Department of Mechanical Engineering

Undergraduate Study

The Department of Mechanical Engineering (MechE) offers three programs of undergraduate study. The first of these, the traditional program that leads to the bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, is a more structured program that prepares students for a broad range of career choices in the field of mechanical engineering. The second program leads to a bachelor's degree in engineering and is intended for students whose career objectives require greater flexibility. It allows them to combine the essential elements of the traditional mechanical engineering program with study in another, complementary field. The third program, in mechanical and ocean engineering, is also a structured program for students interested in mechanical engineering as it applies to the engineering aspects of ocean science, exploration, and utilization, and of marine transportation.

All of the educational programs in the department prepare students for professional practice in an era of rapidly advancing technology. They combine a strong base in the engineering sciences (mechanics, materials, fluid and thermal sciences, systems and control) with project-based laboratory and design experiences. All strive to develop independence, creative talent, and leadership, as well as the capability for continuing professional growth.

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (Course 2)

The program in mechanical engineering provides a broad intellectual foundation in the field of mechanical engineering. The program develops the relevant engineering fundamentals, includes various experiences in their application, and introduces the important methods and techniques of engineering practice.

The educational objectives of the program leading to the degree Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering are that:

Within a few years of graduation, a majority of our graduates will have completed or be progressing through top graduate programs; advancing in leadership tracks in industry, non-profit organizations, or the public sector; or pursuing entrepreneurial ventures. In these roles they will: (1) apply a deep working knowledge or technical fundamentals in areas related to mechanical, electromechanical, and thermal systems to address needs of the customer and society; (2) develop innovative technologies and find solutions to engineering problems; (3) communicate effectively as members of multidisciplinary teams; (4) be sensitive to professional and societal contexts and committed to ethical action; (5) lead in the conception, design, and implementation of new products, processes, services, and systems.

Students are urged to contact the MechE Undergraduate Office as soon as they have decided to enter mechanical engineering so that a faculty advisor may be assigned. Students, together with their faculty advisors, plan a program that best utilizes the departmental electives and the 48 units of unrestricted electives available in the Course 2 degree program.

This program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET as a mechanical engineering degree.

Bachelor of Science in Engineering as Recommended by the Department of Mechanical Engineering (Course 2-A)

Course 2-A is designed for students whose academic and career goals demand greater breadth and flexibility than are allowed under the mechanical engineering program, Course 2. To a large extent, the 2-A program allows students an opportunity to tailor a curriculum to their own needs, starting from a solid mechanical engineering base. The program combines a rigorous grounding in core mechanical engineering topics with an individualized course of study focused on a second area that the student designs with the help and approval of the 2-A faculty advisor. The program leads to the degree Bachelor of Science in Engineering as Recommended by the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

This program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET as an engineering degree.

The educational objectives of the program leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Engineering as recommended by the Department of Mechanical Engineering are that:

Within a few years of graduation, a majority of our graduates will have completed or be progressing through top graduate programs; advancing in leadership tracks in industry, non-profit organizations, or the public sector; or pursuing entrepreneurial ventures. In these roles they will: (1) apply a deep working knowledge or technical fundamentals in areas related to mechanical, electromechanical, and thermal systems to address needs of the customer and society; (2) develop innovative technologies and find solutions to engineering problems; (3) communicate effectively as members of multidisciplinary teams; (4) be sensitive to professional and societal contexts and committed to ethical action; (5) lead in the conception, design, and implementation of new products, processes, services, and systems.

A significant part of the 2-A curriculum consists of electives chosen by the student to provide in-depth study of a field of the student's choosing. A wide variety of popular concentrations are possible in which well-selected academic subjects complement a foundation in mechanical engineering and general Institute requirements. Some examples of potential concentrations include robotics, engineering management, product development, biomedical engineering and pre-medicine, energy conversion engineering, sustainable development, architecture and building technology, and any of the seven departmental focus areas mentioned above. The MechE faculty have developed specific recommendations in some of these areas; details are available from the MechE Undergraduate Office and on the departmental website.

