Ann Saterbak, Ph.D.

Rice’s junior and senior classes have named Ann Saterbak a favorite professor, bestowing upon her Rice’s oldest teaching award: the Nicolas Salgo Distinguished Teacher Award. Created in 1966, the award is funded by the Salgo-Noren Foundation.

Ann Saterbak
Saterbak, associate dean of engineering education and a professor in the practice of bioengineering education, has won national and university recognition for her innovative and effective classroom approaches to problem-solving and engineering design..

For 16 years, she has developed and taught undergraduate engineering courses. In 2011, she launched Introduction to Engineering Design, a popular design course for freshmen that challenges them to come up with practical solutions to real-world problems.  She often she hears student say they signed up for the course because they want to use power tools and other equipment in the Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen (OEDK).

“I think there is some truth to that, because the resources at the OEDK are really fantastic,” Saterbak said. “However, I also think that engineering students are looking for opportunities to work on authentic and meaningful projects.”

Since it is a client-based course, students are working to create a design solution for community members with a real need, she explained.

“To solve these challenges, students apply their STEM knowledge in creative ways,” said Saterbak. “That’s fun!”

WASHINGTON, D.C.— The American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) has announced the pending induction of Ann Saterbak, Ph.D., Professor in the Practice of Bioengineering Education; Associate Dean of Engineering Education, Bioengineering, Rice University, to its College of Fellows. Dr. Saterbak was nominated, reviewed, and elected by peers and members of the College of Fellows For outstanding contributions to biomedical engineering education through innovative curriculum, instructional standards and methods in laboratory experimentation, and biomedical engineering design.