Luke Landherr

COE Distinguished Teaching Professor and Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies,  Chemical Engineering

Contact

Social Media

Office

  • 201 Cullinane
  • 617.373.8646

Research Focus

Development of comics, visualization, and modules for novel STEM teaching tools for all-ages education

About

Dr. Lucas Landherr joined the Chemical Engineering Department in the fall of 2012, and has since been conducting engineering education research into novel teaching techniques for undergraduate and K-12 STEM education.  They have focused on the development of comics to teach complex science and engineering concepts, through collaboration with professional and student artists, and his comics have been adopted by colleges throughout the U.S. as well as in the U.K., Belgium, and Denmark.  Dr. Landherr is currently a regular contributor to the Chemical Engineering Education journal, producing the Drawn To Engineering comic, and was the engineering consultant helping develop the Crash Course Engineering series with PBS Digital.

Dr. Landherr previously received their Bachelor’s degree from Lafayette College in 2005 with an honors thesis studying drag-reducing polymers. They then completed their Ph.D. at Cornell University in 2010, developing and characterizing thin polymer films and brushes as nanoscale lubricants. While at Cornell, they received a GK-12 NSF Fellowship, with which they designed curriculum and physics experiments for high school classrooms. In 2012, Dr. Landherr completed an NRC Postdoctoral Research Associateship with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), where they conducted research on polymeric interactions with superhydrophobic surfaces.

Education

  • B.S. (Chemical Engineering) Lafayette College, 2005
  • Ph.D. (Chemical Engineering) Cornell University, 2010

Honors & Awards

  • American Society of Engineering Education Joseph J. Martin Award – 2023
  • American Institute of Chemical Engineers Award for Excellence in Engineering Education Research – 2022
  • American Society of Engineering Education Ray W. Fahien Award – 2019
  • American Institute of Chemical Engineers Award for Innovation in Chemical Engineering Education – 2018
  • American Institute of Chemical Engineers 35 Under 35 Award – 2017
  • American Society of Engineering Education Northeast Section Outstanding Teacher Award – 2016

—-

  • Omega Chi Epsilon Professor of the Year Award – 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023
  • Dr. R. H. Sioui Award for Excellence in Teaching – recipient in 2015, 2020; honorable mention 2019
  • College of Engineering Fostering Engineering Innovation in Education Award – 2017
  • Faculty Leadership Award, Northeastern student chapters of SWE, SHPE, BESS, SASE, 2019
  • Gratitude Award, Northeastern LGBTQA Resource Center, 2019

—-

  • Provost Grant for Advancing Undergraduate Teaching and Learning – Recipient, 2015

Teaching Interests

  • Process Control
  • Transport
  • Conservation Principles

Leadership Positions

  • AIChE Societal Impact Operating Council, chair 2019 (vice chair 2018, past chair 2020)
  • AIChE K-12 Committee, chair 2020
  • AIChE national conference Co-Programming Chair, 2021
  • ChemE Dept. Undergraduate Education Committee chair 2020-
  • ChemE Dept. Student Awards Commitee chair 2014-2020

Professional Affiliations

  • American Institute of Chemical Engineers
    • AIChE Societal Impact Operating Council, member 2015-2021
    • AIChE K-12 Committee, co-founder
    • AIChE Disabilities OutReach and Inclusion Committee, co-founder
  • American Society of Engineering Education

Research Overview

Development of comics, visualization, and modules for novel STEM teaching tools for all-ages education

Science The World

Finding ways to improve STEM education at all levels – this is what Science The World is all about.