Concentrations are not limited to those listed above. Students are encouraged to design and propose technically oriented concentrations that reflect their own needs and those of society.

The student's overall program must contain a total of at least one and one-half years of engineering content (150 units) appropriate to the student's field of study. The required core and second-level subjects include approximately 78 units of engineering topics. The self-designed concentration must include at least 72 more units of engineering topics. While engineering topics are usually covered through engineering subjects, subjects outside the School of Engineering may provide material essential to the engineering program of some concentrations. For example, management subjects usually form an essential part of an engineering management concentration. In all cases, the relationship of concentration subjects to the particular theme of the concentration must be obvious.

To pursue the 2-A degree, students must submit the online 2-A enrollment form no later than Add Date of their second term in the program.

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical and Ocean Engineering (Course 2-OE)

This program is intended for students who are interested in combining a firm foundation in mechanical engineering with a specialization in ocean engineering. The program includes engineering aspects of the ocean sciences, ocean exploration, and utilization of the oceans for transportation, defense, and extracting resources. Theory, experiment, and computation of ocean systems and flows are covered in a number of subjects, complementing a rigorous mechanical engineering program; a hands-on capstone design class allows students to master the design of advanced marine systems, including autonomous underwater vehicles and smart sensors.

This program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET in both mechanical engineering and ocean engineering.

The educational objectives of the program leading to the degree Bachelor of Science in Mechanical and Ocean Engineering are that within a few years of graduation, a majority of our graduates will have completed or be progressing through top graduate programs; advancing in leadership tracks in industry, non-profit organizations, or the public sector; or pursuing entrepreneurial ventures. In these roles they will: (1) apply a deep working knowledge or technical fundamentals in areas related to mechanical, electromechanical, and thermal systems to address needs of the customer and society; (2) develop innovative technologies and find solutions to engineering problems; (3) communicate effectively as members of multidisciplinary teams; (4) be sensitive to professional and societal contexts and committed to ethical action; (5) lead in the conception, design, and implementation of new products, processes, services, and systems.

Graduates have exciting opportunities in offshore industries, naval architecture, the oceanographic industry, the Navy or government, or for further study in graduate school.

Minor in Mechanical Engineering

Students pursuing a minor in the department must complete a total of six 12-unit subjects in the Mechanical Engineering Department program. At least three of the subjects must be selected from among the required subjects for the Course 2 and Course 2-OE degree programs, which are listed below. In addition, two subjects may be selected from restricted electives in those programs. 

18.03	Differential Equations 1	12
Select three of the following:		36
2.001	Mechanics and Materials I
2.002	Mechanics and Materials II
2.003[J]	Dynamics and Control I
2.004	Dynamics and Control II
2.005	Thermal-Fluids Engineering I
2.006	Thermal-Fluids Engineering II
2.007	Design and Manufacturing I
2.008	Design and Manufacturing II
2.009	The Product Engineering Process
2.017[J]	Design of Electromechanical Robotic Systems
2.019	Design of Ocean Systems
2.612	Marine Power and Propulsion
2.086	Numerical Computation for Mechanical Engineers
2.671	Measurement and Instrumentation
Select two additional subjects from the required subjects or restricted electives for either Course 2 or Course 2-OE 2		24
Total Units		72

1	18.032 Differential Equations is also an acceptable option. Consult department for other alternatives.
2	For information about restricted electives in these programs, please refer to the department's website.

Inquiries

Further information on undergraduate programs may be obtained from the MechE Undergraduate Office, Room 1-110, 617-253-2305, and from the downloadable Guide to the Undergraduate Program in Mechanical Engineering.

