Current Research

Mechanical Engineering: Course 2

Finding an undergraduate research project in Mechanical Engineering starts with some creative shopping around, unless you already have a specific project and supervisor in mind. Start by scanning the interests of the supervisors listed below. Select those that interest you and phone for an appointment. When you call, state whether you are looking for credit or pay, because a supervisor may not have funds. (Although, UROP has limited direct funding for which you can apply.) If you need more guidance, contact the Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Office.

While all of these resources are helpful in finding out about potential research projects, there is no substitute for student initiative. Students seeking research positions should consult these resources and make appointments with potential supervisors to discuss their interests. After the student has reached an agreement to work with a given faculty member, he or she needs to submit an online UROP application (which can be found by following the instructions below). The faculty supervisor and the Department UROP Coordinator need to endorse the agreement.

On-Line UROP Proposal System

Since UROP is an academic program, you must be a registered undergraduate in order to participate and use the on-line proposal system. In addition, use of this system requires authentication using MIT web certificates. Your UROP homepage displays options to view your current and past UROP applications or to initiate a new UROP application.

Faculty Research Descriptions

Prof. Rohan Abeyaratne, 3-173, x3-2201, rohan@mit.edu

Static and dynamic instabilities, mechanical models of micro-scale phenomena such as friction and granular flow, phase transformations in solids especially in shape-memory alloys.

Prof. Lallit Anand, 1-310E, x3-1635, anand@mit.edu

Mechanics and materials, deformation, fracture, fatigue, processing of metals, polymers, ceramics, composites.

Prof. Haruhiko Asada, 3-350, x3-6257, asada@mit.edu

Robotics, intelligent control, machine design, mechatronics.

Prof. George Barbastathis, 3-461C, x3-1960, gbarb@mit.edu

Volume holography and information theory applications to inverse problems; imaging of spatial and spectral signatures; adaptive optical nanostructures and MEMS with optical functionalities; differential acoustic imaging.

>Prof. Klaus-J Bathe, 3-356, x3-6645, kjb@mit.edu

Computational mechanics, finite element analysis, numerical methods, continuum mechanics, computer program development.

Dr. H. Frederick Bowman, E25-518C, x3-7426, hfbowman@mit.edu

Applications of bioheat and mass transfer; biomedical instrumentation for measurements of blood flow (perfusion), thermal properties, tissue oxygen concentration, and temperature; thermal dosimetry for cancer hyperthermia therapy and laser-tissue thermal interactions; applications in surgery, cancer therapy, critical care monitoring, burn therapy, thermal physiology.

Prof. Mary Boyce, 1-304, x3-2342, mcboyce@mit.edu

Mechanics of materials and manufacturing, polymers.

Prof. John G. Brisson II, 41-206, x3-2273, brisson@mit.edu

Superfluid Stirling refrigerator, cryogenic engineering, high amplitude sound.

Prof. Louis Bucciarelli Jr., 5-213, x3-4061, llbjr@mit.edu

Projects in the development of stand-alone pholtovoltaic energy systems. In particular, the development of stand-alone systems for the measurement of the solar resource at any place in the world. Instrumentation, hardware and software are all of interest. See http://pvbase.mit.edu/index for a pv monitoring station atop building 1. Projects also in the development of interactive exercises for open courseware for courses 1.050 and 1.105. (Note: I am on leave generally for three months in the spring but willing to advise electronically from afar.)

Prof. Wai K. Cheng, 31-165, x3-4531, wkcheng@mit.edu

Instrumentation, combustion, optical diagnostics, internal combustion engines.

Prof. Jung-Hoon Chun, 35-233, x3-1759, jchun@mit.edu

Manufacturing, materials processing, new processes, process modeling.

Prof. Ernest G. Cravalho, 41-208, x3-1414, ecravalho@comcast.net

Biomedical engineering, organ transplantation, lasers in medicine and surgery, crybiology, heat transfer, thermodynamics, energy conversion.

Prof. Martin Culpepper, 35-209, x2-2395, culpepper@mit.edu

Design, manufacturing, biomedical instruments, nanopositioning, MEMS.

Prof. C. Forbes Dewey Jr., 3-254, x3-2235, cfdewey@mit.edu

Biomedical fluid mechanics, biological experiments to determine the influence of mechanical forces on individual cells, biological modeling and image processing, and information systems technology for biological and medical databases.

Prof. Daniel Frey, 3-449D, x4-6133, danfrey@mit.edu

Mechanical design, statistics, robust design.

Dr. Stanley B. Gershwin, 35-331, x3-2149, gershwin@mit.edu

Modeling and analysis of manufacturing systems, effects of random machine failures and other disruptions, real-time scheduling, simulation.

