mechanical engineering phd ucl

Mechanical Engineering MPhil/PhD

London, Bloomsbury

Outstanding science, strong industrial engagement, and tangible impact are all hallmarks of our PhD programme and of our research culture. Our students work and learn both in UCL's world-class laboratories but also in partnership with a wide range of collaborating institutions and companies worldwide, enhancing knowledge, networking and employment opportunities.

UK tuition fees (2024/25)

Overseas tuition fees (2024/25), programme starts, applications accepted.

• Entry requirements

Normally a UK Master’s degree, or a minimum of an upper second-class Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline from a UK university, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. Relevant professional qualifications and/or appropriate work experience may also be taken into consideration.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 1

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

If you are intending to apply for a time-limited visa to complete your UCL studies (e.g., Student visa, Skilled worker visa, PBS dependant visa etc.) you may be required to obtain ATAS clearance . This will be confirmed to you if you obtain an offer of a place. Please note that ATAS processing times can take up to six months, so we recommend you consider these timelines when submitting your application to UCL.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website .

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

Doctoral study at UCL's Department of Mechanical Engineering offers the opportunity to become a world-class interdisciplinary researcher at the interface of science and engineering. Our PhD researchers specialise in applying advanced principles of engineering science to generate new knowledge and introduce innovative solutions to a diverse range of challenges. From biomedical systems to the marine environment, from clean and low carbon power systems to pioneering materials and manufacturing, and in many other fields, we propose ground-breaking technologies that change the world.

Who this course is for

This programme is most likely to appeal to students with a background in engineering or another related discipline who wish to produce a significant contribution to the development and understanding of a specific field within mechanical engineering.

What this course will give you

UCL Mechanical Engineering is the oldest such department in England, based in the centre of London and part of one of the world's best universities. We have a long, proud history of providing a vibrant and stimulating environment for PhD students from around the world.

Our doctoral candidates are engaged in challenging and innovative engineering research, supervised by world-leading academics, in close collaboration with major industrial partners. Candidates receive an extensive range of skills development training programmes and develop unique scientific and engineering competencies that prepare them for careers in academia, industrial research and development, management and many other fields.

Our research projects are often industry sponsored and have direct practical relevance. As we collaborate with other departments and universities and engage in a range of multi-disciplinary research activities, you will often be jointly trained by a range of experts, making you highly attractive to a range of employers. Research graduates in engineering with good analytical ability are in high demand.

The foundation of your career

Recent graduates have entered professions in a wide variety of leading companies, government agencies and not-for-profit institutions of varying sizes. These include:

• McLaren Automotive
• HCA Healthcare UK

Our PhD graduates also pursue postdoctoral research and lectureships at UCL and a variety of institutions in the UK and overseas (e.g. Royal Veterinary College, Beijing Institute of Technology, University of Kenya).

Employability

A research degree in Mechanical Engineering opens the door to many rewarding careers, not just in engineering. You are likely to find employment in a wide range of industries and organisations, both at home and abroad, as well as academic careers in postdoctoral research and university lectureships.

There are ample networking opportunities both within and beyond the UCL research community. For example, the department frequently organises seminars, inviting prominent speakers from industry and other academic institutes, that provide opportunities for students to consult directly with industry. Our annual PhD Student Conference offers another excellent opportunity for developing contacts. Research students present their work to an audience which includes alumni, members of the department and other invited guests. In our post-conference reception and poster session, students are able to discuss their ideas for research development and gain valuable career insights.

Teaching and learning

Full-time research equates roughly to 36.5 hours per week. We also welcome applications for part-time research.

If a student has external funding, they should also ensure they meet the Terms & Conditions of their funder in this regard.  

You will register initially for an MPhil degree, with the expectation of transfer to PhD following successful completion of an upgrade viva after 9-18 months. For a successful upgrade to PhD, you prepare a written report, give an oral presentation and pass an oral examination.

For a PhD award, you will be examined on your submitted thesis. This involves a viva (an oral examination) with two independent examiners.

