J. Mike Walker '66 Department of Mechanical Engineering
What is Mechanical Engineering?
Mechanical engineering is a highly diversified profession. The mechanical engineer designs machines, devices, various products and control systems, and works with the generation, conversion, transmission, and utilization of mechanical and thermal power. Assignments often include analysis and synthesis of mechanical, thermal, and fluid systems. Mechanical engineers are also responsible for characterization, specification, and analysis of materials used in design and manufacturing. Manufacturing systems, robotics, electromechanical devices, and control systems are also the purview of the mechanical engineer. Graduates in mechanical engineering are among the most versatile engineers and enjoy professional employment in industry, government, consulting, and research organizations. The undergraduate program in Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org.
Where do Mechanical Engineers Work?
The work of mechanical engineers varies from general engineering to numerous, narrow specialties, as required by the wide variety of employers. A general list, though not in any way exhaustive, of the areas of professional employment opportunities available to mechanical engineers includes: design, construction, controls, materials specification and evaluation, analysis of thermal systems, fluid and solid mechanics, manufacturing, plant engineering, research and development, and technical sales. Many mechanical engineers are promoted to management and administrative positions as well.
Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M
The mission of the Department of Mechanical Engineering is to serve the students of Texas A&M University, the State of Texas, and the nation by:
- providing quality education that is well-grounded in the fundamental principles of engineering, fostering innovation and preparing students for leadership positions and successful careers in industry, government, and academia;
- advancing the knowledge base of mechanical engineering to support the competitiveness of existing industry and to spawn new economic development in Texas and the nation through active involvement in basic and applied research in a global context; and
- successfully pursue life-long learning and advanced study opportunities, and subsequently contribute to the development of advanced concepts and leading edge technologies.
The objectives of the Mechanical Engineering program are to produce graduates who will:
- have successful careers, and become leaders, in industry and the public sector;
-
appropriately apply acquired knowledge, work well with other people, effectively communicate ideas and technical information, and continue to learn and improve; and
-
successfully pursue advanced studies, if they so choose, opportunities, and subsequently contribute to the development of advanced concepts and leading edge technologies.
Mechanical engineers should possess a thorough understanding of engineering science as well as analytical and practical skills in one of many basic mechanical engineering specialties. The mechanical engineering curriculum at Texas A&M requires students to develop and apply logical thinking, innovative approaches, and ethical standards as a prerequisite for professional competence. The curriculum consists of basic theory courses complemented by laboratory experiences in dynamic systems and controls, design, experimentation, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, manufacturing, and materials. Elective courses are offered in numerous areas including air conditioning, automotive engineering, computer-aided design, control systems, corrosion, energy conversion, internal combustion engines, manufacturing, materials, mechanical design, polymers, mechatronics, metallurgy, power generation, robotics, stress analysis, fluid mechanics, turbomachinery, and others. The selection of elective courses is dictated by the interests and goals of the student, working with departmental advisors and within the curriculum guidelines.
Experiential Education in Mechanical Engineering
Many students enhance their education by participating in cooperative education and/or professional internships, which offer opportunities for employment in engineering positions while working toward a degree. Numerous study abroad programs are also available for gaining experience and perspectives in the international arena. Participation in student chapters of professional and honor societies provides leadership opportunities, collegial activities, and learning experiences outside the classroom. Many students also participate in research projects through individual directed studies courses with a professor. The mechanical engineering program culminates with a senior capstone design course sequence highlighted by real-life projects sponsored by various industries. Students benefit from the challenges and gratification that come through direct interaction with practicing engineers.
Before commencing course work in the major, students must be admitted to the major or have the approval of the department. The full bachelors program is offered on College Station and Qatar campuses. All mechanical engineering undergraduate coursework is offered on both campuses, whereas some coursework is offered via distance learning.