Graduate Study

The Department of Mechanical Engineering (MechE) provides opportunities for graduate work leading to the following degrees: Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Master of Science in Ocean Engineering, Master of Science in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, Master of Science in Oceanographic Engineering, Master of Engineering in Manufacturing, degree of Mechanical Engineer, degree of Naval Engineer, and the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or Doctor of Science (ScD), which differ in name only.

The Master of Engineering in Manufacturing degree is a 12-month professional degree intended to prepare students for technical leadership in the manufacturing industries.

The Mechanical Engineer's and Naval Engineer's degrees offer preparation for a career in advanced engineering practice through a program of advanced coursework that goes well beyond the master's level. These degrees are not a stepping stone to the PhD.

The Doctor of Philosophy (or Science), the highest academic degree offered, is awarded upon the completion of a program of advanced study and significant original research, design, or development.

Admission Requirements for Graduate Study

Applications to the mechanical engineering graduate program are accepted from persons who have completed, or will have completed by the time they arrive, a bachelor's degree if they are applying for a master's degree, or a master's degree if they are applying for a PhD. Most incoming students have a degree in mechanical engineering or ocean engineering, or some related branch of engineering. The department's admission criteria are not specific, however, and capable students with backgrounds in different branches of engineering or in science may gain entry. Nevertheless, to qualify for a graduate degree, the candidate is expected to have had at least an undergraduate-level exposure to the core subject areas in mechanical engineering (applied mechanics, dynamics, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, materials, control systems, and design) and to be familiar with basic electrical circuits and electromagnetic field theory.

Applications for September entry are due on December 15 of the previous year and decisions are reported in March. International students applying from abroad may be admitted, but they will be allowed to register only if they have full financial support for the first year.

All applicants to the graduate program in mechanical engineering must submit the GRE test results. International students whose native language is not English are required to take either the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam and receive a minimum score of 7 or the TOEFL exam with a minimum acceptable score of 577 (PBT), 233 (CBT) or 100 (iBT).

Early Admission to Master's Degree Programs in Mechanical Engineering

At the end of the junior year, extraordinarily qualified students in the Department of Mechanical Engineering will be invited to apply for early admission to the graduate program. Students who are admitted will then be able to enroll in core graduate subjects during the senior year and to find a faculty advisor who is willing to start and supervise research for the master's thesis while the student is still in the senior year. With the consent of the faculty advisor, the student may also use a portion of the work conducted towards the master's thesis in the senior undergraduate year to satisfy the requirements of the bachelor's thesis.

Writing Ability Requirement

The Mechanical Engineering Department requires that all incoming graduate students demonstrate satisfactory English writing ability, or successfully complete appropriate training in writing. This requirement reflects the faculty's conviction that writing is an essential skill for all engineers. All incoming graduate students, native as well as international, must take the departmental writing ability test, which is administered online in June. Depending on the results, a student will either pass or be required to take a short course during the Independent Activities Period in January.

Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

To qualify for the Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering, a student must complete at least 72 credits of coursework, not including thesis. Of these, at least 48 must be graduate subjects (refer to the Guide to Graduate Study on the MechE website). The remainder of the 72 units may include advanced undergraduate subjects that are not requirements in the undergraduate mechanical engineering curriculum.

At least three of the graduate subjects must be taken in mechanical engineering sciences (refer to the Guide to Graduate Study on the MechE website). Students must take at least one graduate mathematics subject (12 units) offered by the MIT Mathematics Department. For the Master of Science in Oceanographic Engineering, see also the requirements listed in the Joint Program with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

Finally, a thesis is required. The thesis is an original work of research, development, or design, performed under the supervision of a faculty or research staff member, and is a major part of any graduate program in the Mechanical Engineering Department. A master's student usually spends as much time on thesis work as on coursework. A master's degree usually takes about one and one-half to two years to complete.

Master of Science in Ocean Engineering/Master of Science in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering/Master of Science in Oceanographic Engineering

The requirements for each of these three degrees are that the student takes 72 credit units of graduate subjects and complete a thesis.

