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The Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering can be done in conjunction with a Ph.D. (for the M.S./Ph.D. option) or alone. Degrees are granted after completion of programs of study that emphasize the application of the natural sciences to the analysis and solution of engineering problems. Advanced courses in mathematics, chemistry, physics, and the life sciences are normally included in a program that incorporates the engineering systems approach for analysis of problems. Students must have a bachelors degree in one of the accredited engineering curricula or satisfy the equivalent of a bachelors degree in engineering as determined by the department concerned for admission to this program.

For more information, please see Graduate Handbook 7.1 .  A printable version of the curriculum can be found here .

Though the vast majority of students in our program earn the Ph.D., the D.Eng can be earned in rare cases. Degrees are granted after completion of programs of study in professional engineering emphasizing technical, sociological, environmental, and economic problems involved in the design, construction, and operation of engineering structures, processes, and equipment. Studies include courses in the engineering sciences necessary to the engineering interpretation of the latest scientific developments, as well as courses in design, operation, humanities, and economics to provide bases for the analysis and solution of problems in professional engineering. Students must have a BS degree in one of the accredited engineering curricula or satisfy the equivalent of a BS degree in engineering as determined by the department concerned.

University of Cincinnati - Main Campus PhD in Engineering

How much does a doctorate in engineering from uc cost, uc graduate tuition and fees.

Does UC Offer an Online PhD in Engineering?

Uc doctorate student diversity for engineering, male-to-female ratio.

Women made up around 19.6% of the engineering students who took home a doctor’s degree in 2019-2020. This is less than the nationwide number of 24.6%.

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

Of those graduates who received a doctor’s degree in engineering at UC in 2019-2020, 4.3% were racial-ethnic minorities*. This is lower than the nationwide number of 12%.

PhD in Engineering Focus Areas at UC

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Doctoral Degree

The doctoral degree.

The doctoral (Ph.D.) degree prepares students to solve complex, long-term research problems. You can expect to graduate in four to five years and to work on a large research project, culminating in a dissertation. The majority of our doctoral graduates end up in industry careers, usually in research and product development positions. Others go on to careers in academia, either as a postdoctoral researcher or an assistant professor.

Course Requirements

Program of Study   / Handbook  / Recommended Electives

Doctoral students complete the same core courses as the master’s degree students, but have additional examinations along the way that test both the breadth and depth of their chemical engineering knowledge. Over the course of your first fall quarter, you will be matched with a major professor through the "Preparing for Graduate Student Success" course (ECH 200). The five core classes mentioned above are listed below:

• ECH 252: Statistical Thermodynamics
• ECH 253A: Advanced Fluid Mechanics
• ECH 253C: Advanced Mass Transfer
• ECH 256: Chemical Kinetics and Reaction Engineering
• ECH 259: Advanced Engineering Mathematics.

For the 12-unts of electives, you can select from any available upper-division undergraduate course (courses numbered 100-199) or graduate level course (courses numbered 200-299) in a science or engineering discipline. Doctoral students are encouraged to select any physics, chemistry, mathematics or engineering-related courses that will assist them in preparing for their dissertation research. Of the 12 elective units, only 4 units can be upper-division (100 level) courses. 

You are also expected to enroll in ECH 290: "Department Seminar" four times as students prepare for their qualifying examinations. The course requires students to attend a majority of the weekly departmental lectures by visiting scholars in the field, exposing them to the latest advances in chemical engineering.

Sample Schedule Year 1 and 2: Full-Time Student

Research and Dissertation

In years three and four, students will enroll in 12 units of research each quarter and begin working on dissertation research and writing until graduation at the end of year four or five.

Transferring Coursework

Graduate-level coursework completed at another institution may be substituted for elective or required coursework in some cases, depending on the content of the course. If a graduate-level course was taken during the student’s undergraduate degree program, students must provide documentation that the course was not used to satisfy the bachelor’s degree requirements. Transferred courses are evaluated through an internal process by the instructor of the course at UC Davis. If approved, the course is waived for the student. The waived course does not formally appear on the UC Davis transcript as a transferred course, but does appear on the internal Program of Study   form as satisfying the course requirements for the degree. Limits for transfer credit are detailed in the full degree requirements .

To learn more about transferring course work please go to  Graduate Studies webpage  on the topic.

Preliminary Exam

Taken in spring quarter of your first year, this exam consists of a 10-minute presentation followed by 20 minutes of questioning by a committee consisting of five faculty members, including your major professor. Prior to the exam, students prepare a one-page abstract containing a general overview and critical assessment of two to three research articles. The exam assesses your ability to communicate a solid understanding of fundamental scientific and engineering concepts, particularly in the context of your research topic. You must complete all core courses and maintain at least a 3.25 GPA to be eligible to take the exam.

Qualifying Exam

Like the preliminary exam, the qualifying exam contains both a written and an oral portion. The written portion consists of a 10-15 page dissertation research proposal and bibliography that follows a format similar to an NSF or NIH grant proposal. After distributing the proposal to the committee, the student prepares a 30-35 minute oral presentation, during which a faculty committee will question the student. The qualifying exam committee consists of five faculty members. Of these five members, the chair must be a faculty member in Chemical Engineering and one must be external to the Chemical Engineering graduate program. Major professors are not allowed to participate on the qualifying exam committee.

Exit Seminar

After you complete your dissertation, you will present your research to the department prior to submitting your dissertation. At least two of your dissertation committee members must be present at the exit seminar. To schedule your exit seminar, please email [email protected]  to begin the process. If the seminar is successfully completed, the committee will sign off on the dissertation signature page. Note that original signatures are required. Scanned images or electronic signatures will not be accepted.

