EDUCATION
- Ph.D. Drexel University 1977
- M.S. Drexel University 1973
- B.S.E.E. State University of N.Y. at Buffalo 1968
- B.A. State University of N.Y at Buffalo 1968
University Faculty since 1979.
Registered Professional Engineer, State of Texas.
CURRENT RESEARCH INTERESTS
- Biomedical Signal Processing
- Engineering Design - Teamwork and Assessment
- Engineering Ethics
- Engineering & Faith
PREVIOUS RESEARCH INTERESTS
- Co-PI, Keck Foundation Grant for Interdisciplinary Laboratory Experience
- Co-PI, NSF Grant for Development of Biomedical Engineering Program and Laboratories
COURSES TAUGHT
- EEGR 3213 - Digital Electronics
- BEGR 3213 - Introduction to Biomedical Instrumentation
- CEGR 2012 - Introduction to Computer Engineering
- ENGR 4813 – Senior Design (F,S)
- EEGR 3344 – Advanced Electronics
- BEGR 3423 - Biomedical Signal Processing
I had the privilege of growing up in a loving Christian family and first trusted Jesus as a boy of ten. Because my father was an engineer and I was good at math I studied Electrical Engineering at the local university. As I was approaching my senior year I wondered what direction to pursue for employment. Most engineering jobs at the time were along the lines of designing televisions or making missiles, neither of which appealed to me. When I expressed this concern to a friend, he arranged for the dean to introduce me to Wilson Greatbatch, an electrical engineer, a believer, and the inventor of the cardiac pacemaker. Wilson Greatbatch offered me the opportunity to work for his company for the summer. As a result, I applied to graduate school to study biomedical engineering, an area I was sure could benefit humankind.
During my time in grad school at Drexel University I interacted often with a Christian faculty member, Dr. Bill Graff (later my colleague at LeTourneau), who challenged my shallow thinking and got me pondering these things-
- What really is faith? It’s not just a blind leap in the dark.
- Is there actually a sacred-secular wall, a “two-pot system” for life, or is God is the God of all parts of life?
- Is engineering a legitimate “calling” from God, just as pastoral ministry is a “calling” from God?
After a postdoctoral research project (working with physiology faculty studying the mechanical properties of single isolated heart cells) at the University of Kansas Medical Center, I accepted a faculty position in engineering at LeTourneau University (then known as LeTourneau College) in Longview, Texas. My wife Jani and I enjoy hiking in the National Parks and visiting with our children and grandkids. God has been faithful for all these years, and life has been a great adventure.
Books/Chapters
Davis, D., Trevisan, M., Leiffer, P., McCormack, J., Beyerlein, S., Khan, M.J., and Brackin, P. (2013) “Reflection and Metacognition in Engineering Practice.” in Kaplan,M. et. Al., Using Reflection and Metacognition to Improve Student Learning, Stylus Publishing, Sterling, Va.
Refereed Journal Articles
Lebeau, J., Trevisan, M., McCormack, J., Beyerlein, S., Davis, D., Leiffer, P. Thompson, P., Davis, H., Howe, S., Brackin, P., Gerlick, R., Khan, M.J. (2014). “Alumni Perspective on Professional Skills Gained Through Integrated Assessment and Learning.” International Journal of Engineering Education. Vol. 30, No. 1, 48-59.
McCormack, J., Beyerlein, S., Davis, D., Trevisan, M., LeBeau, J., Davis, H., Howe, S., Brackin, P., Thompson, P., Gerlick, R., Kahn, M.J., & Leiffer, P. (2012). Contextualizing Professionalism in Capstone Projects Using the IDEALS Professional Responsibility Assessment. International Journal of Engineering Education, 28(2), 1-9.
Refereed Proceeding Articles
Ortiz, O., and Leiffer. P., 2016, “A Radio-Controlled Race car Project to Evaluate Student Learning in Electronics.” Proceedings of American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA..
Graff, R. W. and Leiffer, P. 2013, “A Hydraulic Circuits Laboratory to Improve Student Understanding of Basic Electricity.” Proceedings of American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference, Atlanta, Georgia.
French, J. and Leiffer, P., 2012. “The Genesis of Transformation: Preventing ‘Failure to Launch’ Syndrome in Generation iY First-year Engineering Students.” Proceedings of American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference, San Antonio, TX.
Leiffer, P. R., Kim, J., Graff, R.W., and Wilcox, D., "Diversity Receiver for Digital Radio Mondiale -A Multi-Year Design Project," ASEE Annual Conference Proceedings 2010.
Graff, R.W., Leiffer, P.R., Batts, M., and Leiffer, M.J., "What Fuzzies Might Learn From Techies," ASEE Annual Conference Proceedings 2010.
Leiffer, P., Graff, R.W., Lee, B.K., and Batts, M., "The Changing of the Guard: Should the Engineering Ethics Code be Changed to Environmental Ethics?", ASEE Annual Conference Proceedings 2009.
