Mathematics instructor receives postdoc teaching award
Burak Hatinoglu, a visiting assistant professor in the Department of Mathematics, has been named one of the recipients of the 2025 Postdoctoral Excellence in Teaching and/or Mentoring Award (PETMA). Hatinoglu was one of 25 applicants for the honor, which is awarded to two individuals annually by the MSU Office Of Postdoctoral Affairs. The winning applicants each received $1,000 and a certificate.
“I’m honored to receive the PETMA Award and truly grateful to the MSU Office of Postdoctoral Affairs,” Hatinoglu said. “This recognition means a great deal to me, as it reflects the work I’ve done in teaching and mentoring, and the meaningful collaborations I’ve shared with both students and colleagues.”
During the 2024-25 academic year, Hatinoglu taught Survey of Calculus and Calculus I. He enjoyed the close student interactions of the smaller discussion-based sections, but embraced the challenges presented in engaging students in a larger lecture setting.
“The challenge of keeping everyone engaged was energizing and helped me grow as an educator,” he said. “Seeing students grasp complex ideas and gain confidence made both experiences deeply rewarding.”
In teaching, Hatinoglu said that his values mirror what MSU emphasizes: understanding over memorization, visual thinking, persistence through challenge and strong communication. He also sees his approach as Spartan at heart: thoughtful, practical and committed to helping students grow.
“My teaching starts with being available, approachable and clear," he said. “I want students to feel comfortable asking questions, making mistakes and engaging with the material. I explain ideas in depth, work through examples and give students room to explore. In recitations, I walk them through problems step by step, then slowly step back so they can take the lead. This helps them build confidence, develop fluency and learn how to think through problems on their own.”
While teaching, Hatinoglu uses tools like Desmos, a browser-based graphic calculator, to make abstract ideas more concrete for his students. He also helps them see a larger picture as he teaches key ideas in mathematics.
“I don’t start with definitions. I start with why they matter,” he said. “For example, in Calculus the concept of the derivative of a function was developed to understand how things change – how objects move, how populations grow, how quantities accumulate. That story helps students see the bigger picture before we dive into the math.”
“I want to congratulate Burak on this award,” said Jeffrey Schenker, chairperson of the Department of Mathematics. “Almost every student at MSU takes at least one mathematics course during their career. I am grateful for instructors like Burak who are as passionate about developing our students as they are about the material they are teaching.”
Hatinoglu was also a mentor for undergraduate research through the National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded Summer Undergraduate Research Institute in Experimental Mathematics Research Experience for Undergraduates (SURIEM REU) at MSU in summer 2024. His research focuses on spectral theory, complex function theory and potential theory to understand how particles – like atoms – behave. A central theme in his research is the mathematical theory of quantum mechanics. Specifically, he studies spectral properties of Schrödinger operators, which help explain how quantum particles behave. He also explores the range of energy levels that quantum particles can occupy.
Working under the mentorship of Ilya Kachkovskiy, associate professor of mathematics at MSU, Hatinoglu has also been developing expertise in periodic and quasi-periodic models in both discrete and continuous settings. This research has sharpened his analytical tools and positioned him to make meaningful contributions to mathematical physics and spectral theory. He has authored eleven publications in these areas, contributing to journals such as the Journal of Spectral Theory, the Canadian Mathematical Bulletin, and the Proceedings of the American Mathematical Society.
Hatinoglu came to MSU in fall 2023 and embraced the Department of Mathematics’ energy and focus on students. Prior to MSU, he served as a visiting assistant professor at the University of California, Santa Cruz and the Georgia Institute of Technology. He earned his PhD in mathematics in 2020 from Texas A&M University.
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