The Department of Mechanical Engineering offers advanced instruction and research opportunities in a variety of areas of current interest in mechanical engineering. We offer a full range of degree programs, from an undergraduate program leading to the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree, to graduate programs leading to the Master of Science (M.S.), the professional Mechanical Engineer (M.E.), Doctor of Engineering Science (Eng.Sc.D.), and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees.

The department is home to such diverse research activities as biomechanics, mechanics of materials, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, control and robotics, manufacturing, energy systems, MEMS, and nanotechnology.

Current cutting-edge research programs include:

• Contact mechanics, lubrication of diarthrodial joints, and cartilage tissue engineering
• Material constitutive behavior at the micro- and mesolength scales
• Iterative learning control and repetitive control
• Nonlinear/hybrid/distributed/embedded systems and control of autonomous vehicles, mobile robots, and air and ocean robots
• Laser materials processing
• Medical robotics and robotic surgery
• Extraction of carbon dioxide from air, distributed sensors for energy and environmental systems, and micropower generation
• Nanostructures for photonics; nanomaterials such as nanotubes and nanowires and their applications, especially in nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS)
• Interfacial phenomena in the presence of drops, bubbles and microspheres; and microfluidics for biological applications

Through partnerships with other departments, both at the School of Engineering and Applied Science, as well as the Lamont-Doherty Geological Laboratory and the Columbia University Medical Center, the Mechanical Engineering Department actively participates in a number of leading-edge centers for interdisciplinary research.

The undergraduate program has ABET accreditation and also gives students the flexibility to take electives within the engineering school and at Columbia College. There are numerous opportunities for students at all levels to participate in cutting-edge research projects. Students also participate in local chapters of clubs such as the ASME, Solar-Splash, SAE, and AIAA.