Derek Vasquez, Ph.D., M.S.
Derek Vasquez, Ph.D., M.S.
Assistant Professor of Engineering
College of Arts & Sciences
Education
Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, 2026, Florida State University; M.S. in College STEM Teaching, 2025, Florida State University; M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, 2023, Florida State University; B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, 2020, Brigham Young University
Biography
Dr. Derek Vasquez joined Augustana in Fall 2026 after completing a Ph.D. at Florida State University. His Ph.D. research focused on the design and control of legged robots, particularly for seafloor exploration. He is passionate about the science of learning and designing meaningful learning experiences. At Augustana, he leads a robotics research program and is developing a new bachelor's degree in engineering.