Carlos Torres-Verdín
Carlos Torres-Verdín received a M.Sc. degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, and a Ph.D. degree in Engineering Geoscience from the University of California at Berkeley in 1991. During 1991-1997, he held the position of Research Scientist with Schlumberger-Doll Research. From 1997-1999, he was Reservoir Specialist and Technology Champion with YPF (Buenos Aires, Argentina). Since 1999, he has been affiliated with the Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering of the University of Texas at Austin, where he is currently Full Professor, holds the Brian James Jennings Memorial Endowed Chair in Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering, and conducts research on borehole geophysics, formation evaluation, petrophysics, well logging, and integrated subsurface description for fluid transport and elastic/mechanical processes. Dr. Torres-Verdín is passionate about teaching and instruction using methods that foster, promote, and accelerate critical and deep thinking, extraordinary learning, circular and reflective learning, self pedagogy, and diversity, equity and inclusion.
Improved Student Evaluations of Teaching
Student evaluations of teaching (SETs) are one of the official means to gauge the performance and effectiveness of an instructor at higher-education institutions. They are often used for promotion/tenure decisions as well as to guide faculty into becoming effective instructors. But the question is whether, as currently implemented at UT Austin, SETs are reliable indicators of (a) effective teaching, and (b) long-lasting, impactful learning?