Andreas Pfahnl

Andreas Pfahnl serves as an Instructor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of St. Thomas School of Engineering, where he has taught undergraduate and graduate courses since 2009.

His academic credentials include:

• PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• MS in Mechanical Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• BS in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with 1 year of study at ETH-Z (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology)

Dr. Pfahnl's interdisciplinary expertise spans medical devices, thermal sciences, and aviation (as an FAA certified flight/ground instructor), complemented by business leadership in operations/staff development, product commercialization, and entrepreneurship. His industry experience directly informs his teaching approach, bridging theoretical engineering with real-world business applications.

With over 20 years of executive experience in semiconductor test, telecom electronics, and medical device commercialization at companies including Devicix/Nortech, Amphenol, and Teradyne, he brings extensive product development and startup founding experience to the classroom. His current teaching responsibilities include undergraduate Mechanics Lab and plans for an Aviation and Aeronautics course reflect his diverse technical background.