Recent CCEE grad Gunay Gina Aliyeva wins Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award

Recent CCEE grad Gunay Gina Aliyeva (Ph.D. 2023) was recognized with an Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award from the NC State Graduate Student Association’s Teaching Effectiveness Committee. The awards are the primary university-level recognition for exceptional contributions made by graduate teaching assistants (TAs) to the educational excellence of the university. 

“It was truly a moment of excitement and pride, knowing that my efforts were recognized by NC State,” Gunay Gina Aliyeva said. “I felt very lucky to have had such an amazing advisor, Dr. Abhinav Gupta, who made sure to help me excel not only in research but also in teaching during my time at NC State.”

Gupta is a CCEE professor and director of Center for Nuclear Energy Facilities and Structures (CNEFS). During her time with CNEFS, Gunay Gina Aliyeva earned numerous awards related to research, teaching and service as part of Women in Nuclear. She has served as a TA for several courses in the department over the years, both at the undergraduate and graduate level. 

Gunay Gina Aliyeva was accepted into NC State’s highly competitive Preparing for the Professoriate (PTP) program, which is designed to give doctoral students and postdoctoral scholars an immersive mentoring, teaching, and future faculty preparation experience. As part of the program, she served as the primary instructor for an undergraduate course in Solid Mechanics. 

“My favorite part about being a TA was to help students from different departments and witness how every student can enjoy engineering concepts, regardless of their background,” she said.

Gunay Gina Aliyeva currently works as a structural engineer for FDH Infrastructure Services and PowerN.