Class of Spring 2022: CECS graduate Reem Omer
The Yemeni American bioengineering and mechanical engineering graduate talks about breaking boundaries on her terms....
About the Department
One of four departments in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the Department of Mechanical Engineering offers accredited and nationally ranked undergraduate and graduate degrees in Mechanical Engineering, Bioengineering, Automotive Systems Engineering, and Materials Science and 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.
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 (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).
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.
Materials science and engineering (MTSE) is an interdisciplinary field that enables advances in the development and application of materials in engineering practice. Technological innovations are directly linked to the understanding of materials and are required to meet next generational challenges. Advances in nanomaterials, energy storage materials, functional and sensory materials, lightweight structural materials, etc., will enable further development of practically all technology fields.
Master's Program in Materials Science and Engineering - Now Available
Applications are now open for the new MSE in Materials Science and Engineering (MSE-MTSE) program. The 30-credit-hour program is interdisciplinary and will combine learning fundamentals with a focus on emerging principles and advanced applications of engineering materials in areas such as automotive technology, manufacturing, energy, or biomedical engineering. The program will rely on faculty expertise and industry connections from all four departments in CECS and will utilize the newly updated facilities in the Engineering Laboratory Building.
How to Reach Us
The ME department is now open in our new location--2000 HPEC. You can always contact us by phone or email, but if you’d like to stop by in person, you may do so per the schedule below.
Please be aware of the University mask policy.
Oleg Zikanov, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair, Mechanical Engineering
zikanov@umich.edu
313-593-3718
Appointments by email
Rebekah Awood
Graduate Programs Coordinator, Mechanical Engineering (ME), Bioengineering (BENG), PhD in MSE, graduate certificate programs
rsdew@umich.edu
313-593-5241
Office Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays: 8:00am-5:00pm
Sherry Boyd
Graduate Programs Coordinator, Automotive Systems Engineering (AENG), Materials Science and Engineering (MTSE), DEng in Automotive Systems and Mobility (ASM)
sjboyd@umich.edu
313-593-5582
Office Hours: Mondays and Wednesdays: 8:00am-5:00pm
Nicole Engel
ME Administrative Assistant Senior, Mechanical Engineering
nicengel@umich.edu
313-593-4913
Appointments by Email
Horia Marcu
Administrative Assistant Associate
hmarcu@umich.edu
313-593-5241
Office Hours: Thursdays 9:00am-5:00pm and Fridays 8:00am-2:00pm
Department Staff
Rebekah Awood
Graduate Programs Coordinator, Mechanical Engineering and Bioengineering
Sherry Boyd
Administrative Assistant, Mechanical Engineering, and Graduate Programs Coordinator, Automotive Systems Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering
Nicole Engel
ME Administrative Assistant Senior, Mechanical Engineering
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.
Subha Bhattacharyya, PhD
Principal Engineer
Medtronic PLC
Nilay Chakraborty, PhD
Director of Cryobiology and BioNexus Principal Engineer
American Type Culture Collection (ATCC)
Mark Cheng, PhD
Professor
University of Alabama
Art Czabaniuk
Program Division Director
US FDA
Grant C. Goulet, PhD
VP Product Innovation |
XENITH
Steve LeBeau
nanoMAG
Songnian Li
Sr PD Engineer II
Terumo Cardiovascular Group
Sarah Sherman PhD
Senior Associate
Exponent
Jan Stegemann, PhD
Professor of Biomedical Engineering
University of Michigan
Hugh Blaxill
MAHLE Powertrain
General Manager
Taner Onsay, PhD
Manager of Noise-Vibration-Harshness (NVH) Test, Development and Lab Operations
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles
Kelly Pietras
Chief Engineer Hybrid Population
General Motors
Greg Roth
Director of Automotive and Transportation Solutions
Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc.
Brian Schweitzer
Chief Engineer: Electronics, Components, Instrumentation & Core Engineering
Yazaki
Eric Tseng
Ford Motor Company
Senior Technical Leader Ford Research and Innovation Center
Qigui Wang
Material Tech Specialist
General Motors
Bin Wu
Software Engineering Manager
Engine & Drivetrain Systems Business Unit, Vitesco Technologies
Mechanical Engineering
Phone:
313-593-5241
Fax:
313-593-9967