Research students’ attendance is not formally monitored; however, it is expected that their research time mirrors that of staff engagement as closely as possible. It is therefore recommended that full-time research equates roughly to 36.5 hours per week.

Research areas and structure

• Biomechanical engineering: biomaterials, encapsulation; tissue engineering; biofluidics and CFD; biophysics; cardiovascular engineering; medical devices and mechatronics; ultrasonics and non-destructive evaluation
• Energy and environment: IC engines and fuel systems; fluid mechanics and microfluidics; refrigeration; turbomachinery, CFD, and environmental and pollution modelling
• Marine: naval architecture; marine vehicle applications and design methods; renewable energy; electric propulsion and power systems; electric ship/submarine; computer-aided design; novel ship types and low carbon shipping.
• Materials, Structures and Manufacturing:  additive manufacturing, advanced processing and manufacturing, aerospace materials, biomaterials, imaging and characterisation of materials, lightweight structures, materials design, mechanical testing, metallurgy, nanotechnology, nondestructive evaluation, sensors & actuators, smart materials, structural analysis, sustainability

Research environment

Outstanding science, strong industrial engagement, and tangible impact are all hallmarks of our PhD programme and of our research culture. Our students work and learn both in UCL's world-class laboratories but also in partnership with a wide range of collaborating institutions & companies worldwide, enhancing knowledge, networking and employment opportunities.

The length of registration for the research degree programme is 3 years for full-time and 5 years for part-time.

Within three months of joining the programme, you are expected to agree with your supervisor the basic structure of your research project, an appropriate research methodology and a realistic plan of work. You will produce and submit a detailed outline of your proposed research to your supervisor for their comments and feedback.

In your second year you will be expected to upgrade from an MPhil to a PhD. To successfully upgrade to a PhD, you are required to submit a piece of writing (this is usually based on one chapter from your thesis and a chapter plan for the remainder). You are also required to present and answer questions about this work to a panel consisting of your subsidiary supervisor and another member of the faculty who acts as an independent assessor.

Upon successful completion of your approved period of registration you may register as a completing research student (CRS) while you write up your thesis. 

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk . Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing team .

Fees and funding

Fees for this course.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees .

Additional costs

In some circumstances, an Additional Fee Element (AFE), also known as a bench fee, may be requested from students' sponsors to cover additional costs for consumables, equipment and materials required for the student's research. As each PhD project is unique in nature, the AFE is calculated on a student by student basis depending on the nature of the specific research project. If an AFE is required for your research project, it will be agreed before you join the PhD programme.

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs .

Funding your studies

A number of competitive funded studentships are available each year for suitably qualified research applicants. Funded vacancies are announced on our department website as well as on FindaPhD.com .

Recent research sponsors include:

• BAE Systems
• British Heart Foundation
• Cancer Research UK
• European Space Agency
• Kuwait Government
• Ministry of Defence (UK)
• Rolls Royce
• Siemens Energy
• UK Health Security Agency

Self-funded candidates are advised to contact  our academic staff to discuss possible research topics.

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website .

CSC-UCL Joint Research Scholarship

Value: Fees, maintenance and travel (Duration of programme) Criteria Based on academic merit Eligibility: EU, Overseas

You are encouraged to identify and contact potential supervisors before submitting a formal application. It is important that you find a supervisor who shares the same research interest and expectations and is available to take a new student. Supervisors in our department welcome emails enquiring about your potential MPhil/PhD study. For more information see our How to Apply page. Applications for self-funded PhDs are accepted throughout the year. A number of funded PhD research projects are offered each year and these have specific deadlines and start dates dictated by funding arrangements. See our How to Apply page for details of all current funded PhD studentship opportunities in Mechanical Engineering.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2024-2025

Got questions get in touch.

Mechanical Engineering

[email protected]

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Mechanical Engineering MPhil/PhD UCL (University College London)

Course options

Qualification.

