Nicholas David
MATSCIE 532: Advanced Thermodynamics of Materials
Nicholas David demonstrated extraordinary innovation and dedication as a GSI for Advanced Thermodynamics of Materials, significantly enhancing student engagement through creative teaching strategies. He pioneered the use of virtual reality to teach ternary phase diagrams, allowing students to interact with phase spaces in three dimensions for the first time at the University of Michigan. Beyond traditional teaching methods, Nicholas also developed computational labs in Jupyter Notebooks, guiding students through real-world thermodynamic modeling and phase diagram construction. His commitment to student success extended beyond the classroom, as he provided detailed video tutorials, extensive office hours, and an interactive web tool for students to visualize thermodynamic principles. Nicholas’s hands-on approach to teaching made complex thermodynamic concepts both accessible and exciting, leaving a lasting impact on his students and the course curriculum.