Nishant Balakrishnan, P.Eng.

Nish Balakrishnan (he/him) is a Professional Engineer who joined the Centre for Engineering Professional Practice and Engineering Education as a faculty member in instructor of professional practice and design in November 2017. He has worked in professional practice in the areas of biomedical product development, product design, and mechanical design, with a specialty in design for manufacturing and advanced digital manufacturing. Nish has worked with the faculty since 2015, in both a teaching role and engineering facilitation role prior to his faculty hire. As a teaching oriented faculty member, his primary focus is teaching the technical practicum courses in the faculty (engaging students in real world design with a focus on prototyping and implementation), teaching in the professional practice curriculum, and in advising student competition teams on their designs and assisting undergraduate capstone/thesis projects. His main teaching and research background are in: engineering education (pedagogy, scholarship of teaching and learning, and theory), mechanical design, digital manufacturing/fabrication, biomechanics, and applied robotics/mechanics. 

Area

Engineering Education, Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, Biomechanics and Biomedical EngineeringManufacturing Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering Design.

Expertise

Manufacturing Engineering, 3D printing, Advanced Digital Manufacturing, Mechanical Engineering Design (Automotive and Production), Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering, Engineering Education (pedogogy and theory.

Research description

Currently engaged in research in engineering education - not open to graduate student applications but welcome undergraduate thesis students for guidance.

Seniuk-Cicek, J., Friesen, M., Mann, D., Balakrishnan, N., Rodrigues, R. B., Paul, J. (2021). “The Graduate Specialization in Engineering Education,” Presented in Proceedings of 2021 Canadian Engineering Education Association Conference (CEEA-ACEG-21), vol. 1, pp. 1-8, 2021, Peer Reviewed.

Balakrishnan, N. and Balakrishnan, R. (2020). “A Framework to Add Depth, Career Relevance, And Skills Development into Assessment in a 2nd Year Design Course,” Presented in Proceedings 2020 Canadian Engineering Education Association Conference, vol.1, pp. 1-7, 2020, Peer Reviewed.

Balakrishnan, N., (2019). “Developing a framework to evaluate individual learning in engineering design problems – part 1: Teaching through simulacra of real-world problems,” Presented in Proceedings 2019 Canadian Engineering Education Association Conference, vol.1, pp. 1-5, 2019.

Balakrishnan, N., (2019). “Developing a framework to evaluate individual learning in engineering design problems – part 2: Assessment of individual learning in team environments,” Presented in Proceedings 2019 Canadian Engineering Education Association Conference, vol.1, pp. 1-6, 2019.

Balakrishnan, N. and Balakrishnan, S. (2016). “Do-and-see approach to teaching design in manufacturing”. Conference Presentation. Presented at CDIO 2016 NA Meeting: Winnipeg, Manitoba. 2016.