PhD/DPhil - Doctor of Philosophy

UCL (University College London)

• TUITION FEES
• ENTRY REQUIREMENT
• UNIVERSITY INFO

Course summary

The department specialises in applying advanced principles of engineering science – experimental, computational and theoretical – to generate new knowledge and introduce innovative solutions to a diverse range of challenges. From biomedical systems to the marine environment, from clean and low carbon power systems to pioneering materials and manufacturing, and in many other fields, we propose ground-breaking technologies that change the world.

A research degree in Mechanical Engineering opens the door to many rewarding careers, not just in engineering. You are likely to find employment in a wide range of industries and organisations, both at home and abroad. Recent graduates have entered professional occupations in the UK and overseas with leading industrial and shipping companies (e.g. Technip UK Ltd, DNV, Mahle Powertrain Ltd), the automotive industry (e.g. Ford, Jaguar, Delphi Diesel Systems), technical consultancies and government agencies. Others have pursued postdoctoral research and lectureships at UK and overseas institutions (e.g. UCL, University of Cambridge, University of Bristol).

Our research projects are often industry sponsored and have direct practical relevance, which means many students will secure employment before graduating. Because we collaborate with other departments and universities and engage in a wild range of multi-disciplinary research activities you will often be jointly trained by a range of experts, making you highly attractive to an employer. Research graduates in engineering with a good analytical ability are in high demand and our graduates have little difficulty in gaining employment across many industrial sectors.

Tuition fees

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£ 29,000 per year

Tuition fees shown are for indicative purposes and may vary. Please check with the institution for most up to date details.

University information

University league table, campus address.

UCL (University College London), Gower Street, London, Camden, WC1E 6BT, England

Subject rankings

Subject ranking.

6th out of 76 1

Entry standards

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Mechanical Engineering, PhD

University College London (UCL), the United Kingdom

• Study options for Mechanical Engineering
• About Mechanical Engineering

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Other courses at university college london (ucl), study options for this course, about mechanical engineering, phd - at university college london (ucl).

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Mechanical Engineering MSc

Ucl (university college london), different course options.

• Key information

Course Summary

Tuition fees, entry requirements, university information, similar courses at this uni, key information data source : idp connect, qualification type.

MSc - Master of Science

Subject areas

Mechanical Engineering (General)

Course type

The Mechanical Engineering MSc is designed to offer an advanced level of study in specific aspects of mechanical engineering that are in demand from industry. The degree comprises study in analysis and design of power machinery systems, engineering structures, vibration, control and the use of computers in advanced engineering analysis. You will develop an advanced knowledge of mechanical engineering and associated disciplines, with an awareness of the context in which engineering operates, in terms of safety, environmental, social and economic aspects. Alongside this, you will gain a range of intellectual, practical and transferable skills necessary to develop careers in this field.

Engineering graduates with good analytical abilities are in high demand and our graduates have a range of opportunities to gain employment across many industries. The programme aims to equip students with skills in analysis and design such that they can be employed as professional engineers in virtually any sector of the mechanical engineering industry.

Delivered by leading researchers from across UCL, you will have a range of opportunities to network and keep abreast of emerging ideas. Collaborating with companies and bodies such as the Ministry of Defence and industry leaders such as BAE Systems and Shell are key to our success. We encourage you to develop networks through the programme and via the department’s careers programme which includes employer-led events and individual coaching. We equip our graduates with the skills and confidence needed to play a creative and leading role in the professional and research community.

The Mechanical Engineering MSc has been accredited by the Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) and the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology (IMarEST) as meeting the further learning requirements, in full, for registration as a Chartered Engineer for a period of five years, from the 2017 student cohort intake

UK fees Course fees for UK students

For this course (per year)

International fees Course fees for EU and international students

A minimum of an upper second-class Bachelor's degree from a UK university in a suitable engineering subject or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. Candidates with qualifications in other subjects will be considered. Candidates must have studied fluid dynamics while knowledge of thermodynamics and control is desirable. Applicants who are yet to complete their degree should include a list of subjects they are currently studying as well as those already completed.

