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Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical engineering is one of the largest and most diverse engineering discipline with applications in virtually every field and industry. Mechanical engineers are involved in the design and construction of everything from spacecrafts to aircraft carriers to household appliances to heart-lung machines to microscopic nanomachines. Mechanical engineers work in a broad range of professions and in almost all industries. They design products, supervise production, conduct research and development, and run businesses and technical operations. In a shrinking world with limited natural resources, today's mechanical engineers must also accomplish their work economically and efficiently. Mechanical engineers require a solid grounding in the physical sciences and mathematics as well as in engineering science and design.

The department offers B.S. degrees in mechanical engineering and aerospace engineering and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering, and material science. The department is home to many laboratories and centers, including the Metal Processing Institute (MPI), the Center for Holographic Studies and Laser micro-mechaTronics (CHSLT), the Center for Comparative NeuroImaging (CCNI), the Computer Aided Manufacturing Laboratory (CAM-Lab), and the Haas Technical Education Center.

Welcome to prospective students

Departmental News:

• Simon Evans and Stephen Nestinger join the Department as assistant professors, Summer of 2009.
• Islam Hussein has been selected as a Faculty Fellow for the 2009 Air Force Summer Faculty Fellowship Program (SFFP) at AFRL/RV.
• Diran Apelian wins the WPI 2009 Chairman's Exemplary Faculty Prize.
• Diran Apelian has been elected member of National Academy of Engineering (February 2009). "For contributions to solidification processing and for outstanding leadership in engineering education and university-industry collaboration." Election to the National Academy of Engineering is among the highest professional distinctions accorded to an engineer. Academy membership honors those who have made outstanding contributions to "engineering research, practice, or education, including, where appropriate, significant contributions to the engineering literature," and to the "pioneering of new and developing fields of technology, making major advancements in traditional fields of engineering, or developing/implementing innovative approaches to engineering education." (From the NAE Website.)
• Diana Lados received the "Orr Early Career Award." The award is given by the Orr Family through the Materials Division of ASME to recognize early career research excellence in the areas of experimental, computational, and theoretical fatigue, fracture, and creep. Fall 2008.
• Diran Apelian appointed the 2008 president of TMS, The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society
• Gregory Fischer joins the Department as an assistant professor, Summer of 2008.
• Robert Norton Named Professor of the Year for Massachusetts, Fall 2007.
• Richard Sisson Elected President of ASM Heat Treating Society, Fall 2007.
• Diran Apelian receives the 2007 Acta Materialia Inc. J. Herbert Hollomon Award.
• Diana Lados joins the Department as an assistant professor, Summer of 2007.
• James van de Ven joins the Department as an assistant professor, Summer of 2007.
• Gretar Tryggvason chairs the 2008 International Mechanical Engineering Education Conference.
• Robert Norton named Milton Prince Higgins Distinguished Professor of Manufacturing, Summer 2007.
• Nikos Gatsonis named George I Alden Chair in Engineering, Summer 2007.
• Richard D. Sisson Jr. wins the WPI 2007 Chairman's Exemplary Faculty Prize.
• Diran Apelian Featured on History Channel's "Modern Marvels" in a documentary on the history of aluminum that premiered on the History Channel on Wednesday, July 25, 2007.

Mechanical Engineering Department - Worcester Polytechnic Institute

100 Institute Road, Worcester, MA 01609-2280 | Phone: +1-508-831-5236 | Fax: +1-508-831-5680 | me@wpi.edu