from left to right: Arvind Raman, John A. Edwardson Dean of the College of Engineering, James Davis, Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Milind Kulkarni, Michael and Katherine Birck Head and Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

James Davis, assistant professor in Purdue University’s Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, has received Purdue University’s Exceptional Early Career Teaching Award, which recognizes outstanding undergraduate teaching by early-career faculty members.

The annual award honors assistant professors who demonstrate excellence in the classroom and a strong commitment to supporting students beyond it. Recipients are recognized for communicating complex material clearly, helping students master challenging subjects, and serving as mentors and advisers. The award includes a $5,000 prize, along with additional funds for a department business account.

“Jamie is an exceptional teacher and mentor who brings real energy, care and clarity to the classroom,” said Milind Kulkarni, the Michael and Katherine Birck Head and Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering. “He challenges students to think deeply, supports them as they grow, and helps make even the most complex ideas feel approachable. We are proud to see him recognized with this well-deserved honor.”

Davis’s teaching reflects the same practical, forward-looking mindset that shapes his research. His work focuses on safe and secure software engineering for cyber and cyber-physical systems, helping make the software behind connected technologies more reliable, trustworthy and resilient.

That expertise gives students insight into some of today’s most important technology challenges while helping them understand how engineering can improve everyday life. Through his teaching, Davis helps students build not only technical knowledge, but also the confidence to solve real-world problems.

“Purdue is a research-intensive institution and of course research is an incredibly important part of the work of the faculty,” said Davis. “But we’ve also got this incredible body of undergraduates, and it’s just so rewarding to spend time with them and help them shape their career interests and where they’re going to go after they graduate. That’s the most fulfilling part of teaching for me.”

For Purdue ECE, Davis’s recognition highlights the school’s commitment to excellence in undergraduate education and to preparing students for a world increasingly shaped by software, cybersecurity and connected systems.