Welcome to Pavel Solin's Homepage
I am a Full Professor of Applied and Computational Mathematics at the University of Nevada, Reno (visit page).
Course Materials (Fall 2026)
- Differential Equations (MATH 285) syllabus
- Linear Algebra (MATH 330) syllabus, Matrix app
My Teaching Philosophy
Higher education needs a fundamental shift away from traditional lecture-based learning. Expecting students to sit through75- to 90-minute lectures, absorb information at the exact same pace, and retain everything without hands-on practice simply
does not reflect how people learn. Under the conventional 'assembly line' model, students are often left to re-learn material
on their own without real-time assistance (Levine & Van Pelt, 2021). I advocate for Competency-Based Education (CBE) -
a student-centered model where learners master one concept at a time, move at their own pace, and receive direct instructor
support. CBE ensures true understanding before moving forward, making it a far more effective foundation for higher ed.
Here are some of my papers on CBE and educational reform. Some awards I received for my work can be found below:
- P. Solin: Self-Paced, Instructor Assisted Approach to Teaching Linear Algebra, MCS, Vol. 15 (2021).
- P. Solin, A. Freyer: Self-Paced, Instructor Assisted Approach to Teaching Python Programming, MCS, Vol. 17 (2023).
- P. Solin: Self-Paced, Instructor Assisted Approach to Teaching SQL, JCAM, Vol. 472 (2026).
- P. Solin: Self-Paced, Instructor Assisted Approach to Teaching 3D Modeling and CAD, JCAM, submitted, 2026.
Research
My research group develops advanced computational methods for multi-scale multi-physics problemsin civil, nuclear, electrical, and mechanical engineering. I am especially interested in monolithic
higher-order adaptive discretizations of time-dependent problems. Visit my research group.
Books
Awards Related to Educational Reform
- NCET Educator of the Year Award, 2025.
- Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition by Jacky Rosen, U.S. Senator, 2025
- Certificate of Congressional Recognition by Mark A. Amodei, U.S. Senator, 2025
- Certificate of Commendation by Catherine Cortez Masto, U.S. Senator, 2025
- Certificate of Recognition by Joe Lombardo, Governor of Nevada, 2025
- Certificate of Congratulations by Hillary Schieve, Mayor of the City of Reno, 2025