At least three of the subjects must be chosen from a prescribed list of ocean engineering subjects (refer to the Guide to Graduate Study on the MechE website). Students must also take at least one graduate mathematics subject (12 units) offered by MIT's Mathematics Department. For the Master of Science in Oceanographic Engineering, see also the requirements listed under the Joint Program with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

The required thesis is an original work of research, development, or design, conducted under the supervision of a faculty or senior research staff member. The thesis usually takes between one and two years to complete.

Master of Engineering in Manufacturing

The Master of Engineering in Manufacturing is a 12-month professional degree in mechanical engineering that is intended to prepare the student to assume a role of technical leadership in the manufacturing industries. The degree is aimed at practitioners who will use this knowledge to become leaders in existing, as well emerging, manufacturing companies. To qualify for this degree, a student must complete a highly integrated set of subjects and projects that cover the process, product, system, and business aspects of manufacturing, totaling 90 units, plus complete a group-based thesis project with a manufacturing industry. While centered in engineering and firmly grounded in the engineering sciences, this degree program considers the entire enterprise of manufacturing. Students will gain both a broad understanding of the many facets of manufacturing and a knowledge of manufacturing fundamentals from which to build new technologies and businesses. The admission process is identical to that of the Master of Science degree, with the exception that two additional essay questions are required.

Mechanical Engineer's Degree

The Mechanical Engineer's degree provides an opportunity for further study beyond the master's level for those who wish to enter engineering practice rather than research. This degree emphasizes breadth of knowledge in mechanical engineering and its economic and social implications, and is quite distinct from the PhD, which emphasizes depth and originality of research.

The engineer's degree requires a broad program of advanced coursework in mechanical engineering totaling at least 162 credit units (typically about 14 subjects), including those taken during the master's degree program. The engineer's degree program is centered around the application of engineering principles to advanced engineering problems and includes a Mechanical Engineering examination and an applications-oriented thesis, which may be an extension of a suitable master's thesis. An engineer's degree typically requires at least one year of study beyond the master's degree.

Naval Engineer's Degree—Program in Naval Construction and Engineering

The Naval Construction and Engineering (NVE) program provides US Navy and US Coast Guard officers, foreign naval officers, and civilian students interested in ships and ship design a broad graduate-level education for a career as a naval engineer.

The program leads to the Naval Engineer's degree, which requires a higher level of professional competence and broader range of knowledge than is required for the degree of Master of Science in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering or Ocean Engineering. Subjects in the areas of economics, industrial management, and public policy and law, and at least 12 units of comprehensive design are required, in addition to an in-depth curriculum that includes naval architecture, hydrodynamics, ship structures, materials science, and power and propulsion. The program is appropriate for naval officers and civilians who plan to participate in the design and construction of naval ships, as well as those interested in commercial ship design.

For students working toward a simultaneous Naval Engineer's degree and a master's degree, a single thesis is generally acceptable, provided it is appropriate to the specifications of both degrees, demonstrating an educational maturity expected of the Naval Engineer's degree.

Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Science

The highest academic degree is the Doctor of Science, or Doctor of Philosophy (the two differ only in name). This degree is awarded upon the completion of a program of advanced study, and the performance of significant original research, design, or development. Doctoral degrees are offered in all areas represented by the department's faculty.

Students become candidates for the doctorate by passing the doctoral qualifying examinations. The doctoral program includes a major program of advanced study in the student's principal area of interest, and a minor program of study in a different field. The MechE Graduate Office should be consulted about the deadline for passing the qualifying exam.

The principal component of the program is the thesis. The thesis is a major, original work that makes a significant research, development, or design contribution in its field. The thesis and the program of study are done under a faculty supervisor and a doctoral committee selected by the student and his or her supervisor, and perhaps other interested faculty members. The committee makes an annual examination of the candidate's progress and makes a final recommendation for a public defense of the work. The doctoral program typically requires three years of work beyond the master's degree, although this time is strongly topic dependent. In concert with the Center for Computational Engineering (CCE), the department also offers a doctoral program in Computational Science and Engineering (ME-CSE). The program enables students to specialize at the doctoral level in a computation-related field of their choice through focused coursework and a doctoral thesis which makes extensive use of sophisticated computation or develops new computational methods. The ME-CSE PhD degree highlights this specialization by using the thesis field “Mechanical Engineering and Computation.” More information can be found at the CEE website.

