06 / TANBIR SAROWAR
Teaching throughdiscovery.
Helping students connect physical intuition, hands-on measurement, and a rigorous understanding of uncertainty.
MY TEACHING PHILOSOPHY
“How confident am I in this number?”
The question I want every experimentalist to learn to ask.
01Begin with physical intuition
Before introducing equations, start with a real measurement problem. What quantity do we need? What range and resolution matter? Which physical effects could corrupt the signal? This gives the mathematics a purpose.
02Learn by building and measuring
I aim to organize laboratory work around authentic engineering tasks: choosing a sensor, wiring a conditioning circuit, collecting data, and interpreting the result. Noise, grounding, aliasing, and calibration drift become part of the learning.
03Make uncertainty a habit
Uncertainty belongs throughout a course. I want students to distinguish random and systematic error, propagate uncertainty, and explain what their measurements can—and cannot—support.
I am committed to inclusive and accessible instruction that supports students as they develop both technical skill and confidence.
GRADUATE TEACHING ASSISTANTSHIPS
Experience in the classroom.
Six course offerings across two universities, including two semesters of Machine Design II.
Machine Learning for Mechanical Engineers
Texas A&M University
Problem-solving sessions on regression, classification, and neural networks; guidance on data visualization and uncertainty.
Mechanics of Materials
Washington State University
Recitations and problems connecting strain gauges, Wheatstone bridges, and stress–strain measurements.
Machine Design II
Washington State University
Targeted learning materials on fatigue analysis and sensor-based load estimation.
Advanced Manufacturing
Washington State University
Dimensional metrology with calibrated instruments, surface roughness characterization, and tolerance analysis.
Computer-Aided Engineering
Washington State University
FEA tutorials connecting simulation to experimental validation and uncertainty quantification.
MENTORING · SUMMER 2024
Supporting the first research experience.
As an NSF REU research mentor at Washington State University, I independently supervised an undergraduate researcher in COMSOL Multiphysics modeling and experimental design, with guidance in technical writing and poster preparation.
My long-term goal is a faculty career that integrates precision-metrology research with high-quality undergraduate education.