Faculty Profile: Associate Professor of Engineering Albert Dato

Professor Dato has been teaching at Harvey Mudd since the fall of 2014, making this year his eighth. He first earned his undergraduate degrees, both a bachelors of science in Mechanical Engineering and one in Aeronautical Engineering, from the University of California Davis. For graduate school, he attended the University of California Berkeley. There, he earned a masters degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Ph.D. in Applied Science & Technology. When asked how he came to be at Mudd, he says that “teaching and scientific research make me happy in that order.  Mudd is a special place that enables me to be excellent in teaching and conduct research in the lab with amazing students.  This is a ‘dream job’!”

Here at Mudd, Professor Dato teaches many different courses. In the past, they have included Materials Engineering, Engineering Systems (the engineering class in the Core, which all students take–usually in sophomore fall), Intro to Experimental Engineering, Biomaterials, and Engineering Clinic (the senior project for engineering majors). This semester specifically, he is teaching a few sections of Intro to Experimental Engineering. By far his favorite part of these classes specifically is watching the students grow into more capable engineers as the semester progresses. Professor Dato also runs a research lab on campus, which he describes as focusing on “solving the world’s problems with materials that are a thousand times smaller than a human hair.”

Professor Dato’s favorite part about Mudd as a whole is the community and the dedication that faculty, students, and staff have to it. He especially appreciates the supportive and collaborative environment that it creates. Outside of teaching at Mudd, Professor Dato also enjoys watching the California Golden Bears football team. He has season tickets and travels to view every home game and quite a few away games as well. More than anything, however, he enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter. They love to find new places to eat!