Interdisciplinary Programs

Graduate students registered in the Department of Mechanical Engineering may elect to participate in interdisciplinary programs of study.

Computation for Design and Optimization

The Computation for Design and Optimization (CDO) program offers a master's degree to students interested in the analysis and application of computational approaches to designing and operating engineered systems. The curriculum is designed with a common core serving all engineering disciplines and an elective component focusing on specific applications. Current MIT graduate students may pursue a CDO master's degree in conjunction with a department-based master's or PhD program. For more information, see the full program description under Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs.

Computational Science and Engineering

The Computational Science and Engineering (CSE) program allows students to specialize at the doctoral level in a computation-related field of their choice through focused coursework and a doctoral thesis through a number of participating host departments. The CSE program is administered jointly by the Center for Computational Engineering (CCE) and the host departments, with the emphasis of thesis research activities being the development of new computational methods and/or the innovative application of computational techniques to important problems in engineering and science. For more information, see the full program description under Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs.

Joint Program with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

The Joint Program with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) is intended for students whose primary career objective is oceanography or oceanographic engineering. Students divide their academic and research efforts between the campuses of MIT and WHOI. Joint Program students are assigned an MIT faculty member as academic advisor; thesis research may be supervised by MIT or WHOI faculty. While in residence at MIT, students follow a program similar to that of other students in their home department. The program is described in more detail under Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs.

Leaders for Global Operations

The 24-month Leaders for Global Operations (LGO) program combines graduate degrees in engineering and management for those with previous postgraduate work experience and strong undergraduate degrees in a technical field. During the two-year program, students complete a six-month internship at one of LGO's partner companies, where they conduct research that forms the basis of a dual-degree thesis. Students finish the program with two MIT degrees: an MBA (or SM in management) and an SM from one of seven engineering programs, some of which have optional or required LGO tracks. After graduation, alumni take on leadership roles at top global manufacturing and operations companies. 

Polymers and Soft Matter

The Program in Polymers and Soft Matter (PPSM) offers students from participating departments an interdisciplinary core curriculum in polymer science and engineering, exposure to the broader polymer community through seminars, contact with visitors from industry and academia, and interdepartmental collaboration while working towards a PhD or ScD degree.

Research opportunities include functional polymers, controlled drug delivery, nanostructured polymers, polymers at interfaces, biomaterials, molecular modeling, polymer synthesis, biomimetic materials, polymer mechanics and rheology, self-assembly, and polymers in energy. The program is described in more detail under Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs.

Technology and Policy

The Master of Science in Technology and Policy is an engineering research degree with a strong focus on the role of technology in policy analysis and formulation. The Technology and Policy Program (TPP) curriculum provides a solid grounding in technology and policy by combining advanced subjects in the student's chosen technical field with courses in economics, politics, quantitative methods, and social science. Many students combine TPP's curriculum with complementary subjects to obtain dual degrees in TPP and either a specialized branch of engineering or an applied social science such as political science or urban studies and planning. For additional information, see the program description under the Institute for Data, Systems, and Society.

Financial Support

The Department of Mechanical Engineering offers three types of financial assistance to graduate students: research assistantships, teaching assistantships, and fellowships.

