Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering
The Ph.D. program is designed to provide students with research-level expertise in a focus area within mechanical engineering and breadth of knowledge in areas related to the focus area. In addition to taking a set of courses in a chosen area of interest, a key aspect of the doctoral degree is the student’s research dissertation. The doctoral dissertation is expected to be a significant original contribution on research on a chosen subject, which usually leads to one or more archival publications. Each doctoral student is supervised by a primary research advisor and an advisory committee. Successful doctoral students develop the aptitude and confidence for generating new knowledge and practices in academic, industrial, and governmental environments.
Doctoral students are expected to have one or more research publications at the time of the dissertation.
Students have the flexibility of selecting their own courses with the approval of the graduate advisor. The faculty contact assigned at the time of admission serves as the advisor for the first two semesters or until a permanent advisor is formally selected by the student at the time the Plan of study is submitted.
Research
Research within the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Science is focused in six primary areas: advanced manufacturing and metrology, computational mechanics and materials, motorsports engineering, bioengineering, thermal fluids science, and dynamics and controls. (Links list faculty, active research areas and courses typically offered.)
Within these areas, students pursue a variety of research topics that address design, manufacturing, metrology, thermal sciences and fluid mechanics, solid mechanics, biomedical engineering, materials engineering and science, and mechanical control and instrumentation. Students are encouraged to consider the variety of research and their interests as they progress in their degree program, choose an advisor, and develop their program of study.
If a specific focus area is not desired, it is expected that each student would select the majority of their courses from the focus area that they are interested in. Students are advised to discuss course selections with their advisor to maximize the benefits from the program.
International students must register for 9 credits in each semester, until their credit requirements are over, to maintain full-time student status.
For further assistance, contact:
Dr. Terry Xu, Associate Chair for Graduate Programs (megrad@charlotte.edu)
Jorian Khan
Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering
“I was looking for Mechanical Engineering Ph.D. programs with emphasis on metrology. UNC Charlotte is the place to study metrology in the U.S. In reality, I committed to UNC Charlotte after meeting with the faculty and other students. The students and faculty have been wonderfully welcoming and extremely generous sharing their knowledge. I came for the metrology but I stayed because of the welcoming environment and the wonderful people.”