Answer to SRE (finally)-How is MRM doing in academia?

[MRM]

SRE:

You asked a question of me back in May about how I'm doing in the academic world...here's an emoticon for how I feel right now:

and and

Today is the first day I've checked EngTips in quite a while... however, I do think about my EngTips colleagues much more frequently than that, believe it or not. I hope everyone is doing great.

It's really been a whirlwind of events. I mean that in a good way-time just seems to be flying by me (which I'm not as excited about, necessarily).

I'm in my third year here now at Gonzaga and things could not be going any better. My students seem to like what I'm doing for them, despite the fact that very very few have earned A's with me. Overall, I've had some great students who are excited about engineering. Now geotech engineering? Maybe only a few here and there (which is okay as long as they go with their passion-whatever it is!). The general consensus, though, is that by the end of the semester in Soil Mechanics, for example, I hear a lot of comments along the lines of "Professor Muszynski really showed me that soils can be really interesting, and that it's important to understand as a civil engineer." That's really one of my favorite kinds of comments in the evaluation forms! A few others say that they have become interested in geotechnical engineering further because of the course. Each student has their own strengths and weaknesses. I've enjoyed trying to guide them in developing their strengths-whatever they are, and improving where they need to.

I've been teaching Statics, Pavement design (senior technical elective), and Civil Engineering Design and Practice, as well as soil mechanics and lab. I have to say I enjoy all of these courses equally. Now why very few academics want to teach statics, I'll never know-that's one of the most fun to teach!

I've been doing a little research here and there. I've published a few papers here and there. Those types of tasks sometimes just seem to do themselves to me because I really can't remember doing most of that work (even though it got done somehow!). I tend to slip little bits of writing in over the summer months in a way that it truly doesn't seem like I'm working-I find these things pretty fun and relaxing, actually.

I'm now serving on some committees. Those may be my least favorite part of the work, but I recognize that it's important and I need to do it. In a university, as you likely know, the lowest employees (the professors) actually run the institution rather than administration. So that is, of course, 180 degrees from what private practice is like with any engineering firm where the owners make the big calls. Interesting stuff there for me to ponder.

My department chair, school dean, and my colleagues all seem to think I'm a positive addition to the group too. I'm certainly happy with that!

We've got baby number 3 coming in Feb of this year, so things will once again get exciting! It's another boy. That brings our tally to 1 girl (Pearl 6), 1 boy (Gus 2.5), and 1 more boy (name TBD).

So when I decided to put myself and wife at the poverty income level back in 2008 for a chance to do what I'm doing now, I guess it was worth it!

I really have periodically thought of you and my other EngTips colleagues, but it seems that I could just never get to my PC to check on things like I once did. Most recently, the Foundation by Terzaghi crew did come to mind consciously just a few days ago, but what probably happened is that Gus needed a diaper change, and then I needed to run to the store or something...

So please don't delete my name yet from the group; I'm going to try to check in a little more often!

 

[SlideRuleEra]

MRM - Congratulations on the forthcoming baby! Now I understand why you have not been here.

I like your combination of university courses. It looks to touch on an area of engineering that I believe is underserved. That is the "gray" area which ties together geotechnical and structural. We have to deal with that a lot here because of widespread poor soils, high winds (hurricane), and high seismic. For what its worth, my only suggestion would be to see about adding classes on piling - a big component of the "gray" area.

Hope that you will come back to visit here on BigH's forum.

http://www.SlideRuleEra.net

http://www.VacuumTubeEra.net

 

[MRM]

I will be making it a point to visit more regularly.

And I think you've given me the final sign I need about another thing, SRE: what technical elective to develop?

Since pavement design is one of our few geotech-related technical electives, I have been thinking, since arriving here, about what future technical elective I might develop.

Some of the ideas that initially came to mind: earthquake engineering, dams, advanced soil mechanics topics, and (you guessed it) deep foundations.

A deep foundations technical elective course would have the added benefit that I have a decent amount of experience with them from practice (making it a topic I could possibly do a decent job on!). It's also a topic that is ready-made for soil structure interaction discussion (as I try to incorporate in many of my classes frequently)

...I'm back for 5 minutes and I'm already getting outstanding advice here

 

[BigH]

Thanks for the update!! I'm not typing so well, now that I decided to trim my left index finger/fingernail with a paper cutter (YES, STUPID!!!).

Glad to see that you are doing fine. I've had a lot of "introductions" into various fields especially since I've started in the hydro works. Today, we are talking about whether gate seals were properly installed . . . tomorrow it will be something else - and not all necessarily geotech or even civil.

Do you have a course on concrete? - from a construction side? that might be an interesting elective. It seems that as a geotech I was "expected" to be an expert on concrete, aggregates, asphalt, etc. Thanks to my Fdns By Terzaghi mates I have been a lot smarter than perhaps otherwise! Another course might take a view as to how to apply geotechnical principals in areas/time frames when you don't have any time for detailed investigations - sort of the questions we see a lot about.

Anyway - and finally, yes, congrats on your new baby coming! A boy, again, eh? How about Karl???? and see attachment just so you remember . . . 2-1/2 years might be only a fading memory!

 

[Ron]

MRM...congrats on the baby and welcome back.

After 15 years, I have returned to teaching part time. I enjoy it, but can't do it full time.

I teach soils and foundations, construction materials and construction techniques (above ground construction)....all to potential contractors in a construction management degree program.

I like your idea of a deep foundations elective.

 

[Mccoy]

Hi MRM, nice to hear from you again, especially so with the good news!

http://www.mccoy.it

 

[MRM]

BigH, Ron, Mccoy: Thanks so much! And I like Karl too...my wife had a lukewarm response...sometimes I just don't think she understands us

 

[Ron]

MRM....you could always call the baby "Terzy"!

 

[MRM]

Now THAT, she might go for!