Program Overview

Program Overview

The Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics (PhD) program boasts expertise in fundamental areas such as solids, fluids, heat transfer, dynamics, vibrations, materials, manufacturing, and design. Applications of these areas range from medical robotics to rehabilitation, magnetic levitation to energy applications, 3D printing to nano-machining, tissue engineering to advanced fibers for composites, materials characterization to nondestructive evaluation, and computational analysis and simulation to computational materials optimization.

Research Areas

The faculty and students in the program work on a range of problems, focusing frequently on a mix of:

• Experimental understanding and characterization
• Theoretical modeling and simulation
• Numerical analysis
• Modeling and simulation These activities are supported through a broad range of experimental facilities, including laboratories for:
  • Computational fluid and solid mechanics and thermodynamics
  • Micro-mechanics, fabrication, and combustion
  • Robotics and mechatronics
  • Rapid solidification
  • Thin films
  • X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy
  • Atomic force microscopy
  • Biomaterial and mechanotranduction
  • Tissue and arterial mechanics
  • Nontraditional manufacturing
  • Dynamics and vibrations
  • Nondestructive evaluation and ultrasonics
  • Organic and nano-electronics
  • Polymer composites and advanced fibers
  • Polymer mechanics and 3D printing
  • Power systems
  • Surface mechanics and tribology
  • Trauma mechanics

Academic Pathways

Students can pursue the following pathways:

• Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics (MS)
• Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics (PhD)
• Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics (Dual MS/PhD)

Admission Requirements

Standard requirements for all graduate programs include:

• Application for Admission with a $50 non-refundable application fee
• Transcripts (unofficial): Uploaded as part of the application form
• If International: Uploads must include all college- or university-level transcripts or mark sheets (records of courses and marks earned), with certificates, diplomas, and degrees plus certified English translations
• After admission: Official documents are required from all students who are admitted and enroll
• Photocopies of certified records are not acceptable
• International students enrolled in other U.S. institutions may have certified copies of all foreign records sent directly to the Office of Graduate Studies by their current school's registrar office
• If an applicant's native language is not English, verification of English proficiency is required

Additional Requirements

• GRE: Optional
  • If an applicant self-reports GRE scores, they must also have ETS send official GRE scores to the institution
  • Applicants who wish to have their GRE scores evaluated as part of this application are expected to have at least a minimum Quantitative score of 155, and a minimum combined Quantitative and Verbal score of 305
• Resume/CV
• Personal Statement: Statement of Purpose including research interests and objectives
• Research Interest: Review current faculty and their research areas
• Three letters of recommendation