Science The World

Department Research Areas

Selected Publications

Sample Publications:

  • L. Landherr. Crash Course: Engineering, Serving as Engineering Consultant /Curriculum Writer, Youtube Series in Affiliation with PBS Digital, 2018-2019.
  • L. Landherr. Integrating Comics Into Engineering Education To Promote Student Interest, Confidence, and Understanding. Proceedings of the ASEE Annual Conference, 2019.
  • M. Vigeant, J. Cole, K. Dahm, L. Ford, L. Landherr, D. Silverstein, C. West. How We Teach: Thermodynamics, Proceedings of the ASEE Annual Conference, 2019.
  • L. Landherr, M. Keszler. Drawn to Engineering: Illumination, Chemical Engineering  Education, 53(3), 2019, 145-146.
  • L. Landherr, M. Keszler. Drawn to Engineering: Evolving Your Teaching, Chemical Engineering  Education, 53(2), 2019, 67-68.
  • L. Landherr, M. Keszler. Drawn to Engineering: Idea Theft, Chemical Engineering  Education, 53(1), 2019, 63-64.
  • L. Landherr, M. Keszler. Drawn to Engineering: Exams Are Alive With The Sound Of  … Music?, Chemical Engineering Education, 52(4), 2018, 294-295.
  • L. Landherr, M. Keszler. Drawn to Engineering: Skeleton Notes, Chemical Engineering Education, 52(3), 2018, 221-222
  • L. Landherr, M. Keszler. Drawn to Engineering: Diversity Statement, Chemical Engineering Education, 52(2), 2018, 115-116
  • L. Landherr, M. Lubchansky. Drawn to Engineering: Answering Questions, Chemical Engineering Education, 52(1), 2018, 31-32
  • L. Landherr, M. Keszler. Drawn to Engineering: Presenting Audiences, Chemical Engineering Education, 51(4), 2017, 163-164
  • L. Landherr, M. Keszler. Drawn to Engineering: Humor in Exams, Chemical Engineering Education, 51(3), 2017, 126-127
  • L. Landherr, M. Lubchansky. Drawn to Engineering: Problem-Solvers, Chemical Engineering Education, 51(2), 2017, 62-63
  • L. Landherr, C. Pfluger, R.A. Koppes. The River Project: an Open-Ended Engineering Design Challenge from Bench-Scale to Pilot-Scale, Proceedings of the ASEE Annual Conference, 2018
  • M. Vigeant, D.L. Silverstein, K.D. Dahm, L.P. Ford, J. Cole, L. Landherr. How We Teach: Unit Operations Laboratory, Proceedings of the ASEE Annual Conference, 2018
  • L. Landherr. The Production of Science Comics To Improve Undergraduate Engineering, Proceedings of the ASEE Northeast Section Conference, 2016

STEM Comics:

  • “Gene Therapy.”  Simonson, Z. (w) and Keszler, M.. (p). Ed. By Shepherd, D. Boston, MA: Northeastern  University. 2016
  • “Assumptions.”  Cogswell, C. (w), Shepherd, D. * (w), and Pietsch, C. (p) Boston, MA: Northeastern  University.  2016
  • “Refrigeration Cycles.”  Shepherd, D. * (w) and Keszler, M. (p)  Boston, MA: Northeastern University.  2016
  • “Recycle and Purge Streams.”  Shepherd, D. * (w) and Lubchansky, M. (p).  Boston, MA: Northeastern  University.  2016
  • “Fugacity.”  Shepherd, D. * (w) and Cooke, J. (p).  Boston, MA: Northeastern University. 2016
  • “Heat Exchangers.”  Shepherd, D. * (w) and Lubchansky, M. (p).  Boston, MA: Northeastern University. 2016
  • “Feedback Controls.”  Shepherd, D. * (w) and Lai, M. (p).  Boston, MA: Northeastern University. 2015
  • “Uncertainty.”  Shepherd, D. * (w) and Kahl, A. (p).  Boston, MA: Northeastern University.  2015
  • “Data Analysis.”  Shepherd, D. * (w) and Sparks, B. (p).  Boston, MA: Northeastern University.  2015

Other Journal Articles:

  • “Interfacial Friction and Adhesion of Polymer Brushes.” Landherr, L.J.T.; Cohen, C.; Agarwal, P.; Archer, L.A. Langmuir 2011, 27, 9387-9395.
  • “Effect of Pendent Chains on the Interfacial Properties of Thin Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) Networks.” Landherr, L.J.T.; Cohen, C.; Archer, L.A. Langmuir 2011, 27, 5944-5952.
  • “Interfacial friction of thin PDMS network films.” Landherr, L.J.T.; Zhang, Q.; Cohen, C.; Archer, L.A. Journal of Polymer Science B, 2008, 46, 1773-1787.

