Dr. Robert Loweth, Ph.D.

Robert Loweth (he/him) is a Teaching Assistant Professor in the Office of Student Development and Success at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan in 2022. Prior to joining UNC Charlotte, Robert taught in the First Year Engineering and Multidisciplinary Engineering programs at Purdue University. He earned his B.S. in Engineering Sciences from Yale University, with a double major in East Asian Studies, and also holds a Graduate Certificate in Chinese and American Studies jointly awarded by Johns Hopkins University and Nanjing University in China.

In addition to his teaching, Robert’s research explores how engineering students and practicing engineers approach early-stage engineering design activities such as problem definition, idea generation, and impact assessment. He also examines how engineering educational systems, ranging from classroom-level pedagogical practices to societal-level cultural norms, impact engineering students’ academic success and professional development. The goals of his research are 1) to develop tools and pedagogies that support engineers in achieving the positive societal changes that they envision and 2) to advance curricular and institutional structures that support the success of diverse engineering students.