Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science
The Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science offers a PhD in either Mechanical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering. The department's research strengths include biomechanics, materials, energy, fluid mechanics and rotary-wing aerodynamics. The doctoral student, with their adviser, designs the program of study and the research project. The dissertation is defended at the end of the research effort. A typical time to PhD after an undergraduate engineering degree is four to five years, but the length of the program may vary depending on the individual and the area of study.
| Contact: | Prof. Jessica Wagenseil |
| Email: | jessica.wagenseil@wustl.edu |
| Website: | https://mems.wustl.edu/graduate/programs |
Chair
Philip V. Bayly
The Lee Hunter Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering
PhD, Duke University
Nonlinear dynamics, vibrations, biomechanics
Associate Chairs
Katharine M. Flores (Materials Science)
PhD, Stanford University
Mechanical behavior of structural materials
David A. Peters (Mechanical Engineering)
McDonnell Douglas Professor of Engineering
PhD, Stanford University
Aeroelasticity, vibrations, helicopter dynamics, aerodynamics
Endowed Professors
Ramesh K. Agarwal
William Palm Professor of Engineering
PhD, Stanford University
Computational fluid dynamics, computational physics
Guy M. Genin
Harold & Kathleen Faught Professor of Mechanical Engineering
PhD, Harvard University
Solid mechanics, fracture mechanics
Mark J. Jakiela
Lee Hunter Professor of Mechanical Design
PhD, University of Michigan
Mechanical design, design for manufacturing, optimization, evolutionary computation
Shankar M.L. Sastry
Christopher I. Byrnes Professor of Engineering
PhD, University of Toronto
Materials science, physical metallurgy
Srikanth Singamaneni
Lilyan and E. Lisle Hughes Professor of Mechanical Engineering
PhD, Georgia Institute of Technology
Microstructures of cross-linked polymers
Professor
Jianjun Guan
PhD, Zhejiang University
Biomimetic biomaterials synthesis, scaffold fabrication
Associate Professors
Spencer P. Lake
PhD, University of Pennsylvania
Soft-tissue biomechanics
Amit Pathak
PhD, University of California, Santa Barbara
Cellular biomechanics
Jessica E. Wagenseil
DSc, Washington University
Arterial biomechanics
Assistant Professors
Damena D. Agonafer
PhD, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Computational fluid dynamics, computational physics
Matthew R. Bersi
PhD, Yale University
Biomedical engineering
Sang-Hoon Bae
PhD, University of California Los Angeles
Materials growth, optoelectronics, renewable energy
J. Mark Meacham
PhD, Georgia Institute of Technology
Micro-/nanotechnologies for thermal systems and the life sciences
Rohan Mishra
PhD, Ohio State University
Computational materials science
Patricia B. Weisensee
PhD, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Thermal fluids
Professor of the Practice
Swami Karunamoorthy
DSc, Washington University
Helicopter dynamics, engineering education
Teaching Professors
Emily J. Boyd
PhD, University of Texas at Austin
Thermofluids
Ruth J. Okamoto
DSc, Washington University
Biomechanics, solid mechanics
Joint Faculty
Richard L. Axelbaum (Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering)
Stifel & Quinette Jens Professor of Environmental Engineering Science
PhD, University of California, Davis
Combustion, nanomaterials
Elliot L. Elson (Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics)
Professor Emeritus of Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics
PhD, Stanford University
Biochemistry, molecular biophysics
Michael D. Harris (Physical Therapy, Orthopaedic Surgery, and Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science)
PhD, University of Utah
Whole body and joint-level orthopaedic biomechanics
Kenneth F. Kelton (Physics)
Arthur Holly Compton Professor of Arts & Sciences
PhD, Harvard University
Study and production of titanium-based quasicrystals and related phases
Eric C. Leuthardt (Neurological Surgery and Biomedical Engineering)
MD, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Neurological surgery
Lori Setton (Biomedical Engineering)
Lucy and Stanley Lopata Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering
PhD, Columbia University
Biomechanics for local drug delivery, tissue regeneration specific to the knee joints and spine
Matthew J. Silva (Orthopaedic Surgery)
