Born in Tehran, Iran, Dr. Babak Eslami’s family moved to Dubai, UAE, when he was 16 years old with the goal of immigrating to the United States. Now, Eslami is the Associate Professor and Chair of the Mechanical Engineering Department at Widener University.

“I am learning how to pave the path for my faculty to pursue their desired goals in teaching and research,” he said. “With all of that said, the most joyful part of job is still walking to my class and teaching my students. … During the past several years, I have had the opportunity to teach smaller class sizes, build stronger relationships with my students, secure external funding to enhance our research capabilities, and publish our work in national and international journals and conferences.”

Eslami completed all his education until his sophomore year of high school in Tehran. He finished his high school diploma at the National School in Dubai in 2006 and began his college education at the American University of Sharjah in 2006 with a major in Mechanical Engineering. He completed his degree at the University of Maryland College Park. He also received his Masters in Mechanical Engineering from UMD in 2012. Eslami recalls his first full-time job after finishing his Ph.D. — a Teaching Faculty Position at UMD at the age of 28. He credits his PhD Advisor, Santiago Solares, with having the biggest impact on his career.

“There are still days I message him or call him to share my concerns and worries,” said Eslami. “He always cracks me up with a joke before getting to the serious side of the discussion. Santiago has been with me during the sad and happy parts of this professional journey. I doubt I can return his support in any way, but [I try to] make him proud with my successes.”

Eslami said that his proudest professional achievement was publishing five journal papers and a conference paper, in addition to securing funding from the PA Manufacturing Innovation Program during a rather busy point in his life.

“My son was born on Mar. 28, 2022,” he said. “This was during my last tenure track year at Widener. Although both my wife (Laleh M. Jahromi) and I had our hands full with taking care of an infant, I was still able to [complete this project]. I was very proud of how the students that I had trained in my lab could run the show with minimal support from me. I owe them my success.”

Eslami also credits his wife, Laleh, who was with him in the last year of his PhD and while he went through the stressful process of the tenure track — all while being a great mom to their son, Nik, and getting promotions at work.

“If I am considered a ‘superstar,’ it’s because Laleh has been the sun throughout the process,” he said.

Eslami and his family enjoy going to GuGu Asian Table in Kennett Square.

Eslami and the rest of the 2024 Class of VISTA Millennial Superstars will be honored at the Awards Reception & Celebration on Thursday, May 9, at Penn State Great Valley.

Sponsors are still being sought. Click here to learn more about the various opportunities available to partner with VISTA Today as it celebrates Chester County’s next generation of leaders, or contact Steve Knickerbocker at steve.knickerbocker@acj.today or 484-437-2826.