The Professor

Teaching Experience

Teaching Philosophy

My primary teaching goals are to foster critical thinking, enhance problem-solving skills, build robust content knowledge, and prepare students for success in academia, industry, or startup environments. My pedagogical approach balances theory with practice: I utilize lectures to establish foundational concepts, hands-on exercises to reinforce problem-solving, and active discussion to connect curriculum with current events. This multilateral method ensures students gain theoretical fluency, obtain practical experience, and understand the real-world application of their knowledge.

Teaching Experience and Methods I have taught a diverse range of undergraduate and graduate courses, with class sizes ranging from 40 to 250 students. To support these large sections, I have managed teams of up to 10 teaching assistants per semester. Beyond traditional coursework, I am deeply committed to supervising independent research, internships, and undergraduate honors theses.

Course Highlights

Computer Architecture and Lab (Undergraduate): I was the first faculty member to teach the Architecture Lab in the Computer Science and Engineering Department at the University of South Florida (USF), introduced following an ABET accreditation visit. I also successfully adapted and managed this lab for remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Computer Organization (Undergraduate): As a "gatekeeper" course determining admission into the Computer Science major, this class requires rigorous preparation. I successfully prepared students to transition into and succeed in the subsequent Computer Architecture course.
Brain-Computer Interfaces (Undergraduate/Graduate): I developed and introduced this novel course, making our department one of fewer than 10 in the U.S. to offer such a curriculum. Its blueprint has since been adapted by the University of Alabama.

Teaching History

University of Florida:
- CIS 4930: Brain-Computer Interfaces [FA'16, FA'25, SP'26]
- CDA 3101: Intro to Computer Organization [FA'25, SP'26]

University of South Florida:
- CAP 4160/6109: Brain-Computer Interfaces [FA'17 – FA'23]
- CDA 4205: Computer Architecture [SP'18 – SP'23, SU'23, FA'24, SP'25]
- CDA 3103: Computer Organization [SU'22]

Teaching Achievements & Innovation: Throughout my career, I have prioritized pedagogical innovation. My Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) course attracts interdisciplinary students from Psychology, Biomedical Engineering, and Electrical Engineering. To increase engagement, I utilize "contextual bridging," where we analyze current news articles to link classroom theory with global developments. This curriculum has been so effective that faculty at other universities have adopted my lecture materials and format.

Additionally, I adapted a "Flexible Grade Percentage Weighting" assessment strategy. This allows high-performing students to adjust the weight percentage of specific grading criteria within restricted bounds. For example, a student who improves significantly on a second exam may request to lower the weight of a previous, lower-scoring exam. This approach empowers students to take ownership of their grades, reduces testing anxiety, and has been universally well-received.

Mentoring

My commitment to education extends well beyond the classroom. I have successfully mentored two PhD graduates (both now in industry positions) and five MS thesis students. Furthermore, I have supervised over 50 undergraduates in research. Notably, one of my mentees was awarded the prestigious Goldwater Scholarship and the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship and is now pursuing a PhD at MIT. Other mentees are currently pursuing graduate degrees at the University of Florida, University of Waterloo, and University of Notre Dame.

Teaching Plan and Initiatives: I aim to integrate active learning techniques further to drive innovation. My specific initiatives include:

NSF-REU Program: Initiating a Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) site focused on Neurotech-AI, which would be one of the few programs of its kind nationwide.
Industry Collaboration: Enhancing course content through industry partnerships to identify skill gaps, thereby improving internship and full-time placement rates for students in the BCI sector.

Summary: As an Instructional Associate Professor, I am dedicated to continuously improving the student experience. I rely on student constructive feedback and state-of-the-art computer science education research to refine my methods. I prioritize faculty-student interaction to ensure every student feels supported, utilizing mentorship as a tool to guide their success far beyond the classroom.