UCL (University College London) is consistently ranked among the top ten universities in the world, conducting leading research across a wide range of subject areas. Throughout its long and prestigious history, it has inspired and educated countless minds and produced 30 Nobel prize recipients. With one campus located in the heart of Bloomsbury and a second campus in vibrant east London, the university is home to around 42,000 students... more

Marine Engineering MSc

Full time | 1 year | 23-SEP-24

Mechanical Engineering MPhil/PhD

Full time | 3 years | 23-SEP-24

PhD Admissions

Main navigation.

Instructions for applying to the Stanford ME PhD Program are below.

Note for current Stanford MS students interested in adding a PhD program: please contact the ME Student Services Office about the necessary paperwork and relevant policies. If you are a current master's student in the Stanford Mechanical Engineering department, to apply for the PhD, you must complete paperwork prior to conferring the MS degree. Failure to do so will require an application through the online admissions process along with all other external applicants.

Application Deadlines

• Start Quarter:  Autumn 2024-2025 Application Date:  December 1, 2023
• Start Quarter:  Winter 2023-2024* Application Date:  October 23, 2023
• Start Quarter:  Spring 2023-2024* Application Date: January 29, 2024

*Students wishing to apply to the PhD program to start in Winter or Spring quarter must contact [email protected] directly first. Please do not start or submit a Winter or Spring application without first contacting our office.

Application Requirements

To be eligible for admission to the PhD program, applicants must:

• Have earned, or be in the process of earning, a BS degree in engineering, physics, or comparable science program. 
• Submit all application materials by the application deadline.
• Meet minimum TOEFL requirements, if applicable. Review the information on the Graduate Admissions website for more information. 

All students interested in pursuing a PhD in Mechanical Engineering must use the online Stanford Graduate Admissions Application . Your application must include all of the materials listed below and be received by Stanford by the application deadline. 

Required Application Documents

• Online Application
• Application fee

Statement of Purpose

• PhD Supplementary Information form (within application)
• 3 Letters of Recommendation
• Unofficial transcripts from all colleges and/or universities attended for more than one year
• Official TOEFL scores, if applicable

The GRE will not be accepted for applications received through September 2024.  We ask that you do not submit or reference GRE scores in your application, as they will not be considered. (Updated July 2023)

Your Statement of Purpose should identify personal and professional goals. It should also discuss your development to date and your intentions regarding graduate study and life beyond Stanford. The ME Graduate Admissions Committee reads your Statement of Purpose with interest because, along with the letters of recommendation, it offers insight into who you are as an individual. Your Statement of Purpose should not exceed two pages in length, single spaced. 

PhD Supplementary Information form

The PhD Supplementary Information form within the application asks applicants to briefly address five prompts (1000 characters max):

• List up to three Stanford ME faculty members whose research interests overlap with your research interests and are potential PhD advisors. (Select from list)
• Briefly comment on your motivation for seeking a PhD in Mechanical Engineering.
• Briefly describe an activity (academic or not) that you initiated and involved independent inquiry, e.g. a technical project, or an extracurricular activity that you planned and executed. What did you learn?
• Briefly describe a situation in which you experienced failure, or a situation in which your beliefs were challenged. How did you handle the situation, and what did you learn?
• Briefly describe a time (or ongoing circumstances) that caused you to face a significant obstacle or experience adversity. How did you approach the situation?

Letters of Recommendation

Three letters of recommendation are required -- one letter must come from an academic source, although we prefer at least two. If your background includes industry experience, involvement in leadership, public service, or entrepreneurial activities, you may wish to include one reference who can comment on that aspect of your experience. Recommendations must be submitted online. Please see the "Recommendations" section of the online application for more information. Please do not submit letters of recommendation through Interfolio.

Transcripts

You are required to upload unofficial copies of your transcripts or e-transcripts to the online application for all institutions you have attended for at least a year as a full-time student. Please  do not  send your official transcripts unless we contact you to do so.

