Taylan G. Topcu

Taylan G. Topcu is an Assistant Professor of Systems Engineering & Analysis at Virginia Tech's Grado Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering. He holds a Ph.D. from Virginia Tech (2020), an M.Sc. from the University of Alabama in Huntsville (2015), and a B.Sc. in Aerospace Engineering from Middle East Technical University (2009). His roles include Director of the Systems Engineering Master’s Degree and Coordinator of the Mission Engineering Certificate Program at Virginia Tech. His research focuses on systems engineering, microeconomics, and data-science integration to address socio-technical measurement challenges in complex systems design, emphasizing architecture theory and safety-critical systems management.

Key research themes include modularization's impact on system complexity, digital twins for healthcare sustainability, and leveraging AI tools like Large Language Models for systems engineering tasks. He collaborates with NASA, INFRABEL, and MITRE to ground theoretical insights in real-world contexts. Professional affiliations include INCOSE, ASME, INFORMS, and the Design Society.

Recent courses taught include ISE 5834 (Decision Analysis for Engineers) and ISE 5204 (Systems Engineering Capstone Project). His work bridges academia and industry, addressing both foundational theory and practical applications in complex system design and management.