Designated Emphases (DE)

As a doctoral student, you have the unique opportunity to participate in an affiliated designated emphasis (DE). A DE is similar in concept to an undergraduate minor. You will be required to complete additional coursework and must have a faculty member from that DE serve on both the qualifying exam committee and the dissertation committee. Students who successfully complete the DE will have a notation included on their diploma and transcript. The Chemical Engineering graduate program is affiliated with three designated emphases:

• Biophotonics and Bioimaging: https://biophotonics.bme.ucdavis.edu/
• Biotechnology: http://deb.ucdavis.edu/
• Nuclear Science: http://dens.physics.ucdavis.edu/

Doctoral Degree

The doctor of philosophy degree.

The Ph.D. degree is for those students who have a major interest in developing deep knowledge of and performing independent, extensive research in their area of specialization, conducted in close collaboration with faculty. Students may apply directly to the Ph.D. program whether or not they have already obtained an MS degree, and many students start at UC Davis on the MS pathway and later transition to the Ph.D. program. Admission to the Ph.D. program is highly competitive, and requires the support of a faculty member. If you are interested in pursuing a Ph.D. degree, it is recommended that you contact faculty members who have research interests that align with yours.

View all PhD requirements here

Normative Time to Degree: 5.3 years

Measured from the time a student begins graduate study, with no prior graduate experience, the normative time to degree is approximately 5.3 years.

PhD Admission Requirements

Applicants for admission to Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) must meet the University of California minimum GPA requirement for admission (3.0 Undergraduate Cumulative GPA). Other requirements for admission include:

• A Bachelor’s degree ( or equivalent ) from an accredited institution;
• Three letters of recommendation;
• Official Transcripts with translation, if needed;
• TOEFL or IELTS: English proficiency examination for international applicants who have not studied at an institution where the language of instruction was in English. International applicants must meet minimum score requirement in the Graduate Studies Policy on the Implementation of Admission Requirements and Exceptions.
• The GRE is NOT required or accepted as part of our admissions 

While not formally required, applicants are strongly encouraged to communicate with potential research advisors (major professors) prior to admission to the program. It is essential that prospective students contact faculty in the CEE Program whose laboratories are conducting research in areas of CEE that the student wishes to pursue, in order to introduce themselves and inquire about faculty willingness to accept a new student in this degree program. This process of communicating with potential major professors should begin in the Fall and prior to the relevant applications deadline. Applicants should take the initiative to inquire about future research directions of laboratories, exchange research ideas with potential major professors, and make every effort to identify viable possibilities. While formal acceptance into a research group cannot occur prior to admission, contacts should be sufficiently developed such that at least tentative identification of a research advisor can be made as soon after the time of admission as possible.

The priority deadline, fellowship deadline, general deadline, and space available deadline are all posted online, and updated each year  on our page here . Applicants are encouraged to aim for the priority deadline. Admissions decisions are made on a case-by-case basis. 

Application Fee Wavier and Fellowships

PhD Applicants are especially encouraged to review the Graduate Preparation programs Fee Waiver and the COE Equity Program Fee Wavier Programs.  CEE also offers Fee Fellowships to students from the CSU and UC Systems . 

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (M.S., Ph.D.)

Graduate studies in electrical engineering and computer science (EECS) offers individualized, strongly research-oriented courses of study. The EECS graduate emphasis area is organized to allow students to pursue cutting-edge research in modern fields of electrical engineering and computer science, emphasizing research and preparing students for leadership positions in industrial labs, government, or academia. Master of Science (M.S.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees with emphases in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science are offered. The EECS graduate emphasis area is highly cross-disciplinary with connections to faculty from all three schools at UC Merced. In particular, strong collaborations with the graduate programs in environmental engineering and cognitive sciences are possible.

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science website

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Engineering Education

Why study engineering education.

The University of Cincinnati’s graduate degree in Engineering Education will prepare students to design and execute a research agenda that advances the knowledge base in engineering education, while in parallel advancing their expertise within a technical engineering discipline of their choice. In addition, each student will specialize in one of three focus area options: higher education in engineering, engineering education in PreK-12 levels (formal and informal environments, for- or non-profit), or engineering industry and workforce development. A degree in engineering education can lead to a career in academia, industry, or government.

Engineering education research, as a discipline, builds on the theories, methods of inquiry, and ways of knowing that have been and continue to be developed in related disciplines - including anthropology, diversity equity and inclusion studies, economics, education, neuroscience, philosophy, political science, psychology, and sociology, along with education research in science, technology, and mathematics - through the lens of engineering. Students will be introduced to theories related to the teaching and learning of engineering, the applications of pedagogy and assessment, as well as develop advanced knowledge on research methods, including quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods of inquiry.

Admission Requirements

• GRE - Required of all international students; GRE is exempt for students that earned a degree from an ABET accredited university (or equivalent accreditation) in the USA with a GPA of 3.0+
• Transcript(s) and Degree Certificates (unofficial transcripts are used for admissions review, only admitted applicants submit official transcripts)
• GPA of at least 3.0 in a Bachelor’s or Graduate degree program in engineering, mathematics, or the physical sciences from a college or university regarded as standard by a regional or general accrediting agency
• Research Statement - (1-3 pages) should describe your research interests (see below), with specific reference to the research area(s), engineering education research methodology, and focus area. You may choose to build on or tie in prior research experience. This statement is used by the faculty as an example of your writing, to help gauge your potential to effectively engage in research at this degree level, and to help determine if the Engineering Education program is a good fit.
• Statement of Purpose - (1-2 pages) should include brief narratives about: a) your academic, professional, and previous research experiences (if not discussed in your research statement); b) your immediate and long-range aspirations; c) how the Engineering Education program will help you to meet your goals; and d) any additional information you feel strengthens your application (e.g., your perspective on the relationship between educational research and teaching/learning). This statement is used by the faculty as an example of your writing and to help determine if the Engineering Education program is a good fit.
• Curriculum Vita (resume) - should include your name(s), a phone number, e-mail address, and colleges attended with degrees and dates. Also include, if applicable, employment history, honors and awards, publications and presentations, and relevant professional experiences (e.g., research, teaching/tutoring, service). Your CV does not need to be structured with these sections and is not limited to these items.
• Two letters of recommendation.
• International students - English Proficiency Test: TOEFL (minimum 92) or IELTS (minimum 6.5)