TOEFL Scores

TOEFL results must be from an examination taken within 18 months of the application deadline. The Stanford institution code for ETS reporting is 4704. No department code is needed . For more information on TOEFL requirements, please see the Required Exams and Frequently Asked Questions sections on the Graduate Admissions website . 

Application Status Inquiries

After submitting the online application, applicants will have access to an online checklist which will track all required application materials. Due to the volume of applications we receive, we are not able to confirm with individual applicants when documents have been received. All applicants should monitor the online checklist to track individual documents. It is the applicant's responsibility to monitor the checklist and ensure that all documents are received by the deadline. Please allow 2-6 weeks for application materials to be added to your application and appear in the checklist. 

Admission decisions will be released electronically by mid-late March. 

Reapplicants must submit new supporting documents and complete the online application as outlined above in the Graduate Application Checklist.

Knight-Hennessy Scholars

The  Knight-Hennessy Scholars  program cultivates and supports a highly-engaged, multidisciplinary and multicultural community of graduate students from across Stanford University, and delivers a diverse collection of educational experiences, preparing graduates to address complex challenges facing the world. Knight-Hennessy Scholars participate in an experiential leadership development program known as the King Global Leadership Program and receive funding for up to three years of graduate study at Stanford. Two applications must be submitted separately; one to Knight-Hennessy by  October 6, 2021 , 1 pm PST, and one to the Stanford graduate degree program by its deadline. Visit  kh.stanford.edu  to learn more and apply.

The selection of PhD students admitted to the Department of Mechanical Engineering is based on an individualized, holistic review of each application, including (but not limited to) the applicant's academic record, the letters of recommendation, the Statement of Purpose, personal qualities and characteristics, and past accomplishments. 

Suggestions or feedback?

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Exploring frontiers of mechanical engineering

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From cutting-edge robotics, design, and bioengineering to sustainable energy solutions, ocean engineering, nanotechnology, and innovative materials science, MechE students and their advisors are doing incredibly innovative work. The graduate students highlighted here represent a snapshot of the great work in progress this spring across the Department of Mechanical Engineering, and demonstrate the ways the future of this field is as limitless as the imaginations of its practitioners.

Democratizing design through AI

Lyle Regenwetter Hometown: Champaign, Illinois Advisor: Assistant Professor Faez Ahmed Interests: Food, climbing, skiing, soccer, tennis, cooking

Lyle Regenwetter finds excitement in the prospect of generative AI to "democratize" design and enable inexperienced designers to tackle complex design problems. His research explores new training methods through which generative AI models can be taught to implicitly obey design constraints and synthesize higher-performing designs. Knowing that prospective designers often have an intimate knowledge of the needs of users, but may otherwise lack the technical training to create solutions, Regenwetter also develops human-AI collaborative tools that allow AI models to interact and support designers in popular CAD software and real design problems. 

Solving a whale of a problem 

Loïcka Baille Hometown: L’Escale, France Advisor: Daniel Zitterbart Interests: Being outdoors — scuba diving, spelunking, or climbing. Sailing on the Charles River, martial arts classes, and playing volleyball

Loïcka Baille’s research focuses on developing remote sensing technologies to study and protect marine life. Her main project revolves around improving onboard whale detection technology to prevent vessel strikes, with a special focus on protecting North Atlantic right whales. Baille is also involved in an ongoing study of Emperor penguins. Her team visits Antarctica annually to tag penguins and gather data to enhance their understanding of penguin population dynamics and draw conclusions regarding the overall health of the ecosystem.

Water, water anywhere

Carlos Díaz-Marín Hometown: San José, Costa Rica Advisor: Professor Gang Chen | Former Advisor: Professor Evelyn Wang Interests: New England hiking, biking, and dancing

Carlos Díaz-Marín designs and synthesizes inexpensive salt-polymer materials that can capture large amounts of humidity from the air. He aims to change the way we generate potable water from the air, even in arid conditions. In addition to water generation, these salt-polymer materials can also be used as thermal batteries, capable of storing and reusing heat. Beyond the scientific applications, Díaz-Marín is excited to continue doing research that can have big social impacts, and that finds and explains new physical phenomena. As a LatinX person, Díaz-Marín is also driven to help increase diversity in STEM.