The majority of students in the department are supported by research assistantships (RAs), which are appointments to work on particular research projects with particular faculty members. Faculty members procure research grants for various projects and hire graduate students to carry out the research. The research is almost invariably structured so that it becomes the student's thesis. An RA appointment provides a full-tuition scholarship (i.e., covers all tuition) plus a salary that is adequate for a single person. The financial details are outlined in a separate handout available from the MechE Graduate Office. An RA may register for a maximum of 24 units (about two subjects) of classroom subjects per regular term and 12 units in the summer term, and must do at least the equivalent of 24 units of thesis (i.e., research on the project) per term. (Please note that Master of Engineering in Manufacturing students are not eligible for RA or TA positions since their subject credits exceed these limits.)

Teaching assistants (TAs) are appointed to work on specific subjects of instruction. As the name implies, they usually assist a faculty member in teaching, often grading homework problems and tutoring students. In the Mechanical Engineering Department, TAs are very seldom used for regular full-time classroom teaching. Full-time TAs are limited to 24 units of credit per regular term, including both classroom subjects and thesis. The TA appointment does not usually extend through the summer.

A fellowship provides the student with a direct grant, and leaves the student open to select his or her own research project and supervisor. A limited number of awards and scholarships are available to graduate students directly through the department. A number of students are also supported by fellowships from outside agencies, such as the National Science Foundation, Office of Naval Research, and Department of Defense. Scholarships are awarded each year by the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers. These awards are normally granted to applicants whose interest is focused on naval architecture and marine engineering or on ocean engineering. Applications are made directly to the granting agency, and inquiries for the fall term should be made in the preceding fall term.

Prospective students are invited to communicate with the Department regarding any of these educational and financial opportunities.

Experience has shown that the optimum graduate program consists of about equal measures of coursework and research, consistent with an RA appointment. The main advantage of a fellowship is a greater freedom in choosing a research project and supervisor. A teaching assistantship gives the student teaching experience and can also be extremely valuable for reviewing basic subject material—for example, in preparation for the doctoral qualifying exams. It does not, however, leave much time for thesis research and may extend the time that the student needs to complete his or her degree.

Inquiries

For additional information on mechanical engineering graduate admissions, contact Una Sheehan. For general inquiries on the mechanical engineering graduate program, contact Leslie Regan. All can be reached in the MechE Graduate Office, Room 1-112, 617-253-2291.

Research Laboratories and Programs

The Mechanical Engineering Department is organized into seven areas that collectively capture the broad range of interests and activities within it. These areas are:

• Mechanics: Modeling, Experimentation, and Computation (MMEC)
• Design, Manufacturing, and Product Development
• Controls, Instrumentation, and Robotics
• Energy Science and Engineering
• Ocean Science and Engineering
• Bioengineering
• Nano/Micro Science and Technology

The educational opportunities offered to students in mechanical engineering are enhanced by the availability of a wide variety of research laboratories and programs, and well-equipped shops and computer facilities.

The department provides many opportunities for undergraduates to establish a close relationship with faculty members and their research groups. Students interested in project work are encouraged to consult their faculty advisor or approach other members of the faculty.

Many members of the Department of Mechanical Engineering participate in interdepartmental or school-wide research activities. These include the Center for Biomedical Engineering, Center for Computational Engineering, Center for Materials Science and Engineering, Computation for Design and Optimization Program, Computational and Systems Biology Program, Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies, Laboratory for Manufacturing and Productivity, MIT Energy Initiative, Operations Research Center, Program in Polymers and Soft Matter, and Sea Grant College Program. Detailed information about many of these can be found under Research and Study and Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs. The department also hosts a number of industrial consortia, which support some laboratories and research projects. Research in the department is supported, in addition, by a broad range of federal agencies and foundations.

A partial list of departmental laboratories, listed according to the seven core areas of research, follows.

Mechanics: Modeling, Experimentation, and Computation

AMP Mechanical Behavior of Materials Laboratory

Mechanisms of deformation and fracture processes in engineering materials.

Center for Nonlinear Science

Interdisciplinary research into nonlinear phenomena. Incorporates the Nonlinear Dynamical Systems Lab (modeling, simulation, analysis), Nonlinear Dynamics Lab (experiments), and Nonlinear Systems Lab.

