Esther Tian

POSITION: Associate Professor; Program Director - Engineering

LOCATION: Main Campus, Harrisonburg | SSC 019E

PHONE: (540) 432-4404

Esther Tian received her B.S. and M.S. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Changsha Institute of Technology in China. She received her Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Virginia, where she did an interdisciplinary research on Modeling and Analysis of Neuronal Circuits for Locomotion with Sensory Feedback. Esther taught Statistics and Calculus at the Miller School of Albemarle and read AP exams for the ETS and College Board. In the fall of 2013 Esther joined the Eastern Mennonite University as an Assistant Professor of Engineering. Her research interests include neuronal control mechanism of animal locomotion and bio-inspired robotics, as well as engineering design education. Esther’s hobbies are reading and hiking. When hiking she enjoys striking new routes, although there is one trail she is especially fond of. It happens to be called Old Trail.

Education

BS, Changsha Institute of Technology (Mechanical Engineering)
MS, Changsha Institute of Technology (Mechanical Engineering)
PHD, University of Virginia (Mechanical Engineering)

Publications
(Selected)
Tian J., Showalter D., Kishbaugh T.L., Barge S. (2022) STEM Scholars Engaging in Local Problems. Proceedings of the 129th American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference, Minneapolis, MN.
Tian J. (2019) Would it naturally happen? – faith and engineering integration at a Christian University. Proceedings of the 2019 Christian Engineering Conference, Sioux Center, IA
Tian J., Han P., Deng X., Lindengren R. E., Liu G., Ren Y., Dong H. (2018) Kinematics and hydrodynamics of invertebrate undulatory swimming. Proceedings of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) 5th Joint US-European Fluids Engineering Division Summer Meeting, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Tian J., King D. (2017) A collaborative design project between introductory engineering and physics classes. Proceedings of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Zone II Conference, San Juan, PR.
Tian J. (2014) A design approach in an Introduction to Engineering course. The 121st American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Annual Conference proceedings.
Chen J.¹, Tian J.¹, Iwasaki T., Friesen W.O. (2011) Mechanisms underlying rhythmic locomotion: Dynamics of muscle activation. Journal of Experimental Biology 214: 1955-1964. (¹ Authors contributed equally.)
Tian J., Iwasaki T., Friesen W.O. (2010) Analysis of impulse adaptation in motoneurons. Journal of Comparative Physiology A 196: 123-136.
Tian J., Iwasaki T., Friesen W.O. (2007) Muscle Function in Animal Movement: Passive Mechanical Properties of Leech Muscle. Journal of Comparative Physiology A 193: 1205-1219.
Tian J., Iwasaki T., Friesen W.O. (2007) Transformation of Motoneuron Activity to Muscle Tension in Swimming Leeches. Program No. 406.8. Neuroscience Meeting Planner. San Diego, CA: Society for Neuroscience.
Tian J., Iwasaki T., Friesen W.O. (2006) Static and Dynamic Components of Pacemaker Sensitivity in Leech Motoneurons. Program No. 649.12. Neuroscience Meeting Planner. Atlanta, GA: Society for Neuroscience.
Tian J., Iwasaki T., Friesen W.O. (2005) Passive Properties and Model of the Leech Body Wall. Program No. 177.15. Abstract Viewer/Itinerary Planner. Washington, DC: Society for Neuroscience.
Church, Community and Professional Service
National Science Foundation (NSF) Panelist
Reviewer for the ASEE annual conference proceedings

Reviewer for the Christian Engineering Conference proceedings
University Baptist Church (UBC) deacon
People and Congregations Engaged in Ministry (PACEM) volunteer through UBC
Honors, Awards and Grants
STEM Scholars Engaging in Local Problems, NSF 1741937, 2018-2022. PI: T. L. Kishbaugh, Co-PIs: D. King, J. Tian, S. Cessna, D. Showalter.

