Biography
Associate Teaching Professor and Associate Chair (since Fall 2025) at the Mechanical Engineering Department at Florida International University. Professor at Simon Bolivar University, Venezuela from 2002 to 2016. With a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, a M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering in the area of Rotodynamics from the University of Virginia, and a Ph.D. in Engineering Science in the area of Biomechanics from the Central University of Venezuela. Main interest in Simulation in Mechanical Engineering, Biomechanics, Motion Analysis, Finite Element Analysis, Mechanical Medical Devices Design, Mechanical Vibrations. Highly interested in Higher Education Curriculum Design, Academic Leadership, and teaching and classroom innovation. Courses taught: Intro to Engineering, Statics, Dynamics, Mechanics of Materials, Mechanical Vibrations, Intro to CAD (SolidWorks), Senior Design Project, Numerical Methods, Intro to Biomechanics.
Awards & Honors
- “Excellence in Teaching”, FIU Faculty Senate Award, 2025
- STEM Transformation Institute Faculty Champions, 2025
- “Excellence in Teaching”, awarded by Mechanical and Materials Engineering Department FIU, 2023
- "Excellence in Collegiality”, awarded by awarded by Mechanical and Materials Engineering Department FIU, 2023
- “Rewarding Excellence in Teaching Incentive (RETI)", awarded by Center of Advance Teaching, FIU, 2022
Education
- Ph.D., Biomechanical Engineering, Central University of Venezuela in Science, 1998-2001
- MS, Mechanical Engineering, Rotodynamics, University of Virginia, 1992-1994
- BS, Mechanical Engineering, Simón Bolívar University (USB), Venezuela, 1985-1990