Composite Materials and Nondestructive Evaluation Laboratory

Development of quantitative nondestructive evaluation characterizations which are directly correlatable with the mechanical properties of materials and structures.

Finite Element Research Group

Computational procedures for the solution of problems in structural, solid, and fluid mechanics.

Hatsopoulos Microfluids Laboratory

Fundamental research on the behavior of complex fluid systems at microscopic scales, and associated engineering applications.

Design, Manufacturing, and Product Development

Auto-ID Laboratory

Creation of the "Internet of Things" using radio frequency identification and wireless sensor networks, and of a global system for tracking goods using a single numbering system called the Electronic Product Code.

Computer-Aided Design Laboratory

Advancing the state of the art in design methodology and computer-aided design methods.

Laboratory for Manufacturing and Productivity

An interdepartmental laboratory in the School of Engineering. Polymer microfabrication for microfluidic devices, chemical mechanical planarization for the semiconductor industry, precision macro- and micro-scale devices, and novel metrology methods for micro-scale devices. Small-scale fuel cells design, photovoltaic material and process research, and manufacture of photovoltaic panels. Identification technologies such as RFID, wireless sensors, and complex systems. Methods to integrate data and models across global networks. Factory-level manufacturing systems design and control, and supply chain design and management. Environmentally benign manufacturing.

Martin Center for Engineering Design

Design methodology, design of integrated electrical-mechanical systems, prototype development, advanced computer-aided design techniques.

Park Center for Complex Systems

Research to understand complexity, educating students and scholars on complexity, designing complex systems for the benefit of humankind, and disseminating knowledge on complexity to the world at large.

Precision Engineering Laboratory

Fundamental and applied research on all aspects of the design, manufacture, and control of high precision machines ranging from manufacturing machines to precision consumer products.

Precision Systems Design and Manufacturing Laboratory

Modeling, design, and manufacturing methods for nanopositioning equipment, carbon nanotube-based mechanisms and machines, and compliant mechanisms.

Controls, Instrumentation, and Robotics

d'Arbeloff Laboratory for Information Systems and Technology

Research on mechatronics, home and health automation, interface between hardware and software, and development of sensing technologies.

Field and Space Robotics Laboratory

Fundamental physics of robotic systems for unstructured environments. Development, design, and prototyping of control and planning algorithms for robotic applications, including space exploration, rough terrains, sea systems, and medical devices and systems.

Nonlinear Systems Laboratory

Analysis and control of nonlinear physical systems with emphasis on adaptation and learning in robots.

Energy Science and Engineering

Center for Energy and Propulsion Research

Innovative science and technology for a sustainable energy future in a carbon-constrained world. Fundamental and applied research in energy conversion and transportation, with applications to low-carbon efficient energy and propulsion systems. Includes several research groups:

• Electrochemical Energy Laboratory. Engineering of advanced materials for lithium batteries, proton exchange membrane and solid oxide fuel cells, and air battery and fuel cell hybrids.
• Reacting Gas Dynamics Laboratory. Fluid flow, chemical reaction, and combustion phenomena associated with energy conversion in propulsion systems, power generation, industrial processes, and fires.
• Sloan Automotive Laboratory. Processes and technology that control the performance, efficiency, and environmental impact of internal combustion engines, their lubrication, and fuel requirements.

Cryogenic Engineering Laboratory

Application of thermodynamics, heat transfer, and mechanical design to cryogenic processes and instrumentation and the operation of a liquid helium facility.

Rohsenow Kendall Heat Transfer Laboratory

Fundamental research in microscale/nanoscale transport, convection, laser/material interaction, and high heat fluxes; applied research in water purification, thermoelectric devices, energy-efficient buildings, and thermal management of electronics.