AbdelGawad, Marwa, Instructional Assistant Professor
Mechanical Engineering-Qatar Campus
PHD, Texas A&M University, 2022
Aguilar-Mendoza, Guillermo, Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, University of California - Santa Barbara, 1999
Albakri, Mohammad, Engineering Assistant Professor
Mechanical Engineering-Qatar Campus
PHD, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 2016
Allaire, Douglas L, Associate Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2009
Ambrose, Robert, Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, University of Texas at Austin, 1991
Anand, Nagamangala, Regents Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, Purdue University, 1983
Antao, Dion S, Assistant Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, Drexel University, 2013
Balas, Mark, Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, University of Denver, 1974
Balawi, Shadi Omar, Instructional Associate Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, University of Cincinnati, 2007
Bandyopadhyay, Arkasama, Research Assistant Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, University of Texas Austin, 2020
Banerjee, Debjyoti, Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, University of California at Los Angeles, 1999
Benjamin, Chandler C, Assistant Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 2017
Borazjani, Iman, Associate Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, University of Minnesota, 2008
Charoenphol, Phapanin, Instructional Assistant Professor
Mechanical Engineering
DEN, University of Michigan, 2012
Chen, Wei, Assistant Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, University of Maryland, 2019
Claridge, David E, Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, Stanford University, 1976
Cooper, Marcia, Associate Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, California Institute of Technology, 2004
Cope, Dale A, Professor of Practice
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, Wichita State University, 2002
Corleto, Carlos Roberto, Professor of the Practice
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, Texas A&M University, 1990
Cortez, Jessie, Lecturer
Mechanical Engineering
MA, The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 2018
Darbha, Swaroop V, Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, University of California at Berkeley, 1994
Delgado, Adolfo, Associate Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, Texas A&M University, 2008
El Borgi, Sami, Professor
Mechanical Engineering-Qatar Campus
PHD, Cornell University, 1993
Elliott, Matthew, Instructional Associate Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, Texas A&M, 2013
Erdemir, Ali, Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, Georgia Institute of Technology, 1986
Felts, Jonathan R, Associate Professor
Mechanical Engineering
DEN, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, 2013
Fenton Friesen, Rebecca, Assistant Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, Northwestern University, 2020
Gao, Wei, Associate Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, University of Texas, 2014
PHD, University of Texas at Austin, 2014
Gopalswamy, Swaminathan, Research Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, University of California, 1991
Grunlan, Jaime C, Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, University of Minnesota, 2001
Guo, Bing, Associate Professor
Mechanical Engineering-Qatar Campus
PHD, Tsinghua University, China, 1998
Haglund, John S, Instructional Associate Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, Texas A&M University, 2003
Han, Je C, Distinguished Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, Massachusetts Inst of Technology, 1977
Hasnain, Zohaib, Assistant Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, University of Maryland, 2014
Hassan, Ibrahim, Professor
Mechanical Engineering-Qatar Campus
PHD, Manitoba University, 1995
Hassan, Yassin A, University Distinguished Professor and Regents Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, University of Illinois, 1980
Hipwell, M Cynthia, Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, University of California at Berkeley, 1996
Hogan, Harry A, Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, Texas A&M University, 1984
Hossain, Zubaer, Instructional Associate Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2011
Hubbard Jr, James, University Distinguished Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1982
Jacobs, Timothy J, Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, University of Michigan, 2005
Jarrahbashi, Dorrin, Assistant Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, University of California Irvine, 2014
Khraisheh, Marwan, Professor
Mechanical Engineering-Qatar Campus
PHD, Washington State University, 1996
Kim, Haejune, Instructional Assistant Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee, 2014
Kim, Won-Jong, Associate Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, Massachusetts Inst of Technology, 1997
Kim, Yong-Joe, Associate Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, Purdue University, 2003
Krishnamoorthy, Aravind, Assistant Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2016
Krishnamurthy, Vinayak, Associate Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, Purdue University, 2016
Kulatilaka, Waruna D, Professor
Mechanical Engineering
DEN, Purdue University, 2006
Lacy, Thomas E., Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, Georgia Institute of Technology, 1998
Lan, Shoufeng, Assistant Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2017
Langari, Reza, Regents Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, University of California at Berkeley, 1991
Lavernia Borrego, Enrique, Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1986
Layton, Astrid C, Assistant Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2014
Lee, ChaBum, Associate Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, 2012
Lee, Kiju, Associate Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, Johns Hopkins University, 2009
Lewis, Heather, Lecturer
Mechanical Engineering
MEN, North Carolina State University, 2000
