Daria Kotys-Schwartz Headshot
Teaching Professor • Design Center Colorado Co-Director • Idea Forge Director • Design Excellence Faculty Fellow

Office Location: FLMG 130F

Research Interests

Prototyping, engineering education, project-based learning

Dr. Kotys-Schwartz's education and professional background are rooted in manufacturing engineering. After working as an Advanced Manufacturing Engineer, she focused her research efforts on polymer processing. Dr. Kotys-Schwartz's current research endeavors center on engineering education, specifically on how students learn design in engineering. Her research aims to add to the body of knowledge in three research areas identified by the Engineering Education Research Colloquies: Engineering Learning Mechanisms Research, Engineering Diversity and Inclusiveness Research, and Engineering Learning Systems.

Teaching

  • GEEN 1400 - First Year Projects
  • MCEN 2024 - Material Science
  • MCEN 3025 - Component Design
  • MCEN 4026 - Manufacturing Processes & System
  • MCEN 4045/4085 - Senior Design Projects
  • MCEN 5055 - Advanced Product Design
  • MCEN 5065/5075 - Graduate Design Projects

Select Publications

  • Novoselich, B, Kotys-Schwartz, D, Demoret, K, Nunez, M, Brackin, P., "Considering Team Roles with a Shared Leadership Framework." International Journal of Engineering Education. Accepted.
  • Lauff CA, Weidler-Lewis J, Kotys-Schwartz D, Rentschler ME. "Prototypes as Intermediary Objects for Design Coordination in First-Year Design Courses." International Journal of Engineering Education. 34 (3) (January 01, 2018): 1085-1103.
  • Gewirtz, C., Paretti, M., Kotys-Schwartz, D, Knight, D., Hernandez, C., Howe, S., Rosenbauer, L., Ford, J., Alvarez, N., “New Engineers’ First Three Months: A Study of the Transition from Capstone Design Courses to Workplaces.” American Society for Engineering Education, June 24, 2018 - June 28, 2018), June 25, 2018. Best Paper Nominee.

Select Awards

  • Marinus Smith Teaching Award; Alumni Association; University of Colorado, 2017
  • Department of Mechanical Engineering Design Excellence Faculty Fellow; Mechanical Engineering; University of Colorado Boulder, 2017
  • Department of Mechanical Engineering Woodward Outstanding Faculty Award; Mechanical Engineering; University of Colorado Boulder, 2016
  • Max S. Peters Faculty Service Award; College of Engineering and Applied Sciences; University of Colorado Boulder, 2015
  • ASEE ERM Distinguished Service Award; American Society of Engineering Education; Educational Research Methods Division, 2014
  • Boulder Faculty Assembly Faculty Recognition Award. Boulder Faculty Assembly; University of Colorado Boulder, 2013
  • Department of Mechanical Engineering Outstanding Service Award; Mechanical Engineering; University of Colorado Boulder, 2013
  • John & Mercedes Peebles Innovation in Education Award; College of Engineering and Applied Sciences; University of Colorado Boulder, 2011
  • Marinum Smith Teaching Award; Alumni Association; University of Colorado, 2009
  • Charles Hutchinson Memorial Teaching Award; College of Engineering and Applied Sciences; University of Colorado Boulder, 2007
  • Outstanding Ph.D. Dissertation Award; Mechanical Engineering; University of Colorado Boulder, 2007
  • ERM Faculty Apprentice Grant; American Society of Engineering Education; Educational Research Methods Division, 2006
  • Sullivan-Carlson Innovation in Teaching Award; College, 2004