Guajardo-Cuellar, Alejandro

Mechanical Engineer with a passion for education, energy, novel materials, advanced manufacturing, educational innovation, and multidisciplinary engineering. I earned my master's and PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, USA, under the supervision of Dr. Mihir Sen (fellow ASME) and Dr. David B. Go (Viola D. Hank Professor), current vice president and associate provost for academic strategy at the University of Notre Dame. With over 10 years of experience in engineering education, from my early days as a mechanical engineer and lab instructor to my current position as an Associate Professor of Mechanics at the Tecnológico de Monterrey. I've also worked in product development in the industry, with over 5 years of international experience in R&D departments. I worked at Philips Lighting in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, for two years as a thermal engineer in LED lighting modules. I worked at Hella in Lippstadt, Germany, and Guadalajara, Mexico, as a CFD and thermal management engineer for electronic components for 3 and a half years. I have been a pioneer in the Tec 21 educational model, designing and implementing, as well as developing educational innovation projects presented in conferences and Scopus-indexed journals, such as the Novus project. Leading the Novus project "Mixed Reality Platform for Improving Discipline Competency Development in Control Engineering Education," I was recognized as one of the top-rated projects of the 2021 generation by the Institute for the Future of Education. I have continued research collaborations with colleagues from the University of Notre Dame and the institution, belonging to the National System of Researchers at the "Candidate" level and being a member of the "Advanced Manufacturing" GI. I have also participated in technology transfer projects supported by the EdTech initiative. I am also active as a reviewer for articles in Scopus-indexed journals and as a technical committee member in education conferences. Academically, I have led academic missions to the University of Chile, USach, and the University of the Andes in Santiago de Chile. I have been active in supporting student groups competing in national and international competitions such as SAE Baja and "Electratón". I am passionate about engineering, innovation, creativity, and education in young engineers who will tackle the challenges of the future. I dedicate my virtues and strengths to serving our students and fellow professors, helping them develop competencies and skills to create the best academic ecosystem.