Li, Ying, Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, University of Florida, 2007
Liang, Hong, Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, Stevens Institute of Technology, 1992
Malak Jr, Richard J, Associate Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2008
Mansoor, Bilal, Associate Professor
Mechanical Engineering-Qatar Campus
PHD, University of Michigan, 2010
Masad, Eyad A, Professor
Mechanical Engineering-Qatar Campus
PHD, Washington State University, 1998
Mathieu, Olivier E, Research Associate Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, University of Orleans, 2006
McAdams II, Daniel A, Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, The University of Texas at Austin, 1999
McFarland, Jacob, Associate Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, Texas A&M University, 2013
McVay, Matilda W, Instructional Associate Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, Texas A&M University, 1996
Mohiuddin, Mohammad W, Instructional Assistant Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, Texas A&M University, 2008
Moreno, Michael R, Associate Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, Texas A&M University, 2009
Muliana, Hanifah, Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2004
Needleman, Alan, University Distinguished Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, Harvard University, 1971
O'Neill, Zheng, Associate Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, Oklahoma State University, 2004
Pagilla, Prabhakar R, Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, University of California at Berkeley, 1996
Palazzolo, Alan B, Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, University of Virginia, 1981
Pan, Heng, Associate Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, University of California-Berkeley, 2009
Pate, Michael B, Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, Purdue University, 1982
Petersen, Eric L, Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, Stanford University, 1998
Pharr, George, Associate Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, Harvard University, 2014
Powell-Palm, Matthew, Assistant Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, University of California, Berkeley, 2020
Qiu, Jingjing, Associate Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, Florida State University, 2008
Rajagopal, Kumbakonam, Distinguished Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, University of Minnesota, 1978
Rasmussen, Bryan P, Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, University of Illinois, 2005
Rathinam, Sivakumar, Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, University of California at Berkeley, 2007
Reddy, Junuthula N, Distinguished Professor and Regents Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, University of Alabama at Huntsville, 1974
Restrepo Perez, Vanessa, Assistant Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, Purdue University, 2021
Robbins, Andrew B, Research Assistant Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, Texas A&M University, 2018
Sadr, Reza, Professor
Mechanical Engineering-Qatar Campus
PHD, University of Utah, 2002
Saripalli, Srikanth, Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, University of Southern California, 2007
Schoenung, Julie, Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1987
Seets, David, Professor Of The Practice
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, The University of Texas at Austin, 1997
Srinivasa, Arun R, Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, University of California at Berkeley, 1991
Staack, David A, Associate Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, Drexel University, 2008
Subramanian, Velumani, Instructional Associate Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, Bharathiar University, 1998
Suh, Chii-Der, Associate Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, Texas A&M University, 1997
Tafreshi, Reza, Professor
Mechanical Engineering-Qatar Campus
PHD, University of British Columbia, Canada, 2005
Taheri Andani, Mohsen, Assistant Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, University of Michigan, 2022
Tai, Li-Jung, Associate Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, 2011
Tarazaga, Pablo, Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, 2009
PHD, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 2009
Thomas, Gray, Assistant Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, University of Texas at Austin, 2019
Thomas, James, Research Assistant Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, Texas A&M, 2018
Thomas, Naveen, Instructional Assistant Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, Texas A&M, 2021
PHD, Texas A&M University, 2021
PHD, Texas A&M University, 2019
Thyagarajan, Ravi, Professor Of The Practice
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, California Institute of Technology, 1989
Tsenn, Joanna N, Instructional Associate Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, Texas A&M University, 2016
Tseregounis, Spyros, Professor of the Practice
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, University of California at Los Angeles, 1984
Walsh, Michael, Associate Professor of the Practice
Mechanical Engineering
MFA, University of Southern California, 2001
Wang, Ya, Associate Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, Virginia Tech, 2012
Weaver-Rosen, Jonathan, Instructional Assistant Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, Texas A&M, 2021
Wen, Sy-Bor, Associate Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, University of California at Berkeley, 2006
Wilkerson, Justin W, Associate Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, Johns Hopkins University, 2014
Wright, Lesley M, Associate Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, Texas A&M University, 2006
Yu, Choongho, Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, The University of Texas at Austin, 2004
Zheng, Minghui, Associate Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, University of California, Berkeley, 2017
Zhou, Yuxiao, Assistant Professor
Mechanical Engineering
PHD, Pennsylvania State University, 2020