Resume#
Benjamin Manning#
btmannin@purdue.edu
If one seeks to listen, one will learn to lead. If one seeks to lead, one will become a leader.
Education#
Doctor of Philosophy: Engineering Education | 2023-Present
Purdue University: West Lafayette, IN, purdue.edu
Current research focused on self-motivated learning and developing a tinkering mindset.
Master of Arts in Teaching: Broad-field Science | 2017-2018
Piedmont College: Demorest, GA, piedmont.edu
Funded through the National Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship
Certified in Broadfield Science, Engineering/Technology Education
Bachelor of Arts: Physics | 2013-2017
Michigan Technological University: Houghton, MI, mtu.edu/physics
Minor in Computer Science
Google IT Automation with Python | April 2021
by Google on Coursera
Certificate Credential ID: VE8FAX5RFCQ2
Work Experience#
Continuing Lecturer- EPICS | 2024-Present
Purdue University COE: West Lafayette, IN
Instruct students in Engineering fundamentals as part of a team.
Mentor Purdue student EPICS teams on various community-centered projects.
Senior Instructional Lab Coordinator, Associate Director of Undergraduate Labs- Curriculum | 2021-2024
Purdue University ECE: West Lafayette, IN\
Collaborated with faculty and staff to develop, refine, and support innovative instructional methods in labs.
Supervised and trained other lab coordinators and students to lead instructional labs.
STEM Teacher | 2018-2021
Barrow Arts and Sciences Academy (BASA)/ Sims Academy: Winder, GA
Taught fundamentals of electronics, computer science, and engineering in an applied classroom setting.
Led the development and piloting of the new STEM magnet program at BASA.
Taught the entire Mechatronics pathway, including developing a dual enrollment course for the third-level.
Adjunct Mechatronics Instructor | 2019-2021
Lanier Technical College: Winder, GA
Taught Mechatronics Courses to a wide range of students and abilities.
Developed a dual enrollment course for high school students in partnership with Lanier Tech and Sims Academy.
Courses taught: Industrial Instrumentation, Industrial Motor Controls, AC Theory I, Fundamental Power: AC.
Teaching Lab Manager | 2015-2017 Michigan Technological University: Physics Department: Houghton, MI
Led a group of students in setting up and maintaining the physics teaching labs.
Repaired lab equipment used in the physics teaching labs.
Achievements#
Outstanding Instructor Recognition | January 2025
Purdue COE
Recognized by the college for outstanding instructor reviews from students for the previous semester.
Bravo Award | March 2022, February 2023
Purdue ECE
Awarded for extraordinary work in innovation, creativity, and operational excellence.
Barrow County 2019-2020 Teacher of the Year: Special Programs
COVID-19 Humanitarian Relief | btmannin5132.github.io/teach/covid.html
3-D Printed over 3000 pieces of Personal Protective Equipment to help public service workers, medical facilities, and the general public during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellow | Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation
Dedicated to developing skilled STEM teachers and providing quality education in Georgia Title I schools.
Ian Shepard Award | Michigan Technological University
Deemed most promising graduating physics undergraduate student by physics faculty and staff.
Senior Spotlight of Physics Department | Michigan Technological University
Selected by physics faculty members to be highlighted in the department’s 2016 yearly newsletter.
Eagle Scout | Boy Scouts of America
Leadership project completed at First United Church of Christ: Green Bay - April, 2012.
Academic Involvement#
Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellow | Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation
Dedicated to developing skilled STEM teachers and providing quality education in Georgia Title I schools.
2019 Piedmont Educator Renewal Conference | Speaker: Piedmont College
Technology Expectations Becoming Reality for Teachers in the Classroom: Discussed automation of lesson plan development and course standards searching, matching, and scheduling.
2023, 2024, 2025 ARAS Community Event | Railside Robotics Advisor: Orlando, FL
Building a Digital Thread Discipline at Purdue: Railside Robotics Executive team discussed using Product Life Management as a strategy to manage multiple teams’ robotics designs.
ARAS Tech Summit: Students talked with industry professionals about their work with PLM and incorporating industry best practices into their team.
Electronics Reverse Engineering Instructional Lab development | 2023-Present
IRB approved for studying a “tinkering mindset” in engineering students.
Electronics Fundamentals Instructional Lab development | 2021-2024
Purdue ECE Undergraduate Curriculum Committee | 2024
Purdue ECE ABET Committee | 2024
Purdue ENE Seminar Speaker | January 2025
Applications of ECE Through Reverse Engineering: Discussed an experimental lab course that revolves around students refining their fundamental ECE skills by reverse engineering commercial products.
Skills#
Software:#
MATLAB: Programmed many complex physics and mathematical simulations and various data analysis programs.
SPICE: Proficient in and have taught SPICE simulation methods across various SPICE platforms.
LaTeX: Written over 100 professional documents, including research reports, letters of recommendation, and assessments.
Arduino and Raspberry Pi: Application development.
Proficient in: C/C++, Java, JavaScript, Python, HTML, Visual Basic, Mathematica.
CAD: Experienced in designing and teaching CAD fundamentals in Autodesk Inventor and Onshape.
Hardware:#
CNC: Constructed and maintained over 20 different multi-axis CNC machines, including printers, plotters, mills, and arms.
Resourceful: Created a variety of scientific instruments from scrap materials.
Troubleshooting and Repair: Experienced in fabricating, fixing, and rebuilding experimental equipment and setups.
Microscopes: Trained in the operation of Atomic Force, Electron, and Scanning Tunneling Microscopes.
Material Analysis: Trained in the methods and operation of X-Ray Diffraction, Heat Processing, and Pulse Laser Deposition.
Activities/Community Service#
Railside Robotics-Combat Robotics Team | Founding/Lead Advisor: 2023-Present Purdue University
FIRST Robotics | Lead Mentor: 2018-2021 Team 5132 (FRC) and Team 18597 (FTC)
Boy Scouts of America | Outdoor Skills Director at Bear Paw Scout Camp: 2012-2014 Troop 1043, Crew 9001, Crew 9443: bsa.org