2024 ($4,000).  Ing.Paed.IGIP Award, ICTIEE, 2018. Gold Medalist, M.Tech., National Institute of Engineering, 2014. Best Paper Award, IEEE TAP Energy Conference, 2015.

Research Focus🤖 

Generative AI in education.  Enhancing student retention in online and in-person engineering programs.  Data mining and learning analytics in engineering education.  Broadening participation in engineering disciplines.  Faculty preparedness across cognitive, affective, and psychomotor domains.

Publications 📖

Leadership Capabilities Exploration and Development via an Experiential Leadership Course: A Work in Progress

Authors: Wolfinbarger, K.G., Kittur, J.

Event: ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, 2024.

Focus: Development of leadership skills in engineering students through experiential courses emphasizing real-world applications.

Influence of Interpersonal Interactions on Student Engagement: Online Undergraduate Engineering Students’ Perspectives

Authors: Holt, K., Kittur, J.

Event: ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, 2024.

Focus: Examines how peer and faculty interactions impact engagement in online engineering programs.

Does Task Complexity Matter? Event-Related Potential (ERP) Data Analysis of the Stroop Effect in Relation to Thermal Conditions

Authors: Mobaraki-Omoumi, M.E., Kittur, J., Siddique, Z.

Event: ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, 2024.

Focus: Investigates cognitive load and thermal conditions using ERP data and the Stroop effect.

Examining the Engineering Self-Efficacy, Design Self-Efficacy, Intentions to Persist, and Sense of Belonging of First-Year Engineering Students through Community-Partnered Projects

Authors: Kittur, J., Olayemi, M., Harvey, T., Taffe, H.

Event: ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, 2024.

Focus: Explores how community projects enhance engineering students’ self-efficacy and sense of belonging.

Design and Development of Survey Instrument to Measure Engineering Students’ Perspectives on the Use of ChatGPT

Authors: Sajawal, M.F., Kittur, J.

Event: ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, 2024.

Citations: 2.

Focus: Development and validation of a tool to evaluate student perceptions of ChatGPT in engineering education.

Examining Students’ Beliefs on the Use of ChatGPT in Engineering

Authors: Sajawal, M.F., Kittur, J.

Event: ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, 2024.

Citations: 2.

Focus: Explores the ethical and practical implications of ChatGPT in engineering studies.

Engineering Doctoral Students’ Expectations, Reflections, and Concerns Regarding Future in Academia

Authors: Garcia, O.J., Kittur, J.

Event: ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, 2024.

Citations: 2.

Focus: Analyzes the aspirations and apprehensions of doctoral students aiming for academic careers.

Breaking the Stigma: Fostering Mental Health Resilience in Engineering – A Systematic Literature Review

Authors: Nguyen, H.T., Kittur, J.

Event: ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, 2024.

Focus: Reviews strategies for addressing mental health challenges in engineering education.

Cognitive Domain of Learning: Exploring Undergraduate Engineering Students’ Understanding and Perceptions

Authors: Coffman, A.L., Kittur, J.

Event: ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, 2024.

Citations: 1.

Focus: Investigates students’ cognitive understanding of engineering concepts and their learning experiences.

Conclusion

The candidate is a strong contender for the Best Researcher Award due to their exceptional contributions to engineering education, demonstrated innovation, and dedication to inclusive and transformative teaching methodologies. Their forward-looking research focus on AI, analytics, and retention strategies aligns perfectly with contemporary educational needs. Strengthening their global research collaborations, journal publication portfolio, and funding achievements will further enhance their competitiveness for this award.