Ocean Science and Engineering

Center for Ocean Engineering

Provides an enduring ocean engineering identity, giving visibility to the outside world of MIT's commitment to the oceans, and serves as the focus point of ocean-related research at the Institute. Supports the research activities of the MIT-WHOI Joint Program in Oceanographic Engineering and the Naval Construction and Engineering Program. Encompasses the activities of the following research groups and laboratories:

• Autonomous Marine Sensing Lab. Distributed ocean sensing concepts for oceanographic science, national defense, and coastal management and protection. Oceanographic sensing and modeling, sonar system technology, computational underwater acoustics, and marine robotics and communication networking.
• Design Lab. Ship design, offshore structure design, marine robotics, geometric and solid modeling, advanced manufacturing, and shipbuilding. Includes the Center for Environmental Sensing and Modeling.
• Experimental Hydrodynamics Lab. Advanced surface ship, offshore platform, and underwater vehicle design. Development of non-invasive flow measurement and visualization methods.
• Impact and Crashworthiness Laboratory. Industry-oriented fracture testing and prediction technology of advanced high-strength steel sheets for automotive and shipbuilding applications. Includes both quasi-static and high strain rate response and effect of loading history on fracture.
• Experimental and Nonlinear Dynamics Lab. Laboratory experiments to obtain insight into all manner of dynamical phenomena, from micro-scale diffusive processes to global-scale oceanic wave fields. Field studies for ocean-related problems.
• Laboratory for Ship and Platform Flows. Modeling of free surface flows past conventional and high-speed vessels and estimation of their resistance and seakeeping in deep and shallow waters. Analytical and computational techniques.
• Laboratory for Undersea Remote Sensing. Ocean exploration, undersea remote sensing of marine life and geophysical phenomena, wave propagation and scattering theory in remote sensing, statistical estimation and information theory, acoustics and seismics, Europa exploration.
• Marine Hydrodynamics Laboratory (Propeller Tunnel). A variable-pressure recirculating water tunnel capable of speeds up to 10 m/s. Experiments are performed using state-of-the-art measurement techniques and instrumentation.
• Multidisciplinary Ocean Dynamics and Engineering Laboratory. Complex physical and interdisciplinary oceanic dynamics and processes. Mathematical model and computation methods for ocean predictions, dynamical diagnostics, and for data assimilation and data-model comparisons.
• Ocean Engineering Testing Tank. The tank is 108 feet long, 8.5 feet wide, with an average depth of 4.5 feet. The wave generator can generate harmonic or random waves. The tank also houses several laser flow visualization systems.
• Vortical Flow Research Laboratory. Advanced capabilities for simulation of complex vertical flows. Powerful computer workstations and LINUX clusters, computer-video image conversion, and state-of-the-art flow simulation animation technologies.
• MIT Sea Grant AUV Lab. Dedicated to autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), the lab is a leading developer of advanced unmanned marine robots, with applications in oceanography, environmental monitoring, and underwater resource studies. It engages in instrumentation and algorithm development for underwater vehicles performing navigation- and information-intensive tasks. Various vehicle platforms, and fabrication tools and materials are available.

Bioengineering

Bioinstrumentation Laboratory

Utilization of biology, optics, mechanics, mathematics, electronics, and chemistry to develop innovative instruments for the analysis of biological processes and new devices for the treatment and diagnosis of disease.

Human and Machine Haptics

Interdisciplinary studies aimed at understanding human haptics, developing machine haptics, and enhancing human-machine interactions in virtual reality and teleoperator systems.

Laboratory for Biomechanics of Cells and Biomolecules

Development of new instruments for the measurement of mechanical properties on the scale of a single cell or single molecule to better understand the interactions between biology and mechanics.

Newman Laboratory for Biomechanics and Human Rehabilitation

Research on bioinstrumentation, neuromuscular control, and technology for diagnosis and remediation of disabilities.

Nano/Micro Science and Technology

Pappalardo Laboratory for Micro/Nano Engineering

Creation of new engineering knowledge and products on the nano and micro scale through multidomain, multidisciplinary, and multiscale research.