Sharmin Akter

Physics educator and experimental researcher with B.S. and M.S. degrees in Physics, an M.S. in Physics and Astronomy, and a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering. More than five years of university teaching, laboratory instruction, student support, and multidisciplinary research experience. Experienced in in-person and online instruction, laboratory and recitation sessions, course-material preparation, office hours, assessment, and instructional-platform management.

Mentored undergraduate and graduate students in laboratory techniques, experimental problem-solving, data analysis, and technical communication. Research background spans mechanical engineering, physics, chemistry, renewable-energy devices, and electrochemical systems. Committed to clear, student-centered instruction that connects mathematical principles with physical meaning and practical applications.

Graduate Teaching Assistant - University of Louisville - Louisville, Kentucky

(2019-08 - 2024-12)

• Prepared course materials and supported in-person and online instruction, laboratory sessions, recitation sessions, and in-class practice activities.
• Held office hours, graded homework and examinations, managed instructional platforms, and provided students with timely academic guidance and feedback.
• Guided students in multistep quantitative problem-solving, laboratory techniques, measurement, uncertainty, data analysis, technical reporting, and interpretation of experimental results.
• Used worked examples, diagrams, physical demonstrations, and guided questioning to make abstract scientific and mathematical concepts accessible and relevant.
• Helped students identify physical systems, assumptions, governing principles, known and unknown quantities, appropriate solution methods, and the physical meaning of calculated results.
• Supported students from varied academic and cultural backgrounds across engineering and science courses, adapting explanations and instructional approaches to different levels of preparation.

Graduate Research Assistant - University of Louisville, Department of Mechanical Engineering - Louisville, Kentucky

(2023-08 - 2025-08)

Conducted multidisciplinary research on scalable energy-device fabrication, interface engineering, experimental design, materials characterization, data analysis, and technical communication.

Graduate Fellow - University of Louisville, Department of Mechanical Engineering - Louisville, Kentucky

(2021-08 - 2023-08)

Graduate fellowship supporting doctoral research in energy materials and device fabrication.

Graduate Teaching Assistant - University of Louisville, Department of Chemistry - Louisville, Kentucky

(2019-08 - 2021-08)

Provided instructional support for chemistry laboratory and lecture courses.

Ph.D. - Mechanical Engineering - University of Louisville (2025-12)

M.S. - Physics and Astronomy - University of Louisville (2021-12)

M.S. - Physics - Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (2018-12)

B.S. - Physics - Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (2016-12)