Rate My Professor Christopher Muir

Muir joined the University of Rochester as an adjunct professor in 2001 while employed at Kodak, taught a course as a graduate student at Lehigh University prior, transitioned to full-time associate professor in 2014, and was promoted to full professor in 2018. He primarily instructs senior-level capstone design courses involving 60 to 85 students annually, numerical methods, and an introduction to solid mechanics. Over eight years, he has taught more than 2,400 students, fostering challenging yet safe environments through real-world stories, demanding projects, instructional videos, and passion for engineering. Muir secured funding for equipment including machining tools, laser scanners, 3D printers, and product data management software, while integrating facilities at Rettner Hall and Taylor Hall Student Shop. Notable projects include student-fabricated puzzles from Baltic birch plywood replicating University landmarks such as the clock tower and Rush Rhees Library crown. He advises the UR Baja SAE team, guiding design, fabrication, and competition of off-road vehicles, and serves as Director of Machine Shops. In 2022, he received the Goergen Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching. His research interests include developing collaborations in design and simulation, with contributions to projects like 3D kinematic models for seismic assessments of archaeological sites.