Description of Engineering Education Research Areas:

• Engineering Epistemologies : research on what constitutes engineering now and into the future
• Engineering Learning Mechanisms : research on developing engineering learners’ knowledge and expertise
• Engineering Learning Systems : research on the instructional culture and knowledge required of engineering educators
• Engineering Diversity and Inclusiveness : research on how diverse human talents contribute to the social and global relevance of our profession
• Engineering Education Assessment and Research Methodologies : research on, and the development of, the quantitative, qualitative, and/or data scientific aspects of engineering education (i.e., how theories are studied, designed for, and assessed), including assessments, instruments, and protocols

Description of Engineering Education Research Methodologies:  

• Quantitative Research  emphasizes objective measurements and the statistical, mathematical, or numerical analysis of data.
• Qualitative Research  seeks to produce in-depth descriptions and interpretations of human behaviors and experiences based primarily on the words of selected individuals (e.g., through interviews) and/or through the interpretation of actions (e.g., observations) or artifacts (e.g., analysis of documents).
• Mixed Methods Research  is characterized by (among other features) drawing on the strengths of both quantitative and qualitative methods for generating possible solutions or holistic understandings of the problem that may not have been possible using either method by itself.

Description of Engineering Education Graduate Program Focus Areas:

• Higher Education in Engineering : Research will focus on higher education contexts (e.g., undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty).
• Engineering Education in PreK-12 : Research will focus on PreK-12 contexts (e.g., students, parents, teachers, administration; formal and informal environments, for- or non-profit). (Note: This focus area does not lead to teacher licensure.)
• Engineering Industry and Workforce Development : Research will focus on industry and workforce development contexts (e.g., practicing engineers; management; translating among technical content, management, leadership, and andragogy).

The Ph.D. ENED program will prepare graduates for careers: at universities (traditional technical disciplines and/or departments of engineering education); at community colleges; in PreK-12 schools; in for-profit and non-profit organizations (e.g., testing organizations, foundations, governmental agencies); in programmatic roles (e.g., assessment and accreditation coordinators, curriculum designers, policy makers, program officers); as corporate trainers and other workforce development positions; and as directors of teaching/learning centers, diversity programs, or outreach programs.

The Ph.D. ENED program at UC is differentiated from other similar programs in four ways: 

• The program has a strong emphasis on developing in-depth educational research skills (based on research methodology coursework requirements).
• The program requires students to advance their level of expertise within their technical engineering discipline.
• Thee program allows students to choose one of three focus areas depending on their background and goals: higher education in engineering, engineering education in PreK-12 levels (formal and informal environments, for- or non-profit), or engineering industry and workforce development (to the best of our knowledge, workforce development is not an explicit emphasis in any of the existing M.S. or Ph.D. programs at other institutions).
• The program leverages the strong foundation of experiential learning within the College of Engineering and Applied Science (CEAS) by requiring students to complete a reflective experiential activity.
• Guide: 20DOC-ENED-PHD-2024

Application Deadlines

Early Admission

General Admission

Application deadlines and additional application information can be found at the  CEAS Office of Graduate Studies .

Contact Information

Find related programs in the following interest areas:.

• Engineering

Program Code: 20DOC-ENED-PHD

U.S. News & World Report Names UC San Diego’s Engineering and Pharmacy Graduate Programs Among Nation’s Best

School of engineering ranked no. 11, school of pharmacy no. 12 in the nation.

• Katherine Connor - [email protected]
• Amanda Rubalcava - [email protected]

Media contact:

• Monica May - [email protected]

Published Date

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U.S. News & World Report has unveiled its 2024 Best Graduate Schools rankings in Engineering and in Pharmacy, spotlighting the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering and Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences as among the top in the nation. 

U.S. News ranked UC San Diego’s Jacobs School of Engineering 11th overall in the nation and seventh among public engineering schools in rankings released yesterday. In addition, the school’s computer science program ranked 13th in the nation.

The latest report named the university’s graduate education in pharmacy as No. 12 in the nation, marking the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences’ highest ranking since its founding in 2002.

"We are proud to receive this recognition from U.S. News & World Report, underscoring the prestige and quality of UC San Diego's engineering and pharmacy graduate programs led by our world-class faculty,” said Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla. “Our talented faculty, graduate students and alumni continue to make an indelible impact on our campus, our region and the world as trailblazers in their industries who positively impact patient lives, develop new technologies and look beyond the expected to forge a brighter future.”

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Jacobs School of Engineering rises in the rankings

U.S. News gave high marks to a variety of programs at the Jacobs School of Engineering, which offers master's and doctoral degrees across its six engineering and computer science departments, along with many opportunities for specializations and focus areas. The Jacobs School of Engineering’s No. 11 ranking is up from No. 12 last year. Among public engineering schools, the Jacobs School of Engineering ranks as the No. 7 best engineering school in the nation, up from No. 8 last year. 