Julia and Walter R. Peterson Orthopaedic Research Professor
PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Biomechanics of age-related fractures and osteoporosis
Simon Tang (Orthopaedic Surgery and Biomedical Engineering)
PhD, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Biological mechanisms
Senior Professors
Phillip L. Gould
PhD, Northwestern University
Structural analysis and design, shell analysis and design, biomechanical engineering
Kenneth L. Jerina
DSc, Washington University
Materials, design, solid mechanics, fatigue, fracture
Salvatore P. Sutera
PhD, California Institute of Technology
Viscous flow, biorheology
Barna A. Szabo
PhD, State University of New York at Buffalo
Numerical simulation of mechanical systems, finite-element methods
Lecturers
Sharniece Holland
PhD, University of Alabama
Additive manufacturing, mathematics
Jeffery Krampf
MS, Washington University
Fluid mechanics, modeling, design
J. Jackson Potter
PhD, Georgia Institute of Technology
Senior design
H. Shaun Sellers
PhD, Johns Hopkins University
Mechanics, materials
Louis G. Woodhams
BS, University of Missouri–St. Louis
Computer-aided design
Adjunct Instructors
Ricardo L. Actis
DSc, Washington University
Finite element analysis, numerical simulation, aircraft structures
Robert G. Becnel
MS, Washington University
FE review
Harold Brandon
DSc, Washington University
Energetics, thermal systems
Andrew W. Cary
PhD, University of Michigan
Computational fluid dynamics
Dan E. Driemeyer
PhD, University of Illinois
Thermoscience
Richard S. Dyer
PhD, Washington University
Propulsion, thermodynamics, fluids
Timothy W. Jackson
PhD, University of Washington
Structural analysis, dynamics
Richard R. Janis
MS, Washington University
Building environmental systems
Gary D. Renieri
PhD, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Structural applications, composite materials
Krishnan K. Sankaran
PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Metallic materials
Michael C. Wendl
DSc, Washington University
Mathematical theory, computational methods in biology and engineering
Laboratory and Design Specialist
Chiamaka Asinugo
MS, Washington University
Mechanical engineering design
Professor Emeritus
Wallace B. Diboll Jr.
MSME, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Dynamics, vibrations, engineering design
PhD in Mechanical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering
Policies & Regulations
A key objective of the doctoral program is to promote cutting-edge multidisciplinary research and education in the areas of mechanical engineering and materials science. Students are selected for admission to the program by a competitive process, and they typically start in the fall semester. On arriving at Washington University in St. Louis, the student will be advised by the temporary adviser on all procedural issues. The student will choose a permanent adviser by the end of the first year of residency in the program.
Summary of Requirements for Doctoral Students
The following is a brief summary of the requirements for students in the Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science doctoral programs:
- Pass the qualifying exams. Qualifying exams should be taken by the end of the first year.
- Prepare and defend a research proposal. The research proposal should be defended by the end of the third year.
- Write and successfully defend the doctoral dissertation.
- Complete a minimum of 36 units of course credit and a minimum of 24 units of doctoral research; a total of 72 credit units is required to earn the PhD degree.
- Satisfy the applicable teaching requirements of the Graduate School.
Degrees Offered
The Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science (MEMS) offers the following doctoral degrees:
- PhD in Mechanical Engineering
- PhD in Aerospace Engineering
- DSc in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or Materials Science
The Doctor of Science (DSc) has similar requirements to the PhD but without the teaching requirement. For a list of differences, please refer to the DSc and PhD Comparison (PDF).
- Students may also pursue a PhD in Materials Science — through the Institute of Materials Science & Engineering (IMSE) — while working with professors from the Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science. For details about this program, visit the IMSE Graduate Program webpage.
For more information about MEMS PhD degrees, visit the MEMS Graduate Degree Programs webpage.