Yu Feng

A.    Philosophy

I deeply agree that “education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” Also enlightened by Richard P. Feynman, the great physicist, my essential philosophy and intrinsic goal of teaching is to let students feel “the pleasure of finding things out.” This intellectual enjoyment is the inexhaustible motivation to empower students to think creatively and critically, to improve themselves, and to become greater people and researchers. I always feel rewarded if I can motivate and engage future generations of scientists and engineers. Being interested in teaching fluid dynamics, multiphase flow, thermodynamics, chemical reactions, and biomedical modeling at both undergraduate and graduate levels, I believe the course is not only to convey the mathematical and physics fundamentals to the students and show them how to use scientific theory and mathematical modeling techniques to solve cutting-edge challenges but also to ignite my students the curiosity and enthusiasm to understand and improve the physical world with in-depth insights obtained from my courses as next-generation scientists or engineers, especially contribute to improving healthcare using engineering tools.

B.    Previous Teaching Experience 

Since joining Oklahoma State University, I have taught five different courses (CFD-related courses and Unit Operations Labs) with unique visions and contributions based on my interdisciplinary background in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and Biomedical Engineering. The ratings of my courses are all above 3.39/4 and 4.74/5, using different metrics. Specifically, I developed the senior- and graduate-level course CHE 5110 "Computational Fluid Particle Dynamics (CFPD): Basic Theory and Select Chemical and Biomedical Applications" in Spring 2017, and later offered it as CHE 4773/5773 in 2021, 2023, and 2025. The course incorporates cutting-edge research from my lab, with case studies and exercises to train students in CFPD modeling for biomedical applications. Students from various engineering disciplines gain hands-on experience with multiphase flow models, including Euler-Euler, Euler-Lagrange, and DEM methods. My project-based teaching approach encourages students to align course projects with their research, fostering engagement and creativity. The course is unique at Oklahoma State University and earned the 2023 Ansys Curriculum Award, recognizing its impact on healthcare advancements and engineering education in Oklahoma.

C.    Previous Outreach Experience

My teaching dedication also extends to outreach efforts that foster STEM engagement and public interaction (see below).

•  “Lungevity” Session for K-12 Students. I integrated in silico pulmonary healthcare elements into the existing Grandparent University (GPU) biomedical session. Named "Lungevity", this session employs augmented reality, hands-on activities, and simulations to teach K-12 students about lung health and diseases. This innovative approach has been well-received and evolved since 2018, offering students an immersive learning experience (https://www.ansys.com/blog/students-explore-biomedical-research-with-ansys-cfd). Details can be found in a peer-reviewed conference paper (Ford Versypt et al., 2021).

• CEAT Summer Bridge Program for Undergraduate Students. Since 2021, I designed a CFD project tailored to incoming engineering first-year students in the OSU CEAT Summer Bridge Program. This project-based initiative has allowed over 40 students to explore ocular drug delivery, enriching their understanding of engineering concepts of in silico healthcare.

• General Public Engagement. I also actively disseminate research to the public in person (e.g., East Oklahoma Rotary Club in 2022) and via multiple webinars, by giving multiple talks on pulmonary healthcare and aerosol exposure risk. My outreach was highlighted in Ansys Advantage, as a cover article titled “A breath of fresh air” (https://www.ansys.com/advantage-magazine/volume-xv-issue-3-2021/a-breath-of-fresh-air), showcasing the public impact. Employing proactive engagement via seminars, talks, and media interactions, I orchestrate the direct applicability of my research for the betterment of society.