Justin Solomon Appointed Associate Dean for Engineering Education at MIT
Justin Solomon, an associate professor in the MIT Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS), has been named associate dean for engineering education in the MIT School of Engineering, effective July 1. In this pivotal role, Solomon is set to drive innovation in engineering education across the school, addressing the evolving landscape of an AI-powered world.
Advancing Engineering Education in the AI Era
Solomon’s role will focus on developing new pedagogical approaches and exploring diverse learning methods, including experiential and practical learning. By collaborating with academic departments, he aims to integrate AI into curricula, fostering interdisciplinary and collaborative teaching opportunities. His efforts will also support the implementation of recommendations from the Committee on the use of AI in teaching, learning, and research training.
Fostering Industry Collaborations and New Learning Models
Solomon plans to enhance industry collaborations through innovative models for on-campus internships and industry-focused learning. Working alongside department heads and the School of Engineering leadership team, he will assist faculty in designing new courses and advancing existing programs to leverage new opportunities in engineering.
“Justin’s interdisciplinary approach will be particularly valuable as we evolve engineering education to meet new opportunities and challenges. His extensive experience in applying AI across a broad range of areas will help every academic department thoughtfully integrate AI and new educational models into their curricula,” says Paula T. Hammond, dean of the School of Engineering and institute professor. “I look forward to the vision and perspective he will bring to the school’s leadership team.”
A Pillar of Computer Science Education at MIT
Solomon has played a central role in shaping computer science education at MIT. He is a major contributor to the Common Ground for Computing, where he co-teaches core class 6.C01 (Modeling with Machine Learning: From Algorithms to Applications) with Regina Barzilay, the Delta Electronics Professor in the MIT Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and an associate faculty member in the Institute for Medical Engineering and Science. As part of the EECS, he teaches 6.7350 (Numerical Algorithms for Computing and Machine Learning) and 6.8410 (Shape Analysis). He is also the founder of the Summer Geometry Initiative, a six-week program that introduces students to geometry processing through intensive training, collaboration, and research experiences.
Recognized for Excellence in Teaching and Research
Solomon’s dedication to teaching and student support has earned him awards such as the EECS Outstanding Educator Award and the Elizabeth Jamieson Award for Excellence in Teaching. He authored “Numerical Algorithms,” providing computer science students with a contemporary approach to numerical analysis.
Leading Research in Geometric Computing
As a senior researcher at MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL), Solomon leads the Geometric Computing Group. His research intersects geometry and computation, with applications in computer graphics, autonomous navigation, political redistricting, physical simulation, 3D modeling, and medical imaging. He is also a core faculty member of the MIT-IBM Watson AI Lab, contributing to cutting-edge AI research.
Solomon’s scholarly contributions have been acknowledged with awards like the 2023 Harold E. Edgerton Faculty Achievement Award. In 2025, he was named a Schmidt Polymath, supporting interdisciplinary research in areas such as acoustics and climate that rely on large-scale simulations of physical systems.
Academic and Professional Background
Solomon joined the MIT faculty in 2016 after holding an NSF Mathematical Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at Princeton University. He earned his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees from Stanford University, where he also worked as a research assistant at Pixar Animation Studios.
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