Teaching Excellence
EE Faculty have been recognized by their students and colleagues alike, for their commitment to students and talent in the classroom.
Jennifer Zirnheld
Professor Zirnheld takes a group selfie at the EAS 199 Awards.
Professor Zirnheld, a graduate of UB, holds a UB Faculty Award for Excellence in Mentoring Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity for mentorship of undergraduates in her lab, some of whom cite her as a critical factor in their academic and career success. She serves as faculty advisor for engineering clubs, and supervises interns from the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program, the Buffalo-area Engineering Awareness for Minorities program and the SUNY Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority program.
Other awards include: UB President Emeritus and Mrs. Meyerson Award for Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching and Mentoring, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Outstanding Teaching Award, UB Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society Professor of the Year, the UB Alumni Association Dr. Richard T. Sarkin Award for Excellence in Teaching, and the UB Student Association Milton Plesur Excellence in Teaching Award.
Professor Zirnheld was named one of 100 Inspiring Women in STEM by Insight into Diversity Magazine.This national award recognizes women whose work and achievements are encouraging a new generation of women to consider careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) while also providing support to others working in STEM fields.
Kwang Oh
Professor Oh with a Collegiate Science & Technology Entry Program intern.
Professor Kwang Oh was named a recipient of the President Emeritus and Mrs. Meyerson Award for Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching and Mentoring, UB’s highest honor given for undergraduate mentoring. The Meyerson award honors faculty members for the crucial guidance and support they provide undergraduate students to help them develop the necessary skills for research, creativity, critical thinking and innovation. He has mentored several doctoral and master’s students, and more than 20 undergraduate research students.
He was honored with the UB School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Senior Teacher of the Year for excellence in teaching, as manifested by a unique pedagogical approach of “connecting-the-dots”, and by an integration of research and education in the fields of BioMEMS and microfluidics, and wearable and implantable sensors.
Professor Oh is also a recipient of the Qualcomm Faculty Award for research that “inspires students and sparks new approaches in key technology areas.”
In his research, Kwang Oh focuses on bioMEMS, microfluidics and sensors, important areas that continue to impact development of lab-on-chip, point-of-care, high-throughput cell study and unconventional microfluidic applications. He has authored or co-authored more than 50 peer-reviewed journal articles and holds 21 U.S. patents and 49 foreign patents.
Kevin Burke
Professor Burke teaching university students and younger.
Professor Kevin Burke received The Milton Plesur Award, given by the UB Student Association on behalf of students who nominate their instructors. The award carries the honor of being recognized as an outstanding professor by the students they teach.
He has also been honored with the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Best Teaching Faculty of the Year Award for significant contributions to SEAS’s first-year program. Also for excellence in teaching, as demonstrated by an approach that engages students all the way from freshman to senior levels, providing them with the multifaceted education needed to succeed in a career in electrical engineering.
Professor Burke has also been recognized with the UB Engineering Student Supporter of the Year, Buffalo Engineering Awareness for Minorities (BEAM) Research Mentor of the Year, Cora P. Maloney College, Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP) Research Mentor of the Year, and the New York Nu chapter of Tau Beta Pi, Professor of the Year.