Prof. Ahmed P. Ghoniem, 3-342, x3-2295, ghoniem@mit.edu

Computational methods in fluid mechanics, thermodynamics and heat transfer; application to propulsion and engine combustion.

Prof. Leon R. Glicksman, 5-418F, x3-2233, glicks@mit.edu

Energy efficient buildings; sustainable building design; building materials; design, construction and testing of innovative super insulations; new designs and experimental measurements; indoor ventilation improvements; fluidized beds; fluid flow and heat transfer; experimental and computational studies.

Prof. David Gossard, 3-336, x3-4465, gossard@mit.edu

Computer-aided design, interactive graphics, geometric modeling, knowledge-based systems.

Prof. Alan J. Grodzinsky, 38-377, x3-4969, alg@mit.edu

Tissue engineering for cartilage repair and disease; Mechanobiology: effects of mechanical forces on cell metabolism, synthesis and degradation of normal and arthritic cartilage; Molecular mechanics: mechanical and electromechanical properties of biomolecule and biopolymeric gels.

Prof. Timothy G. Gutowski, 35-232, 3-2034, gutowski@mit.edu

Research on the topic of "Environmentally Benign Manufacuring."

Prof. David E. Hardt, 35-132, x3-2252, hardt@mit.edu

Systems dynamics, control systems, machine design; application to manufacturing systems, specifically, forming and welding processes.

Prof. Kimberly Hamad-Schifferli, 56-341C, x2-2385, schiffer@mit.edu

Nanoparticles in biology: synthesis and characterization of nanoparticles, magnetic field heating of nanoparticles, bioconjugation of nanoparticles to proteins, DNA, encapsulation in polymers and liposomes, uptake of nanoparticles by cells.

Prof. Douglas P. Hart, 3-231, x3-2178, dphart@mit.edu

Applied fluid mechanics, multiphase and multicomponent flows, cavitation and vortical flow phenomena for environmental, chemical processing, combustion, power generation, and propulsion.

Prof. John B. Heywood, 3-340, x3-2277, heywood@mit.edu

Internal combustion engine processes, vehicle technology assessment, transportation environmental impacts and energy.

Prof. Neville Hogan, 3-146, x3-2277, neville@mit.edu

Integrated design, modelling and control of mechanical systems. Applications in robotics, biomechanics, neuroscience.

Prof. Ian Hunter, 3-154, x3921, ihunter@mit.edu

Bioengineering, micro- and nano-technologies, biomimetic materials and systems.

Dr. Yukikazu Iwasa, NW14-3101, x3-5548, iwasa@jokaku.mit.edu

Acoustic emission in superconducting magnets, mechanical disturbances (frictional, cracking, debonding) in superconducting magnet windings; quench propagation, magnet protection, AC losses in super-conductors, low temperature heat transfer, magnetic refrigeration, cryogenic engineering, design and operational issues for high-temperature (~77K) super-conducting magnets.

Dr. Lynette Jones, 3-137, x3-3973, ljones@mit.edu

Haptic, tactile and thermal displays, wearable sensors and communication systems, analysis of human vestibular and proprioceptive systems, biomechanics of hands

Prof. Roger D. Kamm, 3-260, x3-5330, rdkamm@mit.edu

Biological engineering, tissue engineering, molecular and cell biomechanics.

Prof. Rohit Karnik, 3-461A, x4-1155, karnik@mit.edu

Microfluidic and nanofluidic flows, sensing and sorting of cells and molecules, synthesis of nanoparticles for drug delivery

Prof. Patrick J. Keenan, 5-317, X 3-4341, pkeenan@mit.edu

Naval Architecture

Prof. Matthew J. Lang, NE47-221, x2-2631, mjlang@mit.edu

Biomolecular mechanics, biological motors, optical tweezers and single molecule fluorescence.

Prof. John Leonard, 5-214, x3-5305, jleonard@mit.edu

Mobile Robotics, Marine Robotics, Autonomous Underwater Vehicles, Autonomous Surface Vehicles.

Prof. Pierre F.J. Lermusiaux, 5-207B, x4-5172, pierrel@mit edu, http://mseas.mit.edu; http://web.mit.edu/pierrel/www/

Mathematical models, computational schemes and numerics for ocean predictions and dynamical diagnostics. High-level optimization and control of autonomous ocean observation systems. Comparisons and combinations of models with data. Estimation theory, data assimilation and uncertainty predictions. Physical and interdisciplinary ocean dynamics and processes.

Prof. John H. Lienhard, 3-162, x3-3790, lienhard@mit.edu

Heat and mass transfer, fluid mechanics, convection, electronics thermal management.

