-= Slava V Rotkin :: Personal Pages

Teaching is a very important, challenging and rewarding part of academic work. I have started my teaching carrier as an Assistant Professor in 1994 at St.Petersburg Electrical Engineering University (SEEU). The Head of the Department, Noble Prize Winner, Prof. Zhores Alferov suggested that I develop a new course on Advanced Quantum Mechanics that would teach students how to apply modern solid state theory to semiconductor materials and devices. In 1994 I prepared the new course "Modern Methods of the Solid State Theory" and taught it.

By request of Department Head, I have developed an interdisciplinary course "Novel Carbon-Based NEMS, Quantum and Electronic Devices" for graduate students at ECE, UIUC (ECE 497, 4/4 credits, 45 hours) and taught it in Spring 2003. It includes home works, paper review, term project and final exam. In this course I bring together most important fundamentals of materials science of nanotubes, nanowires and other smart novel materials. The course textbook is in preparation for Kluwer Academic Publishers.

I have an extensive interdisciplinary teaching experience. During the years at SEEU I learned a lot from the best SEEU and St.Petersburg Technical University (STU) faculty and from distinguished Ioffe Institute (Ioffe) research fellows who lectured at SEEU. This helped me to develop my own style in teaching, which preserves the best features of the Russian theoretical school and advances it toward modern methods of education. In 1996 I participated in a special training at University of Oslo, which had been conducted by internationally renowned Professors from Norway and Israel. During that training I had an opportunity to study methods of education used in those countries.

For six years I had been affiliated with the Optoelectronics Department of Electronics Faculty, SEEU, since 1999 as an Associate Professor. I taught advanced quantum mechanics and solid state theory for 1st year M. Sc. students. As a faculty at the Optoelectronics Department I developed on the teaching methods and new approaches, especially methods of computerized education. In 1999 as a member of the special faculty committee I took part in developing a new program for B. Sc. and M. Sc. in Electronics, Solid State Physics and Semiconductor Physics. I also supervised graduate and undergraduate research assistants at SEEU, St.Petersburg Technical University and Ioffe Institute. I have participated in organizing of several student seminar series. Since 2001, I serve as a secretary of Nanotube Seminar Series at Beckman Institute, UIUC.

I also worked as a research supervisor for High School students. This was an interesting experience because of a completely different level of knowledge compared to that of undergraduate students. I believe that gifted persons can start scientific research before entering a University; this motivates them to take courses that are related to their field. I never gave a mere learning task to my students; instead it was always a real scientifically sound problem. My students were considered to be the best in their classes. My mentors taught me how to create a fruitful, personal and enjoyable environment for study and research and I will provide such environment for my future students.