About
Mechanical engineering is the most versatile of all engineering programs. Mechanical engineering encompasses the design, analysis, testing and manufacture of products used in every facet of modern society.
Welcome to the Department of Mechanical Engineering at The University of Alabama. We are glad that you are exploring the many exciting and innovative programs our department has to offer. In alignment with our vision of becoming a 21st-century leader in mechanical engineering education, we have restructured the department to improve operations including, faculty recruitment, student experience, and industry and alumni engagement. To achieve this vision, we classified ourselves into three disciplinary groups: thermal fluid sciences (TFS), dynamic systems and controls (DSC), and manufacturing processes and materials systems (MPM).
In fall 2024, we moved into the new mechanical engineering departmental suite located in the South Engineering Research Center. The Lee J. Styslinger Jr. College of Engineering has seen unprecedented research growth over the past three years, reaching the milestone of $100 million in new awards in 2024. This significant uptick has been supported by sustained efforts to hire excellent faculty at the college and departmental levels. The Department of Mechanical Engineering is served by 38 full-time faculty, three full-time staff members and two full-time research engineers. Our department has experienced a steady increase in new awards since 2021, increasing from $5.5 million to $8.4 million in FY24. This upward trend in new research awards has been well supported by a commensurate increase in graduate student enrollment. As the largest department in the Styslinger College of Engineering, mechanical engineering constitutes close to 30% of the undergraduate and 25% of the graduate student population.
Our energetic and hard-working faculty are committed to our mission: to impart a high-quality engineering educational experience that prepares our graduates to take on leadership and technical roles in their chosen career paths while instilling in them ethical values that benefit society. Our graduates report a 98% positive outcome in our program and are employed in almost every technology-based industry, including automotive, electric power, space and aerospace, steel and materials, bioengineering, chemical and petrochemical engineering, robotics and manufacturing, pulp and paper, and textiles.
The department has an established culture of providing undergraduate research opportunities to motivated students, which enables them to be involved in cutting-edge research conducted by our faculty. We strive to ensure undergraduate students have a strong education with ample opportunities to hone their leadership skills, work in curricular senior design and extracurricular project teams, and participate in co-op and internship experiences. We also have a highly research-active graduate program in mechanical engineering, including an accelerated master’s program and a STEM Path to the MBA program for students pursuing bachelor’s degrees. Our master’s and doctoral students work with our faculty and routinely disseminate their research at national and international conferences and in high-quality peer-reviewed scientific journals.
Whether you are a student, alum or visitor, please feel free to stop by or contact our office.
Roll Tide!
Kalyan Srinivasan, Ph.D.
Professor & Interim Department Head
Department Updates
Site Updates News Feed
Department of Mechanical Engineering Faculty Award Winners
December 9, 2022
Capstone Engineer Mechanical Engineering Newsletter – Fall 2022
December 7, 2022
Agrawal Awarded 2022 Distinguished Service Award
November 10, 2022
New Bachelor’s Degree in Manufacturing Systems Engineering
November 8, 2022
Doctoral Student Selected for Prestigious NDSEG Fellowship
September 9, 2022
Department of Mechanical Engineering Welcomes New Faculty Members
August 17, 2022
Mechanical Engineering Faculty Members Part of Award-Winning Inclusive Energy Innovation Prize Team
May 24, 2022
Mechanical engineering student Michael Stokes placed second in the “Student Paper” category at the 16th International Conference on Laser Ablation (COLA) in Matsue, Japan.
April 30, 2022
Congratulations to Dr. Ajay K. Agrawal who has been recognized as Fellow of The Combustion Institute!
March 4, 2022
New BS Degree in Manufacturing Systems Engineering Coming Fall 2022
December 9, 2021
4 New Undergraduate Minors Planned, 2 New Centers Created
December 9, 2021
UA Cuts Ribbon on Alabama IMaDE facility
September 30, 2021
Mission
The Department of Mechanical Engineering will:
- Provide high-quality undergraduate, graduate and continuing education in mechanical engineering that will prepare our graduates for professional careers and a lifetime of learning.
- Conduct high-quality research programs that support the undergraduate and graduate education objectives, assist in the economic development of the state and nation, and advance the general state of knowledge.
- Serve individual practicing engineers, industry, government, educational entities, and technical societies through active involvement with these groups and by providing professional expertise.
- Ensure that our students are well-educated technically, have some practical training, and have actively participated in professional society activities.
Vision
The Department of Mechanical Engineering at The University of Alabama will educate students at all degree levels to meet the current and future engineering needs of Alabama and the United States. We, as faculty and staff, will educate and guide these students to have desirable professional capabilities in applied and theoretical engineering knowledge, strong professional leadership skills, and a strong sense of responsibility to serve their profession and community. As part of the mission of a student-centered research institution, faculty will direct students in conducting useful engineering research that results in peer-reviewed publications.
Goals
- Provide an excellent education to our undergraduate students
- Provide an excellent education to our graduate students
- Enhance the research and teaching reputation of mechanical engineering at The University Alabama
- As faculty and staff, provide service to our profession, the national and international community, our state and region, and our local and university communities that reflects positively on engineering and the University