“I am thrilled that our school-wide ranking improved this year. I am proud, I am excited—and I am also right back to work,” said Albert P. Pisano, dean of the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering and Special Adviser to the Chancellor. “Rankings are recognition rather than definition, and these rankings recognize yet again our world-class school. We advance engineering and computer science research and education for the public good, and it’s wonderful to be recognized as we do this important work.”

The interdisciplinary engineering and computer science research underway at the Jacobs School tackles tough and relevant challenges that no single lab can address alone, with far-reaching positive impacts for human health, sustainable energy production and storage, trustworthy AI, and much more. Recently, researchers at the Jacobs School of Engineering developed a unique cancer immunotherapy based on a plant virus that has shown efficacy in animal models; designed a first-of-its kind wearable ultrasound patch that provides continuous, non-invasive monitoring of blood flow in the brain ; created new materials to build better batteries ; increased our understanding of how artificial intelligence systems learn , and applied AI to help newborns struggling to nurse .

The UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering also ranked No.1 in the nation among public engineering schools for citations per publication. Citation rankings are a new addition this year to the U.S. News Best Engineering Schools rankings methodology. According to U.S. News, they are included as a way to measure the scholarly impact that an engineering school’s faculty have in their field and the caliber of their research. In addition to the school-wide rankings, the following Jacobs School graduate programs were highly ranked by U.S. News: Biomedical (8); Computer Science: Systems (8); Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (10); Computer Science: Programming Language (11); Computer Engineering (12); Computer Science (13); Electrical Engineering (14); Computer Science: Theory (15); Mechanical Engineering (17); and Aerospace Engineering (18).

A member of the Geoffrey Chang lab uses an X-ray instrument to determine the structure of proteins, the workhorse of the cell.

Highest-Ever ranking for Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences 

The latest report named UC San Diego’s graduate education in pharmacy as No. 12 in the nation, marking the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences highest ranking to date. Founded in 2002, the school is also the youngest in the top 20 by nearly 100 years. 

“To be recognized by our peers as one of the top pharmacy schools in the nation so soon after our founding is an incredible honor,” said Brookie Best, dean of the UC San Diego Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences . “This ranking is a testament to our unique and rigorous curriculum, which includes joint classes with our medical school, innovative patient-centered instruction and a strong foundation in biomedical science; as well as our extremely talented students and alumni, world-renowned faculty and dedicated staff who equip our students to be leaders in their fields.”

Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences’ faculty and students recently earned several national honors demonstrating their leadership in the profession of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences research. Professor Rabia Atayee was named by her peers as a visionary in the field of hospice and palliative care and third-year student Grace Riggs won a national patient counseling competition , becoming the second Skaggs school student to win the competition in the past three years. The school’s researchers also made foundational scientific discoveries that may improve the development of new medicines, including revealing how our microbiome talks to us , identifying a cause of cellular miscommunication implicated in many human diseases and re-establishing the Scripps Center for Oceans and Human Health , one of only four centers nationwide that seek to understand how ocean pollution affects people’s health. 

More from the 2024 U.S. News rankings season 

Each year, the Best Graduate Schools rankings evaluate programs in a variety of disciplines, including business, education, engineering, law, medicine and nursing, including specialties in each area. Some of these rankings for 2024, including for Schools of Medicine, have not yet been released by U.S. News and World Report. 

The 2024 Best Graduate Schools rankings in Engineering are based on two types of data: expert opinion about program excellence, and statistical indicators that measure the quality of a school’s faculty, research, and students and their post-graduate outcomes. The Best Graduate Schools rankings in Pharmacy are based on expert opinion about program quality. To read the complete U.S. News and World Report’s 2024 Best Graduate Schools list, visit the outlet’s website . For a complete listing of UC San Diego rankings and accolades, visit the Campus Profile .

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College Honors ECE Graduate Student for Excellence in Research

• by Matt Marcure
• May 23, 2024

Zhengfeng (Jeff) Lai has received the 2024 Excellence in Graduate Student Research award from the College of Engineering, recognizing the work he completed throughout his Ph.D. program in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. The honor is part of the annual College of Engineering Graduate Student Excellence awards that celebrate student contributions to research, service, safety and DEI.

Lai's research stands to advance the possibilities of computer vision and machine learning. Throughout his graduate program with Professor Chen-Nee Chuah as his advisor, Lai published 14 articles (11 first-authored), which have already received over 200 citations.

Notably, Lai won a Best Paper Award at the 2022 Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition for pioneering research on a semi-supervised learning framework that does not make assumptions about unlabeled data. While pursuing his doctorate, he also filed a patent application for a project where he successfully applied machine learning to detect congenital heart disease in newborns.

Lai graduated in December 2023 and currently works as a machine learning research scientist at Apple, where he has revolutionized the company's use of large-scale pre-training and multimodal modeling.

Meet all the awardees

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New Study Abroad Program Offers 'International Insights' in Semiconductor Engineering

• by Matt Marcure
• June 27, 2024

Faculty and staff celebrated the achievements of students and the success of a new semiconductor engineering study abroad program at the University of California, Davis, on June 12.

Over coffee and baked goods, students received their certificates of completion and shared their thoughts on the program. They were grateful for their classes, their professors and the opportunity to open their minds by studying in a foreign country. 

The program, an innovative partnership between Korea University and the University of California, Davis, brings high-performing Korean sophomores to campus to study and share international perspectives on semiconductor engineering with UC Davis students in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

"UC Davis recognizes the critical importance of embedding global perspectives in our engineering curriculum," said Jake Hosier, the director of access programs at the UC Davis Division of Continuing and Professional Education. "This unique program ensures that many of our electrical engineering students who might not have the chance to study abroad themselves have the opportunity to gain international insights by studying alongside some of the top students in their field from Korea."

