College of Engineering

Tennessee Tech University has named Ahmed Vaselbehagh, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, the recipient of the 2023 Brown-Henderson Outstanding Engineering Faculty Award.

Established in honor of the late Dean Emeritus James Seay Brown and the late Dean James M. Henderson, the Brown-Henderson Outstanding Engineering Faculty Award recognizes full-time faculty members who have made significant contributions to the preparation of students through their teaching, research and service. The award comes with a cash prize and a plaque.

Vaselbehagh holds a doctorate in mechanical engineering from the University of Windsor and joined Tennessee Tech in 2017. Last year, he was awarded a prestigious National Science Foundation CAREER Award for his outstanding research on the impact of large-scale solar farms on the atmosphere and potential implications for climate change.

Vaselbehagh has successfully built his research program as the founder and director of the Fluid Mechanics Research Laboratory and has received five external grants totaling $1.2 million from agencies such as NASA and the Tennessee Valley Authority, and private companies, and has contributed to many of his colleagues' proposals. He has established himself as an expert in his field, having published 25 journal papers and 6 book chapters, and edited 8 books and proceedings and 4 journal issues.

In addition to his outstanding research achievements, Vaselbehagh values hands-on learning for students and has successfully incorporated his research efforts into his courses and teaching. He built a 70-foot wind tunnel facility for Tennessee Tech, which provides hands-on opportunities for mechanical engineering students and is an asset for the university's new aerospace research concentration in the Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering.

Students praise his teaching style, enthusiasm, and commitment to their learning, and he has mentored many regarding their careers.

"We are proud to recognize Dr. Ahmed Vaselbehagh for his significant contributions to the preparation of our students through his outstanding research, teaching and service," said Joseph C. Slater, dean of the College of Engineering at Tennessee Tech. "His passion and commitment to his work make him an exceptional educator, mentor and role model for our students and the entire Tennessee Tech community."

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College of Engineering Newsroom