National awards highlight industrial engineering faculty

Dr. David Eckman, assistant professor in Texas A&M University’s Wm Michael Barnes ‘64 Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, was recently awarded the 2026 National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award, the most prestigious honor for early-career faculty in the United States. His work in simulation analysis and optimization highlights the department’s commitment to research that addresses complex, real-world problems.

Industrial and systems engineering faculty conduct research and teach across all four focus areas: operations research, data science, advanced manufacturing and health and human systems engineering. Many of these faculty members are being recognized nationally for their scholarship, mentorship and educational impact. 

These awards reflect the department’s dedication to innovation, mentorship and real-world problem solving. These faculty represent a selection of the many industrial and systems engineering faculty members who have earned this prestigious recognition over the years.

Dr. David Eckman, data science (2026)

Eckman’s research focuses on analyzing stochastic simulation models and contributing to advancements across industries such as manufacturing and logistics.

“What drew me to this area was how it combines probability, statistics, optimization and computing in varied ways to help organizations answer challenging questions in the face of uncertainty,” Eckman said.

The NSF CAREER award supports his work on new methods that couple simulation experiments with guided searches for optimal decisions, transforming how researchers and practitioners evaluate risks and tradeoffs. It also enables him to develop educational materials that enhance data and statistical literacy for students and decision-makers.

“Advising students is one of the most rewarding parts of the job,” he said. “I hope my interactions with younger researchers will lead them to discover what they are passionate about and to experience the personal joy that comes from creating and acquiring new knowledge.”

The award has strengthened the reach and impact of his lab, allowing him to mentor talented students, foster a collaborative research environment and expand opportunities for collaboration with other researchers and industry partners.

Receiving the award marks an important milestone in Eckman’s ongoing research journey.

“I’m very humbled to receive this recognition,” he said. “Having external reviewers affirm the potential value of the ideas laid out in the proposal renews my confidence in my career path and in exploring new and interesting research directions.”

Dr. Hrayer Aprahamian, operations research (2025)

Aprahamian’s work applies advanced data science and optimization techniques to develop practical solutions to deal with the uncertainty and complexity inherent to many real-world problems. His award recognizes innovative approaches to combining computational methods and statistical modeling to improve system performance and decision-making.

“Receiving the NSF CAREER award has allowed me to pursue ambitious research directions while remaining grounded in real-world applications,” Aprahamian said. “It has also reinforced the importance of integrating education and outreach with my work to mentor the next generation of engineers.”

The award has strengthened his lab by supporting graduate students, fostering a collaborative research environment and creating opportunities to apply data-driven insights to societal challenges.

Dr. Maryam Zahabi, health and human systems engineering (2021)

Zahabi studies human behavior modeling to improve safety and efficiency in technology design, with applications in surface transportation, assistive technology and law enforcement. Her NSF CAREER award project examined how police officers interact with in-vehicle technologies, identifying improvements that enhance safety and reduce workload.

“It is incredibly fulfilling to work on research that addresses real-world safety challenges and has the potential to improve the design of technologies used by law enforcement officers,” Zahabi said. “Mentoring students and seeing them develop skills and confidence as researchers has been one of the most gratifying aspects of this experience.”

Through the award, Zahabi has also expanded educational outreach. This includes workshops for high school teachers to introduce them to human systems engineering, inspiring the next generation of students.

Dr. Alaa Elwany, advanced manufacturing (2019)

Elwany’s research focuses on next-generation manufacturing technologies, particularly additive manufacturing of metals. His work explores materials science, process physics and scalability to expand what is possible in production and product design. He has helped shape best practices in the field and contributed to advancements that are transforming both industrial applications and academic understanding.

“Receiving the NSF CAREER award validated that the research direction I chose was meaningful and valued by the broader community,” Elwany said. “It provided the confidence to think bigger, aim higher and invest in long-term ideas.”

The award also allowed him to mentor and collaborate with talented students, broaden his professional networks and participate in outreach programs that advance workforce development and foster global partnerships.