Korea University and UC Davis are both members of Universitas 21, or U21, a unique global network that brings together world-leading, research-intensive universities to collaborate and advance common goals.

UC Davis Global Affairs, Continuing and Professional Education and the College of Engineering established the quarter-long program to allow Korea University students to take classes in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

The program ran throughout the spring quarter with three mandatory classes taught by electrical and computer engineering professors: "Engineering Problem Solving," "Digital Systems" and "Probabilistic Analysis of Electrical and Computer Systems" The international students excelled in these courses with professors lauding the strength of their work.

"The students participating in the program met all expectations, greatly enhancing international exposure for everyone involved," said André Knoesen , a Distinguished Professor and chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. "We look forward to hosting another group of such talented students next year."

Funding for the program comes from the South Korea-based semiconductor supplier SK Hynix, which has a subsidiary company — Solidigm — in San Jose, California. The company hopes to offer site visits and internship opportunities to future cohorts.  

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College Honors BME Graduate Student for Excellence in DEI

• by Matt Marcure
• May 23, 2024

Sophie Orr has received the 2024 Excellence in Graduate Student Diversity, Equity and Inclusion award from the College of Engineering for her outstanding contributions to DEI across the University of California, Davis, campus.

The honor is part of the annual College of Engineering Graduate Student Excellence awards that celebrate student contributions to research, service, safety and DEI.

As a fourth-year Ph.D. student, Orr provides DEI training to the campus community and pursues research in addition to her dissertation on musculoskeletal tissues to best address equitable access to orthopedic care and education. She challenges her colleagues to think critically about producing science that is grounded in equity. 

Orr has also developed a first-year seminar with Professor Blaine Christiansen, her advisor and chair of the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Group, that explores the origins of anti-fat messaging in today's society and has presented on topics such as weight bias in orthopedics at national symposia.

She is currently the co-chair of the Department of Biomedical Engineering's Health, Equity and Wellness , or HEW, committee and is chair of the HEW Department Climate subcommittee.

Meet all the awardees

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UTA’s graduate engineering programs among nation’s best

Wednesday, Jun 26, 2024 • Brian Lopez : contact

The University of Texas at Arlington’s graduate engineering programs were ranked among the top 100 in the nation in the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings, the latest sign of academic excellence at UTA.

Additionally, the civil and mechanical engineering graduate programs each improved by three spots over the previous year.

“There are many ways to determine the quality of academic programs. These rankings are a very visible piece of information for students as they consider where to pursue a graduate degree, but certainly not the only mechanism by which students and families determine quality and potential for student opportunities,” said Peter Crouch, dean of the College of Engineering. “As a Carnegie R-1 university in the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, UTA provides our students unique opportunities to pursue research and careers with many of the top companies in the world.”

UTA offers 13 master’s and 9 doctoral degree programs in seven departments:

• Bioengineering
• Civil engineering
• Computer science and engineering
• Electrical engineering
• Industrial, manufacturing and systems engineering
• Materials science and engineering
• Mechanical and aerospace engineering

Being ranked among the best in the nation reflects the quality of the current engineering students, faculty, and staff and makes the University an attractive institution for top talent. An example of this can be seen in the recent recruitment of Hongtei Eric Tseng, a Distinguished University Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering.

Dr. Tseng is a member of the National Academy of Engineering with decades of experience in the automotive industry and over 100 U.S. patents, about a third of which are implemented in Ford vehicles.

He is the first faculty member hired under UTA’s Recruiting Innovative Scholars for Excellence (RISE) initiative, which represents a substantial investment in the future of UTA. Through RISE, the University seeks to recruit more than 100 new tenure-system faculty. Hiring at this scale often takes up to 15 years; UTA aims to achieve its faculty hiring goals by 2026. The $60 million effort is funded in part through the support of the UT System’s Regents Research Excellence program.

Biomedical Engineering Graduate Group

UC Davis Grad Slam competition finalists

• by Christal Wintersmith
• April 09, 2024

The BMEGG has two excellent finalists in the annual UC Davis Grad Slam competition. Congratulations to Rajul Bains and Roshni Shetty!

Rajul Bains Master's student, Biomedical Engineering Graduate Group "Microfluidic Tumor-on-a-Chip Model for Cancer Research"

" My research uses microfluidic technology to create mini "organ-on-chips," which simulate human body conditions to study how our immune system fights cancer. I'm enthusiastic about my work and love sharing it with friends and family who might not be familiar with my research! Participating in Grad Slam is a fantastic chance for me to bring this exciting work to a broader audience!"

Roshni Shetty Ph.D. student, Biomedical Engineering Graduate Group "Sex, Drugs, and the Heartbeat"

" I am passionate about understanding the intricacies of the human heart's electrical activity and molecular orchestration of rhythm. My research delves into sex-specific differences in cardiac electrophysiology, aiming to uncover the mechanistic basis for divergent arrhythmia susceptibility between sexes. Females are at increased risk of drug-related side effects and sudden cardiac death. However, female sex is underrepresented in basic research and clinical studies, and cardiac safety assessments often overlook these sex differences, leading to uniform medication prescriptions across sexes. To address this gap, we are developing a tool to predict female electrical activity responses to drugs based on male data, with the aim of enhancing cardiac safety assessments for females. But I'm not just crunching numbers in the lab – I am deeply committed to science communication, and I see Grad Slam as an excellent opportunity to shed light on the significance of my research and advocate for sex-inclusive fundamental and clinical studies and healthcare practices."