Prof. Seth Lloyd, 3-160, x2-1803, slloyd@mit.edu

Characterization and control of complex systems, quantum computation.

Prof. Frank A. McClintock, 1-304, x3-2219

Materials, fracture, computer-aided stress analysis, applied mechanics.

Prof. Borivoje Mikic, 3-166, x3-2242, mikic@mit.edu

Heat transfer, energy, biomedical engineering.

Prof. Anthony Patera, 3-266, x3-8122, patera@mit.edu

Computational methods, continuum mechanics, fluid dynamics and heat transfer.

Prof. Derek Rowell, 3-142, x3-6206, drowell@mit.edu

Biomedical engineering, medical imaging and image processing, computers, computer applications, controls, design.

Prof. Yang Shao-Horn, 3-156, x3-4529, shaohorn@mit.edu

Materials for electrochemical energy storage and conversion, understanding and altering the crystal, surface and electronic structures of thin films and nanomaterials, and design new materials for lithium storage and electrocatalysis of small molecules such as oxygen reduction, water splitting and methanol oxidation.

Prof. Jean-Jacques E. Slotine, 3-338, x3-0490, jjs@mit.edu

Robot control, applied nonlinear control.

Prof. Joseph L. Smith Jr., 41-204, x3-2296, jlsmith@mit.edu

Thermodynamics, heat transfer, power generation, stirling engines, applications of superconductivity, cryogenic engineering.

Prof. Myron Spector, Brigham & Womens Hospital, 732-6702, 3-336 mspector@rics.Bwh.Harvard.edu

Biomaterials, tissue regeneration and remodeling, cell and molecular interactions with materials.

Prof. Alexandra H. Techet, 5-326C, x2-2266, ahtechet@mit.edu

Experimental marine hydrodynamics focusing on unsteady flow control, biomimetic propulsion, and fluid-structure interactions. Projects include studies of fluid-structure interactions, specifically vortex-induced-vibrations and their impact on offshore structures; vorticity control, for drag reduction and propulsion in surface and underwater vehicles; and boundary layer control, through fish-like swimming motion. These research interests also extend to other areas of fluid dynamics such as boundary layers and wakes, internal flows, and geological and environmental flows. In addition, development of flow measurement and visualization methods, including particle image velocimetry (PIV), stereoscopic PIV, and MEMS based micro sensing devices, for the ocean environment, is underway.

Dr. Mehmet Toner, Shriners-BI, (617) 374-5617, mtoner@sbi.org

Cryopreservation of biomaterials, bioartificial organs, thermal and electrical trauma, video microscopy of alive cells, heat and mass transport in biological systems.

Prof. Michael S. Triantafyllou, 5-226, x3-4335, mistetri@mit.edu

Dynamics and control of marine systems; flow-structure interaction; generation and control of vorticity to manage the flow around swimming bodies. Biomimetic robotics for the development of systems capable of emulating animal function and performance. Work performed in the Testing Tank Facility and the Propeller Tunnel.

Prof. David L. Trumper, 35-016, x3-3481, trumper@mit.edu

Research in the design and control of mechatronic systems, e.g., systems which incorporate electromechanical actuators, sensors, mechanical design, system dynamics, and precision measurement machines.

Prof. David Wallace, 3-455B, x3-2655, drwallac@mit.edu

Product design, computer-aided design, environmentally-conscious design.

Prof. Evelyn N. Wang, 3-461b, x4-3311, enwang@mit.edu

Micro electro-mechanical systems (MEMS), micro-/nanotechnologies for electronics cooling, energy conversion, water desalination, and biotechnologies.

Prof. James H. Williams Jr., 3-360, x3-2221, jhwill@mit.edu

Composite materials and nondestructive evaluation.

Prof. Ioannis V. Yannas, 3-332, x3-4469, yannas@mit.edu

Tissue and Organ Regeneration, Peripheral Nerve Regeneration, Biochemical and Cell Biological Mechanisms of Organ Regeneration

Prof. Kamal Youcef-Toumi, 3-332, x3-4469, youcef@mit.edu

Systems dynamics and controls, machine and sensor design; applications: design and control of manipulators, high precision systems and flexible fixturing systems for manufacturing automation.

Prof. Dick K.P. Yue, 5-321, x3-6823, yue@mit.edu

Theoretical and computational hydrodynamics, marine fluid mechanics and ocean engineering. Ocean and coastal wave dynamics, fluid-structure interactions, motions and loads on ships and offshore structures. Hydrodynamics of fish swimming. Vortical and turbulent flows at the air-sea interface. Immediate UROP openings for pay or credit at all levels in the Vortical Flow Research Laboratory (http://web.mit.edu/vfrl/www/).