Mechanical & Materials Engineering
Undergraduate Research Projects Showcase
A celebration of research, design, and creative theses—a requirement of every graduating senior through the Major Qualifying Project—takes place each spring on campus. Student teams representing all academic departments present their work to their faculty advisors, external sponsors, and the community-at-large, and the public is invited.
Research
Students in WPI’s Department of Mechanical & Materials Engineering have many choices for projects and research, including Advanced Manufacturing, Energy, Advanced Materials, Autonomous Vehicles, Space Exploration, Health and Biotechnology, Sensors and Metrology, Food and Water, and Engineering Education.
Our People
Our world-class faculty use their expertise, diverse perspectives, and commitment to innovation and collaboration to teach the next generation of engineers while also leading groundbreaking research to solve the world's most pressing challenges.
Beyond WPI
Whether the final goal is a career path in research or one in industry, the knowledge, skills, and hands-on experience gained at WPI will ensure students have a place in the next phase of mechanical and materials engineering that has a direct, global impact.
From WPI's University Magazine
Renewable Energy in the Rockies
A student team conducted a feasibility study of renewable energy at the Estes Park campus in Colorado.
Field Work in Sustainability
Don Seville ’92 uses systems thinking to improve farming and food.
A Sea Change
Once an aspiring test pilot, Casey Brown ’16 pivots to building ocean-exploring drones.
Student Project: Validating 3D Food Printing for Customizable Nutrition
This project aimed to advance the material science of 3D food printing and integrate it with consumer rating studies through developing a three-layer, nutritional, palatable 3D food printed (3DFP) bar.
Juggling Competitive Skating With Challenging Academics
Balancing an elite sport while looking for a college is tough, but narrowing your parameters to include an engineering school and a niche sport like synchronized skating? For Tessa Lytle ’23, both specialties had to be on the table. So when she found the academics she wanted at WPI and the competitive skating at the Lexington, Mass.-based Hayden-Synchro School, everything started to fall into place.
Modern Manufacturing Finds a Home
In the high-tech labs of the Advanced Manufacturing Center, WPI researchers are transforming how products are produced, repaired, and recycled.
A Space Dream Realized
Mechanical engineering alumni Ryan McDevitt '03 and Matt Shea '03 grow a satellite propulsion business from seeds planted 20 years ago.
Meet Our Students
Donor Profiles
David Heebner '67
For David Heebner ’67, lieutenant general, U.S. Army retired, being “all you can be” isn’t a slogan. It’s one of life’s primary guidelines for having impact.
April Hammond '85, MS '88
This Mechanical and Materials Engineering alum's endowment will provide financial resources to recruit or retain outstanding graduate students studying fire protection engineering.