Additional details here: Top 10 Finalists of 2024 UC Davis Grad Slam Announced | UC Davis Graduate Studies

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News | UC graduate worker strike is over, officials say

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The strike that affected UCI and UCLA was halted earlier this month by a temporary restraining order from an Orange County Superior Court judge that was set to expire on June 27. 

The strike was halted earlier this month by a temporary restraining order from an Orange County Superior Court judge that was set to expire on Thursday, June 27. When the temporary restraining order was issued on June 7 – right before finals began at some UC schools – the strike affected six campuses, including UC Irvine and UCLA, with more than 30,000 unionized workers.

Now, officials say the UC system and the UAW union have agreed to extend the temporary restraining order through June 30, the date through which union members had originally authorized the strike. Thus, the strike is over, a UC spokesperson said.

Graduate teachers and research assistants at UC campuses statewide authorized the strike in mid-May in response to what they said were unfair labor practices by the UC system related to how the administration responded to Palestinian solidarity encampments and protests at multiple UC campuses. The union argues that UC administrators unilaterally applied unfair labor practices by issuing suspensions to student workers without proper notices or hearings and, in the case of UC Irvine, interrupting the normal course of business by calling for remote classes after a protest there ended with a police response.

The UC system has filed its own complaint of unfair labor practices against the union, saying from the get-go that the strike was illegal for violating a no-strike clause in the collective bargaining agreement.

The California Public Employment Relations Board, the quasi-judicial administrative agency charged with administering the collective bargaining statutes covering state employees,  continues to review the unfair labor practice charges filed by both sides.

The UAW contends the issue never should have gone to the Superior Court after PERB twice denied an injunction to stop the strike sought by the UC system.

However, the underlying Superior Court lawsuit filed by the UC system regarding what they say is a breach of contract by the union will proceed. The next hearing on the case is scheduled for Nov. 8.

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UC alum visits campus to teach students about footwear design

Alum charley hudak garners media attention for his footwear design career at sun day red.

Tiger Woods may have big-name recognition, but UC alum Charley Hudak —footwear designer for the famous golfer’s new athletic brand Sun Day Red —had the media spotlight on UC’s campus, June 26. 

Hudak, a 2011 graduate of UC’s College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning (DAAP), was in Cincinnati for the day to teach footwear design to middle and high school students at DAAP Camps: an annual day/residential camp for future creatives. At DAAP Camps, students get to have a college-like experience in DAAP fields of study such as fashion, industrial design, architecture, and others and exposure to industry leaders like Hudak.

Bringing industry professionals to share their paths, their insights, and their guidance provides a very realistic “try on” of a creative-based college experience, says Laurie Wilson, director of DAAP Camps and associate director of student affairs and adjunct professor in the DAAP School of Design.

Charley Hudak steps in front of the camera for media interviews. Hudak is usually behind the scence designing footwear for Tiger Woods' new atheltic brand Sun Day Red. Photo/Laurie Wilson.

“Our motto for DAAPcamps is ‘Create What Will Be!’ and with the help of amazing partners like Charley Hudak, we are able to do just that every year,” says Wilson.

 A story on the UC website goes into detail about Hudak’s early beginnings and career trajectory to creative director at Sun Day Red, an offshoot of TaylorMade Golf Industry.  

“I’m super humbled by the opportunity (at Sun Day Red) and part of it is coming back here and sharing my experience,” with these students, Hudak said in an interview.

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California Model , Featured Stories , Rehabilitation

Incarcerated students graduate from first‑ever UC partnership

As California continues to invest in building safer communities, 23 incarcerated students graduated with bachelor’s degrees from a first-of-its-kind partnership with the University of California (UC).

Watch the video (story continues below):

Prioritizing rehabilitation and education programs to strengthen public safety, CDCR announced the first-ever graduation of incarcerated students with bachelor’s degrees through the University of California.

The inaugural class, through UC Irvine, includes 23 graduates from the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego who received in-person instruction led by UC Irvine professors.

“California is transforming its criminal justice system to focus on true rehabilitation, justice, and safer communities statewide — known as the California Model,” said CDCR Secretary Jeff Macomber. “This collaboration with the University of California allows these graduates to build a foundation focused on pursuing educational opportunities that will prepare them for a successful future, while making our communities safer.”

The state continues to move toward a positive shift in correctional policy, through implementation of the California Model. This model focuses on proper support for staff and survivors, while also fostering rehabilitative environments. These include educational opportunities for the incarcerated population, leading to safer communities overall.

Studies  show that incarcerated individuals who participate in correctional education are 48% less likely to return to prison within three years than those who did not have access to these opportunities.

This collaboration between CDCR and the University of California is made possible by a formal agreement through a program known as Leveraging Inspiring Futures Through Educational Degrees (LIFTED). LIFTED enables incarcerated students to apply to transfer into UCI as juniors and earn a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the university while serving their sentence.

“CDCR is proud to partner with the UC to greatly expand degree-earning opportunities for incarcerated students,” said Macomber. “Collaborative efforts between CDCR and California’s public higher education system are truly transforming lives. These efforts are vital, as education serves as a powerful rehabilitative tool.”

The program’s first cohort began taking faculty-led courses in fall 2022. That same year, Governor Gavin Newsom and the State Legislature allocated $1.8 million over five years for the program’s support and expansion.

“Graduation is always a special day, not only for the graduates and their families, but for our entire university community,” said UC Irvine Chancellor Howard Gillman. “It is no exaggeration that today’s graduation is extraordinarily special!”

