Rate My Professor Christopher Muir

Professor Christopher Muir serves as a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Rochester's Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. He earned his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Lehigh University in 1996. Before pursuing graduate studies, he worked at a rapid prototyping startup. From 1996 to 2014, Muir held positions at Eastman Kodak Company, advancing to senior principal engineer. There, he applied his expertise in mechanical design across multiple business units, including health imaging, commercial and government systems, film and cameras, and commercial printing. He contributed to the design of mechanical components for large commercial printers measuring 80 to 85 feet in length. His professional experience also encompasses computer-based simulation and engineering instruction emphasizing practical elements such as patents, ethics, and project coordination.

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.