Scalable fabrication of nano-architected materials

Somayajulu Dhulipala Hometown: Hyderabad, India Advisor: Assistant Professor Carlos Portela Interests: Space exploration, taekwondo, meditation.

Somayajulu Dhulipala works on developing lightweight materials with tunable mechanical properties. He is currently working on methods for the scalable fabrication of nano-architected materials and predicting their mechanical properties. The ability to fine-tune the mechanical properties of specific materials brings versatility and adaptability, making these materials suitable for a wide range of applications across multiple industries. While the research applications are quite diverse, Dhulipala is passionate about making space habitable for humanity, a crucial step toward becoming a spacefaring civilization.

Ingestible health-care devices

Jimmy McRae Hometown: Woburn, Massachusetts Advisor: Associate Professor Giovani Traverso Interests: Anything basketball-related: playing, watching, going to games, organizing hometown tournaments 

Jimmy McRae aims to drastically improve diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities through noninvasive health-care technologies. His research focuses on leveraging materials, mechanics, embedded systems, and microfabrication to develop novel ingestible electronic and mechatronic devices. This ranges from ingestible electroceutical capsules that modulate hunger-regulating hormones to devices capable of continuous ultralong monitoring and remotely triggerable actuations from within the stomach. The principles that guide McRae’s work to develop devices that function in extreme environments can be applied far beyond the gastrointestinal tract, with applications for outer space, the ocean, and more.

Freestyle BMX meets machine learning

Eva Nates Hometown: Narberth, Pennsylvania  Advisor: Professor Peko Hosoi Interests: Rowing, running, biking, hiking, baking

Eva Nates is working with the Australian Cycling Team to create a tool to classify Bicycle Motocross Freestyle (BMX FS) tricks. She uses a singular value decomposition method to conduct a principal component analysis of the time-dependent point-tracking data of an athlete and their bike during a run to classify each trick. The 2024 Olympic team hopes to incorporate this tool in their training workflow, and Nates worked alongside the team at their facilities on the Gold Coast of Australia during MIT’s Independent Activities Period in January.

Augmenting Astronauts with Wearable Limbs 

Erik Ballesteros Hometown: Spring, Texas Advisor: Professor Harry Asada Interests: Cosplay, Star Wars, Lego bricks

Erik Ballesteros’s research seeks to support astronauts who are conducting planetary extravehicular activities through the use of supernumerary robotic limbs (SuperLimbs). His work is tailored toward design and control manifestation to assist astronauts with post-fall recovery, human-leader/robot-follower quadruped locomotion, and coordinated manipulation between the SuperLimbs and the astronaut to perform tasks like excavation and sample handling.

This article appeared in the Spring 2024 edition of the Department of Mechanical Engineering's magazine,  MechE Connects . 

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Inspiring graduate: conrad klem, b.s. mechanical engineering.

Inspiring Graduate: Conrad Klem (’24)

• Hometown: Menomonie
• Degree:  B.S. Mechanical Engineering

Conrad Klem was able to complete two bachelor’s degrees in five years and was hired before graduation.

He earned his B.S. in physics at UW-La Crosse in 2022 and transferred to University of Wisconsin-Stout, beginning in the mechanical engineering program as a junior. Through his classes, he gained an interest in heating, ventilation and air conditioning.

Klem earned his  B.S. in mechanical engineering from UW-Stout on May 4, along with 1,037 graduates.

He will soon be starting his career as a system specialist at Midwest Mechanical Solutions, an HVAC engineering company in Golden Valley, Minn.

“My education at Stout was very eye opening and gave me a deeper understanding of what engineering is and made sure I was prepared to enter the workforce,” Klem said.

How well has UW-Stout prepared you to work in your field and why?

Stout has done a good job helping me understand the work that I will be doing in my field. 