“This is a historic occasion to celebrate both the first 23 incarcerated students earning bachelor’s degrees from a top 10 public university and a successful partnership between two major state institutions, who are working together to bring a world class public education into state prison,” said LIFTED Director and UCI Professor Keramet Reiter.

Shannon Swain, Superintendent of CDCR’s Office of Correctional Education, said programs such as are special.

“We have many bachelor-degree programs with California universities, but this is our first graduation with the University of California,” Swain said. “And UCI is one of the premier research universities in the world. Education is transformative and higher education reduces recidivism. It is a win-win for the taxpayers, for (public) safety, and certainly for the students and their families.”

Victor Lopez, one of the graduates, has seen the benefits of education.

“You can’t stop believing,” Lopez said. “You are living in the dark if you don’t educate yourself.”

Kelly McLeod, another graduate, believes getting an education is beneficial in many ways.

“It is life-changing,” McLeod said. “This experience has truly changed my life. I felt so capable and confident.”

CDCR partners with California’s public higher education system to offer associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees through the California community colleges, the California State University, and the University of California. More than 13.5% of the entire incarcerated population are enrolled in college courses.

Learn more about the California Model on the CDCR website.

Read more rehabilitation stories.

Follow CDCR on  YouTube ,  Facebook ,  X (formerly Twitter) . Listen to the CDCR Unlocked podcast .

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Healing power of music at San Quentin

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Centinela hosts X‑Fest on Facility A

Centinela State Prison recently hosted X-Fest on Facility A, a faith-based event featuring skateboards, vehicles, bicycles, and music.

CALPIA Entry to Employment kicks off at Solano

For the first time, incarcerated individuals are able to connect with employers and secure job offers before leaving prison through the Entry to Employment (E2E) network.

Avenal staff, YOP donate to people in need

Avenal State Prison Youth Offender Program (YOP) participants organized a month-long hygiene supply drive for people in need. The Facility F drive, in collaboration with prison staff, collected over 1,500 items for those in need.

Graduate Program in Engineering Mechanics

One program, many applications.

The Engineering Mechanics (EM) program is strongly rooted in physics and mathematics, the basis of all mechanical sciences, and provides unique, interdisciplinary opportunities for research on design projects with far-reaching impact. 

We offer a Ph.D in engineering mechanics as well as a Master's of Science (M.S.) degree with a thesis option and a non-thesis option.  

Ph.D. Areas of Study

For our engineering mechanics doctoral students, BEAM offers concentrations in the following areas:

• Biomechanics
• Dynamics, control, and vibrations
• Fluid mechanics
• Solid mechanics

Each graduate student selects an area of interest and designs a program of study in consultation with a graduate committee.

Ph.D. Requirements

Students must earn a minimum of 90 credit hours beyond the bachelor’s degree. A master’s degree is not required for admission to the program. 

Core Courses

• ESM 5014: Intro to Continuum Mechanics (three credits)
• ESM 5314: Intermediate Dynamics (three credits)
• ESM 5024: Intro to Solid Mechanics (three credits)
• ESM 5054: Intro to Fluid Mechanics (three credits)
• ESM 5004: Scientific Communication in Engineering Mechanics (two credits)

Math Courses

• MATH 5000-6000 level courses  (See Graduate Manual  for approved courses) (three credits)

ESM Courses

• Additional ESM coursework, ESM 5000-6000 level courses (See  Graduate Manual  for approved courses) (six credits)

Additional Coursework

• 5000-6000 level courses supporting area of Ph.D. research (12 credits)
• ESM 5944 (minimum of four, one-credit hour seminars) (four credits)

Program-specific credits from above: 39 hours

Additional coursework

• Agreed upon by student and advisory committee: 21 hours

Dissertation Research

• ESM 7994 (Research/Thesis) (30 hours)

Minimum total credits: 90

Restrictions.

• No more than three credits of 4xxx-level coursework can be counted toward the required minimum 34 credits of coursework.
• No more than three credits of Independent Study (5974 or 6974) can be counted toward the required minimum 34 credits of coursework.
• A maximum of 15 credits of transfer coursework can be counted toward the required minimum of 34 credits of coursework.

Additional Requirements

• Attend orientation in August. Information will be shared upon your admission to the program.
• Satisfy the scholarly ethics and integrity requirement
• Submit the plan of study
• Pass qualifying exam (students can be exempted from this exam based on their performance in core courses)
• Pass preliminary exam
• final defense

M.S. Thesis Option

Students pursuing the M.S. thesis degree option must complete at least 30 credit hours, including at least 21 graded course credit hours, and satisfactorily prepare and defend a thesis. The final transcript will designate the degree as the thesis option. 

Plan of Study

The M.S. thesis option plan of study must include at least 30 credit hours that satisfy the following requirements:

• ESM 5994 Research and Thesis (at least six credits)
• ESM 5014 Introduction to Continuum Mechanics (three credits)
• Dynamics (three credits)
• Solid mechanics (three credits)
• Fluid mechanics (three credits) 
• One course satisfying the mathematics requirement (three credits)
• Graded elective courses (at least nine credits)

M.S. students must register for 2 semesters of ESM 5944 Seminar. These credits do not count toward the 30 required credit hours but are required for program completion.

The M.S. plan of study may contain a combination of 5xxx and 6xxx-level courses and a maximum of six hours of approved 4xxx-level courses.

• A minimum of 12 course credits must be labeled ESM (not including 5944 or 5994).

Final Examination

All M.S. students must pass an oral examination upon completion of the degree requirements. Administered by the student’s advisory committee, the examination is expected to cover all mechanics course work as well as the research completed by the student.

See the  Engineering Mechanics Graduate Manual  for more detailed information.

