The Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science (MEMS) is the largest in the Swanson School, with more than 40 faculty whose research and teaching span advanced manufacturing, energy and power systems, solid and fluid mechanics, smart materials, robotics, controls, acoustics, computational engineering, and nanotechnology.
Our undergraduate and graduate students are at the center of everything we do. They have access to well-equipped laboratory facilities, experiential learning programs, and a curriculum designed to let them shape their own path through Pitt. From hands-on classroom projects to research experiences to Makerspace and entrepreneurship programs, there is no shortage of ways to get involved - including nationally competitive teams like Formula SAE, SOAR, and Material Advantage. Beyond Benedum Hall, many students participate in the Cooperative Education Program, working with industry for three semesters before graduation, or pursue global experiences through international study and research.
At the undergraduate level, MEMS offers degrees in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, and Engineering Science, along with certificates in Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Nuclear Engineering, Engineering for Humanities, and Engineering Simulation in Design. Graduate programs include degrees in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, and Computational Modeling and Simulation, with graduate certificates in Physical Metallurgy and Nuclear Engineering.
With annual research expenditures exceeding $16 million in areas including advanced manufacturing and design, materials for extreme conditions, soft matter biomechanics, computational and data-enabled engineering, cyber-physical systems, and nuclear and sustainable technologies, MEMS offers students the opportunity to work alongside faculty on problems with real-world relevance.
Whether you are a prospective student, alumnus, employer, or potential collaborator, we invite you to explore our department and what we have to offer.
William "Buddy" Clark
Interim Department Chair