The hands-on experience in the labs, the internship and capstones helped prepare me very well for the future. 

I was a manufacturing engineering intern at Spectrum Industries, in Chippewa Falls.

While I won't spend a lot of time in machine shops and manufacturing floors in the future, my understanding of these processes will help me make the best decisions to create successful designs and improve processes.

Taking Heat Transfer and System Dynamics classes helped me realize that I really like those areas or engineering. That’s why I pursued HVAC.

What stands out about your UW-Stout experience?

Stout gave me a very unique college experience and a good mix of education, technical skills and knowledge.

The hands-on experience in the labs and the internship helped prepare me very well for the future. The group-orientated classes helped me learn the content better and how to work well with others – one of the most important skills I learned.

What challenges did you face in earning your degree and how did you overcome them?

When I transferred into the program from UW-La Crosse, I was placed in junior and senior level classes as that was all that I needed to complete my degree. While these classes weren’t super challenging, the lack of knowledge I had about engineering was a large barrier I had to get over to succeed. 

The professors and my peers were very supportive and helped me get in the swing of things, specifically in my Mechanics of Materials and Fluid Mechanics classes. They helped catch me up on some general practices and techniques that I otherwise would not have learned.

I knew engineering was a good fit right away when I took Fluid Mechanics my first semester here. Dr. Vince Wheeler was the professor as well as my adviser. He was a great professor and helped with some issues I had with my transfer. 

What are you most proud of as you finish your degree?

I am proud I was able to do two bachelor’s in five years between the two universities, and I was also able to secure a job before I graduated.

Inspiring Graduates

Inspiring Graduate: Ashley Otten, B.S. Marketing & Business Education

Inspiring Graduate: Gervase Thompson, B.S. Applied Science & B.S. Mechanical Engineering

Inspiring Graduate: Kat Schlauderaff, B.S. Digital Marketing Technology

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LSU Mechanical Engineering Instructor Creates ASPIRE Course for Educators

Two-week class will entail drone training.

May 7, 2024 

BATON ROUGE, LA – Look! Up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s…a drone. Drones are literally taking off and LSU Mechanical Engineering Senior Instructor Andrew Becnel wants students to keep up. Becnel, who is a graduate of LSU’s Mechanical Engineering program and has a master’s degree and Ph.D. in aerospace engineering from the University of Maryland, understands the importance of drone technology, especially in Louisiana.

This is why he has created the Louisiana ASPIRE—Aerial Systems Pilot Instruction & Resource Endeavor—program, a two-year effort to train high school educators on drone technology so they can teach it to their students through a course or student organization. This is the first Federal Aviation Administration grant LSU has ever received.

Becnel, who flies drones for fun and founded his own aerial imagery LLC, wrote his ASPIRE proposal after participating in Walker High School’s drone pilot training program two years ago. He realized there was an opportunity to expand upon this kind of program by training high schoolers in flying drones and, possibly, interesting them in aerospace engineering.  

“LSU currently has a minor in aerospace engineering, and I plan to offer a course on unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) operations and design,” Becnel said. “ASPIRE is an opportunity to establish LSU as a center of excellence for drone education in the state. Since we’re a flagship university, it makes sense to me that we would be a resource to help educators around the state disseminate this information.”

Using a well-structured, train-the-trainer model developed by Advanced Aerial Education (AAE) in Alaska, ASPIRE will assemble a cohort of 20 high school educators from across Louisiana for an intensive two-week professional development program delivered at Walker High School, July 15-26. The lead instructor from AAE will attend and instruct the class, with participants flying inexpensive drones that are easy to crash.

“We want them to get comfortable crashing multiple times,” Becnel said. “In an hour or two, we’ll talk theory and discuss the lesson, then fly drones for 30 minutes and practice what we were just talking about. The program will be very hands-on and engaging.”

ASPIRE will not only enable the educators to attain FAA Part 107 certification as UAS pilots, it will also provide them with curriculum materials and logistical support to successfully integrate UAS training into their home schools’ curricula or extracurricular activities and better prepare their students for careers in the aviation industry or finding a job flying commercial drones.