The thesis should be a scholarly discourse on a topic approved by the student’s advisory committee. Detailed guidelines for publication of theses are specified in the  Graduate Catalog . 

M.S. Non-thesis option

Students pursuing the M.S. non-thesis degree option must complete at least 30 graded course credit hours and satisfactorily pass a comprehensive oral examination. The final transcript will designate the degree as a non-thesis degree. 

The M.S. non-thesis option plan of study must include at least 30 credit hours that satisfy the following requirements:

• Fluid mechanics (three credits)
• Graded elective courses (at least 18 credits)
• A maximum of nine credit hours of independent study (IS) or special study (SS) courses can be used to complete the plan of study, with the total for both IS and SS courses not exceeding nine hours.

All M.S. students must pass an oral examination upon completion of the degree requirements. Administered by the student’s advisory committee, the examination is expected to cover all mechanics course work as well as the project completed by the student. 

The EM program supports extensive and robust research activities in a number of distinct areas. The four core research areas of our program are biomechanics, dynamics and control, fluid mechanics, and solid mechanics.

EM Info Sessions

The EM information sessions provide an overview of the Engineering Mechanics program, Virginia Tech's Graduate School, and the application process. Each session is from 10:00-11:00 am (Eastern Standard Time) and hosted via Zoom by Engineering Mechanics’ Graduate Program Coordinator, Renee Cloyd ( [email protected] ). 

Multiple sessions are available.  Registration is required .

EM Graduate Manual

The EM graduate manual provides a detailed description of current policies and processes for all EM graduate degrees.

EM section in VT Graduate Catalog

The EM specific section of the VT Graduate Catalog summarizes program Information, lists all active EM faculty, gives brief overviews of many EM research labs and provides descriptions of ESM labeled graduate level coursework.

VT Graduate Catalog

The EM graduate manual is intended to supplement, not replace, the policies and procedures in the Virginia Tech Graduate Catalog.

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Congratulations Anteater Engineering Class of 2024!

June 25, 2024 - “Today is the culmination of one of the greatest adventures of your life, an epic journey, a high mountain to climb,” said UC Irvine Chancellor Howard Gillman to the 2024 class of Anteater engineers at the Samueli School of Engineering commencement ceremony on June 16. “You’ve done an amazing job. You have enriched our lives greatly and on behalf of all of us, our heartfelt congratulations, you are now an Anteater for life.”

This year’s commencement coincided with Father’s Day, and the Bren Events Center was overflowing with families, friends and well-wishers. The Samueli School of Engineering awarded approximately 113 doctorates, 275 master’s degrees and 827 bachelor’s degrees.

Joyce Chen, student commencement speaker , wished all the fathers a happy Father’s Day and thanked them for sharing the day. She expressed her hope that as engineers, her class would have more than the head knowledge to solve problems but the heart to do it with integrity.

Chen graduated with a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering and is from a family of Anteaters. She is also a lead engineer in an award-winning medical device designed to improve women’s health care .  She encouraged her peers to play the long game, “not for some prize we wish to win but for those who surround us right now. May our vision inspire hope to dream grander dreams than what’s in front of us, and may our passion be a fire that cannot be quenched,” she said. “The long game is a team sport and a lot more fun when we play together. Congratulations Class of 2024, our training might be over but the long game has just begun.”

Samueli School Dean Magnus Egerstedt introduced the featured commencement speaker Lindsey Spindle, president of the Samueli Family Philanthropies. Spindle reminded students that four years ago, they were graduating high school on Zoom. “Today you stand here as deeply accomplished UCI graduates prepared to help solve our world’s biggest challenges -- like decarbonizing our economy, preventing another global pandemic or maybe even designing the next Peloton to start a fitness movement and improve people’s health.”

She offered words of advice, some borrowed from her favorite Peloton instructors. “You are clipped in, ready to ride away from this extraordinary school of engineering, so drop your baggage, listen to others’ suggestions, but always own your decisions. Get comfortable being uncomfortable and know that we forever have our hands on your backs as you take to the road, ready to shine, lead and soar.”

Spindle also reminded the fresh alumni of their lifelong ties to UCI. “Graduating college is a bit like the principles of quantum entanglement, your particles are forever iinked to UCI, and UCI is forever linked to you,” Spindle said. “No matter how far you go from the University of California, Irvine, you will remain forever interconnected.”

In closing the ceremony, Egerstedt encouraged everyone to applaud the special guests in attendance, all those who supported and, in many cases, made great sacrifices so that students could graduate. He then congratulated students on behalf of the whole Samueli School of Engineering. “I want to tell you how incredibly proud we are of you. Even though we rightly brag about all the world class research that happens at our school, that pales in comparison to what we are celebrating here today. Because the number one thing we produce is people; people who go through our programs and go out into the world as researchers, educators, policymakers, entrepreneurs and industry leaders.”

Graduates marched out of the center in procession and began their celebrations with families and friends, relieved that it was over and excited for the next chapter.

“It’s been a long journey,” said Ken Chih who earned his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering. “I’m grateful for my family and friends, and proud of myself as well.”

Jimena Londono Naranjo earned a master’s degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering and landed a position as a research and development engineer with MicroVention, an Orange County company that develops minimally invasive medical devices to treat neurovascular diseases. She said her UCI experience was of great help on her career path. “I learned really cool stuff, my professors were extremely helpful in guiding me toward the career I wanted, and I appreciate all of their support.”

Dean Egerstedt left the graduates with this exhortation, “I want to remind you of a quote from Spiderman’s uncle: ‘With great power comes great responsibility.’ And you now have a new superpower, you are Anteater engineers. use your superpower for good, leave the planet better than you found it.”

– Lori Brandt

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