The final competition of the 2015 Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) “KoGuan Top Ten Teachers” was held in Minhang campus on December 27. After the initial presentation and the final re-evaluation, David Hung, University of Michigan- SJTU Joint Institute’s (UM-SJTU JI) associate professor, won one of the titles.
The re-evaluation was in the form of open class, including lecture and round-table discussions. In his lecture, Professor Hung presented the concept of green cars from the viewpoint of energy saving. In detail and with humor, he described the typical green cars on the current market, their development prospects and challenges. He pointed out that green cars use renewable energy instead of fossil energy, reduce exhaust emissions and protect the environment. Therefore, green car development is urgent today in China’s environmental crisis.
During the round-table discussions, when asked about the transition from the role of a teacher to that of a scholar, Hung argued that “it is only possible through the students.” He took a former JI student as an example: as a sophomore, the student already dreamed of studying at Harvard and had set a clear plan to reach his goal. Professor Hung was very impressed by the young man’s vision and blueprint for life, and he felt he had learned from the student too.
Professor David Hung and his students
Professor Hung ranked number two at the final competition and became the first JI faculty member to win the title of “KoGuan Top Ten Teachers,” following Professor Chengbin Ma who had won the 2014 “KoGuan Top Ten Research teams.”
Brief Bio of Professor David Hung:
Dr. David Hung is an associate professor of JI. He received his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University, USA, in 1998. Previously, he was an associate professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Michigan State University and he also held professional employments in the US at General Motors, Delphi and Visteon Corporations where he researched on advanced powertrain systems, gasoline direct injection engine and optical diagnostics. His research projects were funded by the US Department of Energy and other agencies. Professor Hung joined JI in June 2010 with a dual appointment as a professor in the Institute of Automotive Engineering, School of Mechanical Engineering at SJTU. He has published over 80 papers in archival journals and conference proceedings including Nature Physics, International Journal of Engine Research, IEEE Transactions of Mechatronics, SAE and ASME Transactions. He has been granted ten US patents. He is serving as an editorial board member of the highly regarded journal Progress in Energy and Combustion Science (Impact factor of 16.909 during 2013-2014). He has received numerous funding from Chinese agencies, including China MOE’s new century talent award, NSFC grants, SJTU inter-disciplinary research grant.
At JI, he has been teaching upper level and graduate subjects in automotive engineering and mechanical engineering laboratory courses, training students on engineering skills and team work through interactive learning. He received the 2012 SJTU Excellent Teaching (First Prize) Award. In addition, as the lead instructor for Vm495, he has been recognized with other JI faculty members in the core mechanical engineering discipline to win the 2012 SJTU Teaching Achievement Award and 2013 Academic Achievement Award by the City of Shanghai for JI’s reform and innovation in training mechanical engineering students. Professor Hung was elected as a Fellow of SAE International (Society of Automotive Engineers) in 2013.
