Interdisciplinary Programs & Research
While many faculty in Mechanical Engineering collaborate across departments, some work in research programs that are interdisciplinary by nature. The ME department hosts five interdisciplinary graduate programs: Additive Manufacturing, Advanced Energy Systems, FEA Professional, Operations Research with Engineering, and Space Resources. Other faculty conduct research affiliated with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the Nuclear Science and Engineering Center, and the Payne Institute for Public Policy.
Faculty in Interdisciplinary Programs & Research
Angel Abbud Madrid
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Research Group: Center for Space Resources
- Space resources
- Microgravity science
- Aerospace technology
- Combustion phenomena
- Planetary science
- Director: Space Resources interdisciplinary graduate program
Robert Braun
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Research Group: Advanced Energy Systems (AES)
- High-temperature fuel cells (solid oxide and protonic ceramics)
- Electrolyzers for hydrogen and synthetic fuel production
- Reversible fuel cell systems for energy storage
- Advanced power cycles, including supercritical CO2 Brayton cycles
- Thermal and thermochemical energy storage
- Concentrating solar power
- Director: Advanced Energy Systems interdisciplinary graduate program
Craig Brice
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Research Group: The Alliance for the Development of Additive Processing Technologies (ADAPT)
- Additive manufacturing (AM) in a range of materials from metals to ceramics to polymers
- Process feedback control of AM systems
- Qualification and certification of AM processes and parts
- Alloy design and property development
- AM education and workforce development
- Director: Additive Manufacturing interdisciplinary graduate program
Mark Deinert
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Center Affiliations: Nuclear Science and Engineering Center, Payne Institute for Public Policy
- Renewable energy and energy systems
- Nuclear power
- Nonequilibrium processes
- Physics of complex systems
- Dynamics
Chris Dreyer
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Center Affiliations: Center for Space Resources
- Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy for material analysis
- Raman spectroscopy for combustion analysis
- Maritime atmospheric characterization using laser scattering
- Spectroscopy of ionic liquids
- Surface probe for asteroid characterization
- Hollow waveguide cavity ringdown spectroscopy
- In situ automated rock thin section instrument for planetary science
Alexandra Newman
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Research Group: Operations Research with Engineering
- Transportation logistics
- Mine production scheduling
- Energy policy and building design
- Military applications
- Athletics scheduling
- Director: Operations Research with Engineering interdisciplinary graduate program
Andrew Osborne
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Research Center: Nuclear Science and Engineering Center
- High performance computing for nuclear reactor multiphysics
- Numerical methods in neutron transport
- Machine learning applied to nuclear data
- Geospatial analytics
Anthony Petrella
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Research Group: Computational Biomechanics Group
- Computational biomechanics
- Experimental study of the musculoskeletal system, specifically spine, hip and knee mechanics
- Application of advanced nonlinear finite element analysis methods along with subject-specific anatomy and statistical techniques to simulate spinal function
- Director: FEA Professional interdisciplinary graduate program
George Sowers
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Research Group: Center for Space Resources
- Space resources
- Space transportation and launch systems
Andrew Petruska
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Research Group: M3 Robotics
- Complex system modeling and design
- Dynamics and control
- Advanced magnetic manipulation
Interdisciplinary Programs and Research Centers
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