Alaa Abdalla

Alaa Abdalla is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Philosophy and Ethics group within the Industrial Engineering and Innovation Sciences department at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). Her research focuses on epistemological perspectives in engineering education, particularly challenge-based learning and study abroad modalities. She holds a PhD in Engineering Education from Virginia Tech (2023) and was an affiliate researcher at the Center for Global Higher Education (Oxford).

Education:

• Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University Qatar (with Transformative Educational Experience Grant)
• PhD in Engineering Education from Virginia Tech (2023)

Research Interests: Alaa investigates how knowledge is constructed and transmitted in educational settings, with a focus on international education programs and their impact on student learning. Her work bridges philosophy, pedagogy, and global engineering education systems. Key themes include epistemological beliefs, comparative education, and the design of effective learning environments.

Recent Trends in Articles: Her publications analyze study-abroad effectiveness in chemical engineering education, the evolving role of lectures in STEM teaching, and cross-cultural student experiences. These studies emphasize practical applications of educational theory in transnational contexts.

Awards:

• Nominated for Postdoc Best Paper Award (2024)

Activities & Grants: Alaa has delivered invited talks on ethics in engineering education and participated in workshops to reimagine international research collaboration in virtual environments. Her research has received support through grants and institutional affiliations.

Labs & Teams: She collaborates with the Philosophy and Ethics group at TU/e and maintains ties with the Center for Global Higher Education (Oxford).