Seyed Hamid Reza Sanei, Ph.D.

One of the main challenges in undergraduate teaching is to motivate students to appreciate the importance of topics covered in class. I try to address this by providing students with real life engineering examples and providing the application of the topics being taught. Students would like to see how each topic can address a real-life problem. The challenge in teaching complex concepts is to keep in mind the larger application without being distracted by the details. Therefore, stating the problem and providing the big picture is as important as demonstrating an understanding of the details.  

While implementing different teaching strategies are crucial, the attitude of the instructor plays an important role in student learning. I believe strong teacher-student rapport is a crucial element of enhanced learning. As a teacher, one should build relationships by fostering a feeling of community and personal interactions with each student. Every question should be welcomed and every attempt at answering one must be encouraged. The teacher-student relationship should not end after a final examination. A teacher should build an attitude that students feel comfortable seeking advice from their professor beyond classroom experience.  

In my continuous pursuit of pedagogical innovation, I am currently developing a ‘lecture free' model, which is rooted in the principle of experiential learning. This model is encapsulated by the ethos: 'Don't explain the game to me; let's just play it.' The fundamental idea is to shift away from traditional lecture-based teaching to a more interactive, problem-solving approach, without relying on pre-lecture examples or instructions. Ultimately, the most effective lecture is one that doesn't exist. 

Courses Taught

1. Biomechanics  
2. Statics  
3. Dynamics  
4. Strength of Material  
5. Finite Element Analysis  
6. Machine Design  
7. System Dynamics and Control 
8. Material Testing Lab  
9. Measurement and Instrumentation 
10. Design of Experiment  
11. Nanoindentation  
12. Engineering Design  
13. Freshman Seminar  

Research

Dr. Sanei’s research interests are in the area of 

• Orthopedics: Biomechanics of Internal and External fixations, Biomechanics of Joint Replacement.
• Composite Materials: Computational Modeling, Manufacturing and Experimental Testing                    
• FEA: Nonlinear FEA, Stochastic FEA and XFEM 
• Failure and Fracture Mechanics 
• Image Processing: Image acquisition with SEM, TEM and Optical microscopy, Image analysis of micrographs 

Research Interest and Opportunities

Composite Materials, Finite Element Analysis, Biomechanics, Orthopedics, Carbon Nanotube, Engineering Education  

Students interested in materials research or biomechanics are encouraged to contact Dr. Sanei. Desirable candidates would have experience with composite materials and MATLAB programming and ANSYS or a strong desire to learn.