Lilly Faculty Fellow with grant 2019 – 2021
Summer teaching grant for developing contents for the new application-oriented
course – Precalculus for Science and Engineering
Small Project Grant from ESW National for Solar Chicken Coop project
ESW@EMU club was selected as featured chapter at ESW National, 2014
Hostetler Scholarship from EMU for the work on Exploration of Efficient Swimming through a Robotics Approach
Zook B, Grove D, Paetkau J, Longenecker C, Engle A, Stutzman B, Tian J (2017) The Sustainable Stationary Bike. ASEE Zone II Conference, San Juan, PR. First place winner in the first/Second Year Engineering and/or Engineering Technology Design Teams Division in the undergraduate student poster competition.
Leaman J, Swartzentruber R, Zook M, Nisly J, Thibodeaux A, Tian J (2014) Solar-powered greenhouse. Won second place in the first- and second-year Engineering Design Team Division in the undergraduate students poster competition at ASEE Southeastern Section Annual Conference. Macon, GA. Also won first place at the EMU STEM poster show in the category of the extended research project in Mathematical Sciences.
EMU STEM travel grant for attending and presenting at ASEE-SE annual conference with three undergraduate students in Macon, GA.
EMU STEM travel grant for attending and presenting at the 121st ASEE annual conference in Indianapolis, IN.
Professional Memberships
- American Society for Engineering Education
- Engineers for a Sustainable World
- Christian Engineering Society
Professional Conferences Attended
The 129th ASEE Annual Conference. Minneapolis, MN, 2022

ASME International Mechanical Engineering Education Leadership Summit (MEED) March, 2021 (virtual)

IEEE Virtual Conference On Effective Remote Instruction: Reimagining the Engineering Student Experience, July 2020

Lilly faculty fellows conferences, Indianapolis, IN and Chicago, IL, 2019; Virtual 2020

The Robotics Summit and Expo, Boston, MA, 2019

Engineering for a Sustainable World Annual Conference, El Paso, TX, 2019

American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) 5th Joint US-European Fluids Engineering Division Summer Meeting, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 2018

Engineering for a Sustainable World Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA, 2018
ASEE Zone II Conference, San Juan, PR, 2017
The 10th Annual Course Development Institute, Goshen College, IN, 2017
The 122nd ASEE Annual Conference. Seattle, WA, 2015
University of Virginia’s 3rd Annual Innovation in Pedagogy Summit, Charlottesville, VA, 2015
Alpha Chi Sigma (AXE) Sponsored Seminars. UVa, Charlottesville, VA, 2014
The 121st ASEE Annual Conference. Indianapolis, IN, 2014
ASEE Southeastern Section Annual Conference. Macon, GA, 2014
New Courses Taught
ENGR 325 Engineering Ethics (one fourth), Spring 2020

ENGR 480 Control Systems, Fall 2019

ENGR 380 Systems, Spring 2019

ENGR 156 Math for Engineering Lab, Spring 2019

ENGR 491 Capstone Project, Spring 2019

ENGR 490 Senior Design, Fall 2018

ENGR 110 Introduction to Engineering and Design, Fall 2016
ENGR 155 Math for Engineering Lab, Fall 2016
MATH 150/BMS510 Elements of Calculus, Fall 2015
MATH 155 Precalculus for Science and Engineering, Fall 2015
ENGR 280 Engineering Dynamics, Spring 2015
ENGR 499 Independent Study, Fall 2014
MATH 101 Foundations of Math, Fall 2014
ENGR 270 Engineering Statics, Spring 2014
MATH 185 Calculus I, Spring 2014
PSYC 451/BIOL451/BMS574 Neuropsychology (one third), Spring 2014
BMS 599 Statistics, Spring 2014
ENGR 110 Introduction to Engineering, Fall 2013
MATH 140 Elementary Statistics, Fall 2013
MATH 145 Precalculus, Fall 2013
The Exploration of Wind and Solar Energy, Summer 2013 (Designed and taught Engineering lab sessions at EMU as part of the program Bridging the Valley: a Step Ahead for STEM Majors.)
EMU Service
Director for the Engineering Program

Interim Chair of the Mathematical Sciences Department (Spring, 2020)

The Center for Innovation and Leadership advisory board
Faculty advisor for Engineers for a Sustainable World at EMU
EMU Faculty Senate (2017-19, 2020-24)

EMU University Colloquium Speaker (2022)
EMU Suter Science Seminar Invited Speaker (2014)

EMU Fall 2018 Faculty-Staff Conference storytelling session speaker

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