Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science
MEMS students and faculty

The Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science (MEMS) is the largest in the Swanson School, with more than 40 primary faculty whose expertise spans advanced manufacturing, energy and power systems, solid and fluid mechanics, smart materials, robotics, controls, acoustics, computational engineering, and nanotechnology.

Faculty are active researchers who bring current work directly into the classroom, and the department emphasizes critical thinking and hands-on problem solving at both the undergraduate and graduate level. Learn more about our faculty and their work through the spotlight series.

Congratulations to our Spring 2026 graduates!

$16M
Research Expenditures
600+
Undergraduate Students
220+
Graduate Students
3
Major Disciplines

News

Pitt Prototype Puts Potholes on Notice

Pitt Prototype Puts Potholes on Notice

For Pittsburgh drivers, city officials, and repair crews, potholes are a seemingly endless source of frustration. For...

Pitt’s G. Paolo Galdi Elected a Foreign Member of the Learned Society of the Czech Republic

Pitt’s G. Paolo Galdi Elected a Foreign Member of the Learned Society of the Czech Republic

In an age of increasingly powerful computers, G. Paolo Galdi solves complex equations with pencil and paper. A...

Plugging In, Tuning Up, and Taking Third

Plugging In, Tuning Up, and Taking Third

Folk singer Bob Dylan famously took the stage at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965, plugged in an electric guitar, and...

A “RARE” Opportunity

A “RARE” Opportunity

From July 19 – 24, Pittsburgh was in safe hands. More than 200 researchers from around the world dedicated to assessing...

Events

Sep 25

National Postdoc Appreciation Week - Dog Meetup

Start your morning with the best kind of therapy — dogs. Bring your furry friend (and poop bags!) or just show up for...

Sep 25

National Postdoc Appreciation Week - Friday Postdoc Town Hall

Whether you’re just starting your postdoctoral journey or continuing your journey, we invite you to join the UPPDA...

Oct 08

MEMS Department Seminar Series: Dr. Danielle Maddix Robinson

Host: Inanc Senocak Dr. Danielle Maddix Robinson (virtual), Principal Research Scientist, Siemens Physical AI Topic -...

Oct 15

MEMS Department Seminar Series: Prof. Sunčica Čanić

Host: Paolo Galdi Prof. Sunčica Čanić, Professor Mathematics, University of California, Berkeley Topic - Advances in...

Oct 22

MEMS Department Seminar Series: Dr. Vaibhav Yadav

Host: Tatsuya Sakurahara Dr. Vaibhav Yadav, Distinguished Staff Scientist, Idaho National Laboratory Topic - Can...