“We’re trying to recruit a broad population of teachers,” Becnel said. “Students at schools around Baton Rouge who don’t have extracurricular activities shouldn’t be left out. Having this kind of vocational training early means they could have a job ready for them when they turn 16, which is the age you can attain your UAS pilot’s certificate. There’s a clear need in industry for more pilots.”

Becnel said Amazon is one such company students could eventually work for since it’s exploring delivering packages using drones. Oil and gas companies could also use drone pilots to complete inspections in less time and for lower cost than traditional methods.

“It’s easy for me to imagine a lot of compelling reasons for Louisiana students to care about learning to fly a drone,” Becnel said. “Drone pilots can be used in industrial plants, in agriculture, and in coastal studies.”

LSU Department of Oceanography & Coastal Sciences Adjunct Professor Marcelo Cohen is serving as the co-PI on the project and will use his expertise in flying drones to explain to the cohorts how drones can impact the state. Cohen teaches a class at LSU called Remote Sensing of Coastal Landforms and Vegetation Using Drones and has worked on the Holocene and Anthropocene history of mangrove dynamics on the Brazilian coast and in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean regions.

“Drones can revolutionize many fields, such as geography, oceanography, geology, agronomy, biology, engineering, and architecture,” Cohen said. “I just used drones to show how hurricanes impact mangroves and coastal morphology. A drone camera can record the near-infrared to assess whether vegetation was impacted by, for example, winter freezes, hurricanes, or pests. With a spatial resolution of 2 cm, drone images allow us to accurately identify mangrove expansion along subtropical coasts due to global warming. Nowadays, drones with Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) corrections are also essential for developing high-accuracy digital elevation models to identify and quantify coastal erosion and determine areas most vulnerable to flooding due to sea-level rise and hurricanes. Therefore, students and society as a whole could benefit from people having access to drones.”

Cohen will join Becnel at the ASPIRE program training, which will ultimately impact hundreds of students and pave a path for them in aerospace or another field.

“ASPIRE will impact 400 students each year, with about 1,000 pilots trained at the end of the two-year program,” Becnel said. “It’s really incredible, and we are grateful to the FAA for their support in this endeavor.”

To learn more, visit lsu.edu/aspire .

Like us on Facebook (@lsuengineering) or follow us on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram (@lsuengineering).​

Contact: Libby Haydel Communications Manager 225-578-4840 [email protected]

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• > New graduate scholarship established in mechanical engineering

New graduate scholarship established in mechanical engineering

May 10, 2024 - by Kim Delker

Graduate students in the Department of Mechanical Engineering will receive more financial support beginning next academic year, thanks to a gift from an alumnus.

Tim Thompson, who received a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from UNM in 1990, and his wife, Barbara, recently established the Tim and Barbara Thompson Graduate Scholarship Fund in Mechanical Engineering. The scholarship is aimed at supporting high-achieving graduate students in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, with the ultimate mission of recruiting and retaining the best and brightest in New Mexico.

Inaugural recipients of up to four first-year graduate students will be selected for the 2024-2025 academic year, with each receiving $10,000.

Thompson, CEO of AvaDent, is a native of Belen, N.M. While attending UNM, he was a group leader at Los Alamos National Laboratory, where he managed about 150 engineers and technicians and developed advanced technology programs.

Before attending UNM, he received a bachelor’s degree from New Mexico State University in 1978.

Among Thompson’s honors, he received the Flying Forty award from Technology Ventures Corporation for 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007; Discover Magazine’s award as a top innovator in aerospace in 1996; and was an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year finalist in 2004.

Thompson was the keynote speaker at the spring 2022 School of Engineering Convocation ceremony.

He and his wife live in the Santa Fe area with their Havanese pets.

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Mailing Address: Department of Mechanical Engineering MSC01 1150 1 University of New Mexico Albuquerque, NM 87131

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