Mechanical Engineering

About the Department

One of four departments in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the Department of Mechanical Engineering offers accredited undergraduate and graduate degrees in Mechanical Engineering, Bioengineering, and Automotive Systems Engineering. Our curriculum offers comprehensive and rigorous education rich in design, research, and interdisciplinary opportunities leading to successful careers in industry, government, higher education, and non-profit organizations both in southeast Michigan and worldwide.

History:

1959: UM-Dearborn's first students enroll in three degree programs, including Mechanical Engineering.
1963: The Mechanical Engineering master's program begins.
2011: The Bioengineering undergraduate program begins.
2016: The Bioengineering master's program begins.
2017: The PhD in Mechanical Sciences and Engineering program begins.
2017: The Automotive Systems Engineering master's program joins the department.

Learn more about our fields of study

Mechanical Engineering

The mechanical engineering field is one of the oldest engineering fields. It is also one of the broadest in scope, for it is not restricted to any particular technology or particular device. Mechanical engineers understand the basic principles of statics and dynamics, thermodynamics, heat transfer and fluid flows, control, instrumentation, and other areas. Mechanical engineers know how to use these principles to design and manufacture technical systems.

The field is continuously evolving with new technologies bringing new challenges, new knowledge, and new job opportunities. One example is the automobile. The automotive industry has always employed many mechanical engineers, but the work they do and the problems they solve now are completely different than what they were fifty or even twenty years ago. Another example is new methods of energy generation. Neither wind, nor solar, nor biomass energy would be possible without mechanical engineers.
Bioengineering

Bioengineering (BENG) is a cross-disciplinary field in which the methods of various areas of engineering are applied to solve problems in medicine, biology, health care, and, in general, to improve the quality of human life. The expertise of a bioengineer combines knowledge of engineering principles with the understanding of living systems.

Bioengineering is a rapidly growing profession with expanding career opportunities. Bioengineers work on medical and health care devices (artificial organs, imaging systems, surgery instruments and so on), medical procedures (such as rehabilitation), bio-processing technologies in pharmaceutical and other industries, and other biology-related problems (such as safety and ergonomics).
Automotive Systems Engineering

The automotive engineering industry is currently in the process of fundamental change, probably the most significant one in its history. Electric and autonomous vehicles are the two most noticeable aspects of the change, but there are other rapid developments such as the use of lightweight materials, more efficient powertrains, intelligent control systems, better manufacturing techniques, and improved comfort and safety.

The automotive engineering program is an interdisciplinary field that integrates the knowledge of other technical and non-technical disciplines. In addition to expertise in a specialized area, an automotive engineer must understand broader issues and have the skill of synthesizing diverse technical approaches into a system-wide solution.

Department Staff

Oleg

Zikanov

Ph.D.

Professor and Chair, Mechanical Engineering

Rebekah

Awood

Academic Records Assistant, Mechanical Engineering

Sherry

Boyd

Administrative Assistant, Interdisciplinary Programs

Advisory Boards

The ME department continually seeks outside interactions with business, industries, and government through its Industrial Advisory Boards. Our advisory boards are composed of industry professionals who provide input on curriculum, potential employment for students, research opportunities for faculty, and a perspective on future challenges requiring collaboration.

Bioengineering Advisory Board

Subha Bhattacharyya, PhD
Principal Engineer
Medtronic PLC

Mark Cheng, PhD
Director, Nanofabrication Core
Wayne State University

Steve LeBeau
nanoMAG

Songnian Li
Sr PD Engineer II
Terumo Cardiovascular Group

Jan Stegemann, PhD
Professor of Biomedical Engineering
University of Michigan

Fangjing Wang, PhD
Senior scientist
Allergan
Mechanical Engineering Advisory Board

Kevin Gagnon
Vice President of Central Sales
STMicroelectronics

David Harwood
Director - Renewable Energy
DTE Energy

Jan Ladewig
Chief Technical Officer
Borgers

Kelly Pietras
Director of Engineering, Transmission Hardware
General Motors

Ravi Raveendra
Comet Technology Corporation

Greg Roth
Director of Automotive and Transportation Solutions
Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc.

Jeff Russell
Director Sales
Citic Dicastal

J.P. Sheng
TARDEC

Harry Stansell
Manager - Renewable Energy Business Development
DTE Energy

Mingan Tan
Engineering Manager
Akebono

Eric Tseng
Ford Motor Company

Brian Wolfe
Director Global Engine Engineering
Ford Motor Company

Weiguo Zhang
Senior Technical Specialist
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles