The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) is a large inter-disciplinary department in the Jacobs School of Engineering.  There are 39 faculty, 1200 undergraduate and 250 graduate students. Programs leading to a BS degree are offered in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering and Environmental Engineering.  MS and PhD degrees are in Engineering  Sciences with specialization in aerospace, applied mechanics, applied ocean sciences, computational science, engineering physics, environmental engineering and mechanical engineering. Education is delivered and research is conducted by outstanding faculty with support from dedicated staff.

MAE is recognized for its excellence in research. In a rigorous and comprehensive report on doctoral programs released by the National Reseach Council in 2010, we were ranked 10th in the nation. Our faculty conduct cutting-edge research in a variety of areas that include solid mechanics; materials; fluid mechanics and heat transfer; dynamics, systems and controls; energy including combustion and renewables; plasmas.  Faculty research activities range from mathematical analysis to novel scientific discovery to innovations in technology. Engineering and science are used to address challenging research problems with particular focus on energy, environment and medicine.  Our professors have received numerous awards and accolades: there are 7 members of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE), there are 3 fellows of the NAE equivalents in Germany, Spain and UK, and 17 professors are fellows of their (often multiple) professional societies.

MAE has the largest undergraduate enrollment in the Jacobs School of Engineering. We take pride in creating an enriching educational experience for our students and clearly the word has spread! The AE and ME programs have  ABET accreditation. The engineering capstone design sequence and the advanced laboratory courses are highlights of the curriculum in terms of career preparation and recognized to be so by local industry. Our graduate students are highly regarded in the marketplace. Recent Ph.D. graduates have been placed in reputable academic institutions such as Cal Tech, Cornell, University of Illinois and University of Washington; national laboratories such as LANL and LLNL; and local companies, for example SAIC, Solar Turbines, Cymer and GA.

I invite you to explore the web pages to learn more about the MAE department!

Sutanu Sarkar
Professor and Chair, MAE