(*- D. Shepherd is the creative pseudonym for L. Landherr)

Undergraduate

Jul 15, 2024

ChE Students Present at the ASEE 2024 Annual Conference

Under the supervision of COE Distinguished Teaching Professor Luke Landherr, two chemical engineering student papers were accepted for publication and presentation at the American Society of Engineering Education Annual Conference on June 25, 2024, at the Oregon Convention Center.

Undergraduate

May 08, 2024

2024 URF Scholars Recipients

Several engineering students received 2024 URF Scholars Awards from Northeastern’s Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships. URF Scholars are students who are graduating this year and who have earned a PEAK Experiences Award, applied for a distinguished fellowship, or participated in graduate school advising.

Undergraduate

Dec 04, 2023

Chemical Engineering Students Win 1st and 3rd at National AIChE Undergraduate Poster Competition

Chemical engineering students Ira Hysi, E’25, and Nethra Iyer, E’24, won 1st and 3rd place, respectively, showcasing their research at the national American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) Annual Meeting in the Undergraduate Poster Competition.

Lucas Landherr

In the Media

Nov 03, 2023

National Science Foundation Studies Whether Comics Are Better for Teaching STEM

ChE Distinguished Teaching Professor Luke Landherr was featured in the CBR article “National Science Foundation Studies Whether Comics Are Better for Teaching STEM.”

Faculty

Sep 20, 2023

Studying the Impact of Comics as Visual Learning Tools

ChE Distinguished Teaching Professor Luke Landherr was awarded a $300,000 NSF grant for “Conservation Principles, Illustrated: Analyzing the Impact of Informal Visual Learning Tools on Educational Engineering Through Comics.” The grant will study the impact of comics as visual learning tools by developing a series of comics and ConcepTest questions addressing concepts in a core introductory chemical engineering course.

Faculty

Sep 15, 2023

Fall 2023 PEAK Experiences Awardees for Undergrad Research

Several engineering and science students mentored by COE faculty are recipients of Fall 2023 PEAK Experiences Awards from Northeastern’s Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships.

Lucas Landherr

Faculty

Aug 30, 2023

Landherr Wins Best ChemE Division Paper at Annual ASEE Conference

ChE Teaching Professor and Associate Chair of Undergraduate Studies Luke Landherr received the Joseph J. Martin Award, for the most outstanding Chemical Engineering Division paper presented at the 2023 ASEE Annual Conference.  The paper is titled, “Teaching Fugacity Through Comics and Assessing the Impact on Student Confidence and Understanding.”

Faculty

Jun 12, 2023

Why Comics and Graphic Novels Like ‘Maus’ Are Effective Teaching Tools

ChE Teaching Professor Luke Landherr creates STEM comics that effectively engage students and improve their understanding of complex concepts.

Lucas Landherr

Faculty

Feb 16, 2023

Landherr Receives AIChE Grant To Create Comic Learning Tool

Chemical Engineering Distinguished Teaching Professor Lucas Landherr has received a grant from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) Foundation to create a comic learning tool for high school seniors and first-year college engineering students.

Faculty

Jan 25, 2023

Spring 2023 PEAK Experiences Awardees for Undergrad Research

Several engineering and science students mentored by COE faculty are recipients of Spring 2023 PEAK Experiences Awards from Northeastern’s Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships.

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