About
Andrew earned his PhD from Purdue University in February 2026. His research interests include gamification of engineering in-class activities to promote engagement and motivation. He graduated with his MS IE in May 2024, also from Purdue.
First-Year Engineering Instructor & Research Assistant at Purdue University
Current classes and projects:
ENGR 131 (Transforming Ideas to Innovation I)
ENGR 132 (Transforming Ideas to Innovation II)
Engineering Education PhD Dissertation
- email: gray197@purdue.edu
- City: West Lafayette, IN
Résumé
Education
Ph.D. Engineering Education
May 2026
Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
Major Professor: Dr. Justin Hess
Graduate Certificate for Teaching and Learning in Engineering
December 2025
M.S. Industrial Engineering
May 2024
B.S. Industrial Engineering
May 2021
Research Experience
PhD Dissertation, Fall 2024–Spring 2026 (Committee: Drs. Justin Hess, Matthew Ohland, Morgan Hynes, Beatriz Galarza-Tohen)
Leveraging Gamified Elements of In-Class Activities to Foster Student Engagement in Engineering Classes
ENE Graduate Research Assistant, Summer 2025 (Drs. Justin Hess, Robert Loweth)
- Analyzed interview data from students’ and instructors’ experiences with generative AI in engineering design classes
PhD Dissertation Preparation, Spring 2024 (Drs. Justin Hess, Matthew Ohland, & Morgan Hynes)
Literature Review on Team Formation Processes in Engineering Education
ENE Graduate Research Assistant, Summer 2023 (Drs. Justin Hess, Nick Fila, & Andrew Brightman)
Exploring the Variation in Understanding and Experiences with Ethical Engineering Research Among Faculty in Biomedical Engineering (NSF Grant Nos. 2124953 and 2124907)
ENE Graduate Research Assistant
Fall 2022 (Dr. Justin Hess)
Collected data from engineering research papers regarding empathy and empathetic tendencies
ENE Explorers Research Position, Fall 2021 (Drs. Isabel Jimenez-Useche & Justin Hess)
Interviewed engineering students in various engineering majors to bring awareness to FYE students in the differences between several majors
- Collected data from ENGR 103 students (IRB #2021-1315) and coded into themed categories related to attainment of learning objectives
FACE (For All: a Chance to Engineer) Lab
2018-2021
Drs. Morgan Hynes & William Harper
- Organized and supervised Engineering workshops at PALS (Purdue Athletes Life Success program)summer camp
Teaching Experience
ENGR 131: Transforming Ideas to Innovation I (2 credits)
Fall 2025 (Instructor, one section of 120 students)
Fall 2024 (Teaching Assistant, Prof. Assad Iqbal, 2 sections, 120 students per section)
Fall 2023 (Teaching Assistant, Profs. Robert Loweth & Aristides Carrillo Fernandez, 2 sections, 120 students per section)
Gifted Education Research and Resource Institute: Code & Conquer
Summer 2025 (Instructor, two sections of 6 students)
- MATLAB coding curriculum in the context of engineering computer science concepts and mindsets
- GER2I Homepage
ENGR 103: Introduction to Engineering in Practice: Engineering in the World of Data (1 credit)
Spring 2025 (Teaching Assistant, Prof. Sean Brophy, one section of 70 students)
ENGR 132: Transforming Ideas to Innovation II (2 credits)
Spring 2025 (Teaching Assistant, Prof. Sean Brophy, 1 section of 80 students)
Spring 2024 (Teaching Assistant, Profs. Kirsten Davis & Robert Loweth, 2 sections, 120 students per section)
IDE 495: Engineering Ethics in Interdisciplinary Contexts (3 credits)
Spring 2023 (Teaching Assistant, Prof. Justin Hess, 1 section of 80 students)
IDE 485: Interdisciplinary Engineering Senior Design Capstone (3 credits)
Spring 2022 (Teaching Assistant, Prof. Morgan Hynes, 30 students, 7 teams)
Spring 2023 (Teaching Assistant, Prof. Morgan Hynes, 22 students, 5 teams)
ENGR 103: Design in Real Life Learning Community (1 credit)
Fall 2021 (Instructor, 80 students)
Fall 2020 (Instructor, 80 students)
Fall 2019 (Instructor, 70 students)
ENGR 103: Networking Learning Community Seminar (1 credit)
Fall 2018 (Teaching Assistant, Prof. Morgan Hynes, 70 students)
Mission & Vision
Mission
To reduce students’ stress and feelings of inequity by improving engineering instructors’ methods of team assignment. To encourage and promote retention in college engineering by improving engineering curriculum. To help students develop skills and learn how to use resources on their own.
Vision
My vision is to improve engineering curriculum so students are excited about studying engineering and feel empowered to change the world on their own. I want engineering curriculum to inspire students.
Portfolio
Click below to see some of my websites and projects.
Student Testimonials
Comments submitted anonymously by former students in the end-of-semester course evaluations
I like that Professor Gray always seemed excited to be in class. It was nice to feel like a professor enjoyed his job.
Former first-year engineering I student
I like that Professor Gray takes the time to walk around the class and ask individual students what they think about a problem discussed in class so we can hear different view points. I also appreciate how he is open about if a problem has multiple acceptable answers even if the iClicker question only shows one as correct.
Former first-year engineering I student
I loved how organized the classes were and how the content was given. The professor is absolutely amazing, I would recommend him to anybody who wants to take his class. My professor always made himself available to help and give feedback and that helped a lot.
Former first-year engineering I student
Andrew is approachable and provides clear, concise explanations when students have questions during lab or office hours. He gives helpful feedback on assignments that makes it easier to understand what could be improved. His supportive attitude contributes positively to the overall learning environment.
Former first-year engineering II student
Andrew was genuinely the best TA I ever had. He really cared about the work of the students in the class. After our final senior design presentations, he made sure to tell each of the groups how proud he was of us.
Former senior design student
I found the escape room task by Andrew really interesting today and I found its constraints were a really interesting parallel to how we should be working on our project together.