Adrian Pisla | Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Prof Adrian Pisla, Technical University in Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Prof. Adrian Pisla is a renowned University Professor at the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, Romania, specializing in engineering and management. He holds extensive academic experience, having served as Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and University Professor. Additionally, he supervises PhD students and leads the Dynamic Systems Simulation Laboratory. He has received numerous accolades, including the “Traian Vuia” prize and gold medals for his innovations in robotics. His work includes research in parallel robotics, rehabilitation systems, and sustainability. Prof. Pisla has authored impactful publications and contributed to e-learning systems, with expertise in mechanical design and robotics. 🏅🤖🎓

Education

Prof. Adrian Pisla has an extensive background in higher education, training, and product development. His academic achievements include the completion of various courses and training programs across Europe and the USA, such as Einführung in die Hochschuldidaktik at Babeș-Bolyai University and specialized courses in product development using Siemens PLM. Prof. Pisla has participated in international programs on online education, environmental management, and automation systems, with notable roles in Clusters Management Mentoring. His Ph.D. in Computer-Aided Manufacturing, awarded by the Technical University in Cluj-Napoca, focused on thermal spraying technology. He has contributed significantly to interdisciplinary education and technology development. 🎓🌍💻🛠

Experience

Prof. Adrian Pisla’s career began in 1987 as an Engineer in Probation at IMMR Pascani, Romania. He transitioned to Design Engineer at IMMR “16 Februarie” in Cluj-Napoca in 1990, followed by a role as an Analyst-Programmer in the same company. In 1991, he joined the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca as a Teaching Assistant and later advanced to Assistant Professor in 1995. From 1998 to 2002, he served as an Associate Professor, and in 2002, he became a University Professor at the same institution. His academic journey highlights his dedication to education and engineering. 📚💡👨‍🏫

International Recognition

Prof. Pisla’s remarkable accomplishments have earned him international recognition. In 2023, he received the prestigious lifetime achievement award from the Romanian Academy, honoring his outstanding contributions to his field. His innovative work has also been acknowledged through multiple medals at renowned international innovation exhibitions. These accolades highlight his dedication to advancing knowledge and fostering groundbreaking research. With his influential impact on academia and innovation, Prof. Pisla continues to inspire the global scientific community. 🏅🌍🔬🏆🎓

Awards and Distinctions

He has received numerous prestigious accolades, including multiple gold and bronze medals at various international research and innovation events. These awards serve as a testament to the exceptional quality and impact of his work, highlighting his dedication and expertise in his field. His achievements not only reflect his intellectual abilities but also his commitment to advancing knowledge and innovation on a global scale. These recognitions are a clear affirmation of his ability to contribute groundbreaking solutions that make a significant difference. 🥇🏅🌍💡

Research Focus

Prof. Adrian Pisla’s research focuses on the design, development, and application of robotic systems, particularly in the fields of rehabilitation, surgery, and automation. His work spans parallel robotics for lower and upper limb rehabilitation, kinematics, and virtual reality simulators for medical applications. He also explores the risk-based assessment of robotic systems used in post-stroke rehabilitation and minimal invasive surgery. Additionally, he is involved in sustainable automation practices and digital agriculture. Prof. Pisla’s expertise includes engineering, robotics, and life cycle management of robotic technologies, contributing significantly to healthcare robotics and automation advancements. 🤖🦾💡💉🌱

Desen Özkan | Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Dr Desen Özkan, University of Connecticut, United States

Dr. Desen Özkan is an Assistant Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Connecticut, with an affiliate position in the Neag School of Education. He is also the Graduate Program Director for the Engineering Education Ph.D. program. Dr. Özkan’s research focuses on sociotechnical identity development, equity in engineering education, and offshore wind energy. He holds a Ph.D. in Engineering Education from Virginia Tech and has held postdoctoral roles at Tufts University. Dr. Özkan’s work bridges engineering, education, and social justice, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration and inclusive curricula. 🌍⚙️📚💡🌱

Publication Profile

google scholar

Education

Dr. Desen Özkan holds a Ph.D. in Engineering Education from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (2020), where she focused on transdisciplinary approaches in interdisciplinary faculty teaching. She has an extensive academic background with courses from prestigious institutions. Dr. Özkan completed projects on offshore wind energy economics at the University of Massachusetts and structural engineering at Tufts University. She also studied environmental chemistry, microbiology, and mathematical modeling at the University of Tennessee. Her B.S. in Chemical and Biological Engineering was earned at Tufts University in 2013. Dr. Özkan’s work merges engineering, education, and sustainability. 🌍⚙️🎓📚

Experience

Dr. Desen Özkan has diverse research experience in both engineering and social sciences. As a Postdoctoral Researcher at Tufts University, she analyzed job development in Maine’s offshore wind industry, producing the report Floating to the Top (2021), and contributed to a study on equity in offshore wind job development, invited by Connecticut State Legislators (2022). At Virginia Tech, she worked on the NSF-funded Revolutionizing Engineering and Computer Engineering Departments project (2018-2019) and contributed to the Science, Technology, and Society department’s undergraduate degree proposal (2019). Additionally, Dr. Özkan conducted water quality research at the University of Tennessee, focusing on wastewater reclamation. 🌊💡🔬

Awards and Recognition

Dr. Desen Özkan has received multiple nominations for Tufts University’s Significant Impact Awards, recognizing her outstanding contributions to STEM education. Her dedication to mentoring and promoting diversity within the field has been a hallmark of her career. Additionally, Dr. Özkan was selected to participate in the prestigious New Energy Summer Summit at Dartmouth, further highlighting her commitment to advancing innovation and sustainability. These accolades underscore her impactful work in fostering inclusive environments and pushing boundaries in science and technology. Her achievements inspire future generations of diverse STEM leaders. 🏆👩‍🔬🌍💡

Conference Activity

Dr. Desen Özkan has presented at numerous conferences, focusing on sociotechnical engineering education and diversity in the field. Notable presentations include “Positionality, Empathy, and Subjectivity in Research” at the 2024 Compassion and Global Citizenship Conference, and “What is a Job? Deconstructing Offshore Wind Jobs” at the 2024 Petrocultures Conference. Additionally, Dr. Özkan co-presented papers on worker safety in offshore wind at the ASEE Annual Conference and explored environmental racism in engineering courses. Her work also includes teaching design through sociotechnical perspectives, with a focus on student experiences in first-year engineering courses. 🎤🌍📚

Research Focus

Dr. Desen Özkan’s research primarily focuses on the intersection of engineering education, diversity, and sociotechnical systems. Her work explores how contextualization and cultural considerations can enhance learning experiences in engineering education. She investigates methods like persona-based curricular design and emphasizes the importance of addressing reality gaps in senior design projects. Additionally, Dr. Özkan examines the positionality of researchers in engineering education and the teacher-learner dynamic. Her research aims to make engineering education more inclusive, effective, and adaptable, particularly for minoritized groups. 🛠️📚💡🎓

Publication Top Notes

Positionality statements in engineering education research: A look at the hand that guides the methodological tools

Contextualization as virtue in engineering education

Using personas as curricular design tools: Engaging the boundaries of engineering culture

Contextualization in engineering education: A scoping literature review

Teacher learner, learner teacher: parallels and dissonance in an interdisciplinary design education minor

Reality gaps in industrial engineering senior design or capstone projects

Perspectives of Seven Minoritized Students in a First-Year Course Redesign toward Sociotechnical Engineering Education

Adrian Pisla | Engineering | Best Researcher Award