Research

Research within Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Science is focused in six primary areas. You’re encouraged to consider the variety of research and your interests as you progress in a degree program, choose an advisor and develop your program of study.

Doctoral student working on measurements

Advanced Manufacturing and Metrology

Research areas in manufacturing and metrology include:

  • Additive and subtractive manufacturing
  • Machining dynamics
  • Dimensional metrology
  • Machine tool metrology
  • Ultra-precision machining
  • Optics manufacturing and metrology
  • Precision machine and instrument design

Research contacts:
Matthew Davies | Christopher Evans | Kostantinos Falaggis | Kevin Lawton Edward Morse | Brigid Mullany | Steven Patterson | Jeffrey Raquet | Steven Schmid | Stuart Smith

Scientist researching samples in laboratory

Bioengineering

Bioengineering research areas include:

  • Orthopedic biomechanics
  • Cryopreservation and anhydrous cell preservation
  • Biocompatibility of new materials
  • Regenerative Neural Engineering
  • Tissue engineering
  • Cryosurgery
  • Microfluidic chips

Research contacts:
Ahmed El-Ghannam | Charles Lee | In Hong Yang | Nigel Zheng

Detail of a finite element stress analysis - 3d illustration

Computational Mechanics and Materials

Research areas in computational mechanics and materials include:

  • Finite element modeling
  • Multi-scale modeling
  • Large-scale parallel simulations
  • Nanomaterials synthesis and characterization
  • Mechanical testing of nanostructures
  • Ultrafine grain nanocrystalline materials

Research contacts:
Youxing Chen | Harish Cherukuri| Robert E. Johnson | Erina Joyee | Russell Keanini | Praveen Ramaprabhu | Ronald Smelser | Alireza Tabarraei | Mesbah Uddin | Qiuming Wei | Terry Xu | Haitao Zhang

Professor and student working on an autonomous vessel in the BATT CAVE research center

Dynamics and Controls

Dynamics and controls research areas include:

  • System dynamics
  • Control systems
  • Machining dynamics
  • Mechatronics
  • Robotics

Research contacts:
Matthew Davies | Amir Ghasemi | Scott Kelly | Artur Wolek

Amir Ghesami standing in front of autonomous vehicle in the BATT CAVE research center

Motorsports Engineering

Motorsports engineering research areas include:

  • Vehicle dynamics and stability control
  • Racecar modeling/simulation
  • Driver modeling/simulation
  • Aerodynamics
  • Experimental and computational fluid mechanics
  • Crash modeling/simulation
  • Tire mechanics
  • Automotive instrumentation
  • Engine and propulsion

Research contacts:
Amir Ghasemi| Mesbah Uddin

Image depicting thermodynamics

Thermal Sciences and Fluid Mechanics

Thermal-fluids research areas include:

  • Computational fluid dynamics (CFD), including both large-scale computing and turbulence modeling
  • Experimental fluids
  • Bioheat transfer and biopreservation
  • Race car aerodynamics
  • Bio-fluid dynamics
  • Combustion
  • Stochastic flow and thermal processes
  • Applied math and modeling
  • Heat transfer

Research contacts:
Russell Keanini | Scott Kelly | Charles Lee | Praveen Ramaprabhu | Nenad Sarunac| Mesbah Uddin