Instructional Assistant Professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering Nirathi Keerthi Govindu has received a $10,000 Teaching Innovation Program (TIP) grant to fund her undergraduate research lab proposal at the University of Houston at Katy.
The project will leverage existing lab space at the Katy campus to enhance student learning and engagement through hands-on, project-based learning across all systems engineering (SYSE) courses and serve as a resource for senior capstone design projects by providing mentorship, research tools, and infrastructure to support SYSE students.
“This initiative aims to deepen student understanding, support diverse learning styles, and improve academic outcomes — ultimately preparing students for successful careers in systems engineering,” said Govindu. “With the support of the TIP grant for my proposal, Enhancing Classroom Learning in Systems Engineering via an Undergraduate Research Lab, this vision is now becoming a reality, and we can move forward with building a collaborative and applied learning environment that bridges theory with practice.”
“Since systems engineering offers a rewarding and versatile career path that deserves greater visibility among future engineers, this lab could also serve as an outreach platform to introduce high school students to the field through hands-on activities, demonstrations, and interactive sessions,” she added.
In the lab, students will have access to shared space with high-performance hardware equipped with the software used in SYSE courses and mentors to guide them through practice and implementation.
“Dr. Oumaima Larif, incoming systems engineering faculty, provided valuable feedback on the computer equipment and software that would be needed to support the proposed undergraduate research lab,” said Govindu.
“It’s like a dream come true,” she added. “We have a lab space out at Katy, where the Systems Engineering program is located, but now with this opportunity we are at last getting to do something I’ve always wanted to try.”
Her submission was strengthened by a letter from the Dean of Engineering as well as the support of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE) Department Chair Gino Lim, who encouraged Govindu to pursue the grant.
“It came as a perfect opportunity at just the right time,” she said.
Govindu has already begun the several months of planning and preparing that will go into turning the TIP grant into a functional systems engineering lab space, including beginning its integration into course curricula — the next steps of implementing her proposal “involve collaborating with Dr. Larif in planning for the integration of hands-on components into our courses.”
Govindu anticipates great things in the months to come, including an Undergraduate Research Showcase to be held in Spring 2026.
“This is just the beginning. I hope to someday build a strong undergraduate research program supported by external grants and industry partnerships — one that cultivates the next generation of highly skilled Systems Engineers.”