David Gray

David Gray, Ph.D., is a Collegiate Assistant Professor and Assistant Department Head for Undergraduate Programs in the Department of Engineering Education at Virginia Tech's College of Engineering. He holds a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from Virginia Tech (2009), along with an M.S. (2002) and B.S. (2000) in the same institution. His professional experience spans academia and industry, including roles as Director of Research and Development at Prime Photonics and Senior Project Engineer at TORC Robotics. Dr. Gray's research focuses on magnetic materials, non-destructive inspection, and effective pedagogical methods for first-year engineering students. He has secured $30k in research funding through VentureWell for undergraduate research initiatives. Notable achievements include the 2021-2022 Nunnally Award for Excellence in Engineering Education.

Education includes a strong foundation in electrical and materials engineering, culminating in postdoctoral work on magnetic sensors. His teaching philosophy emphasizes mentorship, project-based learning, and fostering student engagement. Dr. Gray has authored over 20 peer-reviewed publications and holds multiple patents related to energy harvesting, non-destructive testing systems, and magnetoelectric sensors. Professional affiliations include editorial roles with the ASNT Research in Nondestructive Evaluation journal.

• Grants: VentureWell - Student-Lead Early Academic Career Undergraduate Research ($30k)
• Patents: Includes systems for non-uniformity detection, magnetothermal energy devices, and torque measurement technologies.
• Teaching: Courses span foundational engineering design (ENGE 1215/1216), innovation (ENGE 2094), and capstone projects (ENGE 4735/4736).

Awards highlight his commitment to excellence in engineering education, reflecting a career bridging academic rigor with industry innovation.