Mechanical engineering is concerned with the development, design, and research of mechanical devices. These engineers are well-versed in motion, energy, heat transport, and robotics. To be able to understand a problem and then develop mechanical things and systems to solve it, mechanical engineers need analytical and critical-thinking skills.
Read more on this post to see further details on fully funded phd positions in canada, phd scholarships in mechanical engineering, mechanical engineering phd programs, and phd engineering fully funded.
What Is Mechanical Engineering?
Mechanical engineering is one of the broadest fields of engineering. Mechanical engineers design and fix anything with moving parts, from toys to tools.View Schools
Field Overview
Mechanical engineering focuses on the research, design, and development of mechanical devices. Such engineers have a thorough understanding of motion, energy, heat transfer, and robotics. Mechanical engineers need analytical and critical-thinking skills to be able to analyze a problem and then design mechanical objects and systems to fix it.
Most entry-level positions in mechanical engineering require a bachelor’s degree, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS, www.bls.gov). Some positions even require a master’s or doctoral degree, especially those in research.
Important Facts About Mechanical Engineering Careers
| Licensure | Required for engineers who sell services to the public |
| Professional Certification | Voluntarily available from professional organizations |
| Work Environment | Work in office settings, travel to worksites may be required, must work in teams, and may need to work more than 40 hours per week |
| Similar Occupations | Materials Engineers, Mechanical Engineering Technicians, Physicists, |
Career Opportunities
Mechanical engineers help produce almost all consumer goods including:
- Machinery
- Medical devices
- Robotics
- Engines
- Space exploration vehicles
- Cars
In addition to helping produce consumer goods, mechanical engineers also strive to increase productivity in a variety of environments. Mechanical engineers can work in many different industries, including:
- Biotechnology
- Manufacturing
- Computers and electronics
- Aerospace
- Energy conversion
Evolution in the Field
Mechanical engineering continues to evolve and diversify as technologies develop. For example, as medical researchers discover new ways to cure and prevent diseases, mechanical engineers help create medical devices such as microscopic robots that can actually enter the human body and search for different diseases and administer treatment.
As the world’s population continues to focus on the environment, mechanical engineers help create environmentally friendly equipment, machinery, and products. Mechanical engineers also create different space exploration vehicles so the world has a better understanding of the universe and the solar system.
Job Outlook and Salary Information
The number of employed mechanical engineers was expected to increase 4% from 2019 to 2029, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The median salary for mechanical engineers was $90,160 as of May 2020.
Fully Funded PhD Programs in Mechanical Engineering in canada
As part of our series How to Fully Fund Your PhD, here is a list of universities that fully fund PhD students with a mechanical engineering focus. PhDs in mechanical engineering can lead to a variety of exciting careers in academia, research, and engineering firms.
“Full funding” is a financial aid package for full-time students that includes full tuition remission as well as an annual stipend or salary during the entire program, which is usually 3-6 years. Funding usually comes with the expectation that students will teach or complete research in their field of study. Not all universities fully-fund their doctoral students, which is why researching the financial aid offerings of many different programs, including small and lesser-known schools both in the U.S. and abroad, is essential.
The ProFellow database for graduate and doctoral study also spotlights external funding opportunities for graduate school, including dissertation research, fieldwork, language study, and summer work experiences.
Boston University (Boston, MA): The College of Engineering is committed to five full years of financial support for graduate students in the CoE PhD program who maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress. Entering PhD students are fully funded in their first year. During the first year, incoming PhD students have to pursue research and funding discussions with the research faculty. At the end of the first academic year, PhD students must move to RA funding, while others continue on their external fellowship if applicable.
Carnegie Mellon University (Pittsburgh, PA): The majority of full-time Ph.D. students accepted through the standard application process receive fellowships that cover full tuition, the technology fee, and a stipend for living expenses for up to five years, as long as sufficient progress is made toward degree completion. These awards are sufficient to cover all expenses for the year (including summers).
Columbia University (New York, NY): At the time of admission to a terminal doctoral program, the Department of Mechanical Engineering guarantees a minimum of five years of financial support, contingent on maintaining Good Academic Standing within both the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Financial support comes in the form of teaching assistantship, graduate research assistantship, or fellowship, and may change from year to year or semester to semester.
Duke University (Durham, NC): The Graduate School at Duke provides a competitive package that should provide PhD students with financial support for the majority of the time they are registered and working toward their degree. PhD students are supported in a variety of ways, including funding from their departments, The Graduate School, or other governmental and private sources.
Florida A&M University-Florida State University College of Engineering (Tallahassee, FL): The FAMU-FSU College of Engineering Ph.D. programs offer competitive funding packages for newly admitted students. These may include research assistantships and/or teaching assistantships, tuition waivers, student health care coverage and/or monthly living stipends.
Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD): All PhD students are fully funded with tuition, stipend, and benefits (including healthcare) for the entire duration of the program.
University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI): Students admitted to the PhD program will be offered a full funding package for their studies. The offer entails 4 years of funding for students that come into the program with a master’s degree in a relevant area of study; or 5 years of funding for students that enter the program after receiving a bachelor’s degree. Financial support includes a stipend, tuition and registration fees, as well as health and dental benefits.
University of Michigan-Dearborn (Dearborn, MI): Our Ph.D. program adheres to the CECS full-funding model for Ph.D. students. All Ph.D. students receive full-funding in the form of an appointment as a Graduate Student Instructor (GSI), Research Assistant (GSRA), or a combination of both which covers: a monthly stipend, health insurance, and tuition waiver.
University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA): All Ph.D. students who are in good academic standing are provided with financial aid that covers full tuition, a stipend, and health insurance throughout their program of study in the department. The financial aid is funded by research grants of faculty members, endowments, and other fellowships. The selection process is competitive and is based on merit.
Washington University in St. Louis (St. Louis, MO): Our PhD students are fully funded, including full tuition support and health insurance. As a doctoral candidate, you will also receive a generous stipend to cover living expenses. This support is guaranteed as you continue to make satisfactory progress towards your degree.
mechanical engineering phd programs
Requirements for the PhD program often involve the student having already obtained a Master’s degree. Additionally, a thesis or dissertation primarily consisting of original academic research must be submitted. In some countries, this work may even need to be defended in front of a panel.
A wide range of knowledge as well as an assortment of methods and skills are necessary in mechanical engineering. This subject is diverse because it is the foundation of designing and manufacturing everything from small individual parts and devices to large systems.
PhD Program in Mechanical Engineering.
Mechanical Engineering is a subject that focuses on the design, planning and manufacturing of almost everything you can think of, from individual parts and pieces to gadgets and large machines or systems.
The work of mechanical engineers is extremely important. They are the ones who take ideas and transform them into products available on the marketplace. Mechanical engineers are responsible for almost everything, from the safety features in cars to the design and development of medical devices, the maintenance of aircraft, power plants, mobile devices, etc.
Being a mechanical engineer means applying the basic engineering principles and mechanical processes needed to create the machines and devices we use every day. Students discover concepts connected to thermodynamics, heat transfer, quality control and product design. There are also courses on materials used in the manufacturing processes. Practical learning happens through individual or team projects, which encourage students to apply their theoretical knowledge.
As a subdiscipline of the Engineering & Technology field, Mechanical Engineering requires advanced knowledge of mathematics, physics, problem-solving (combined with creativity) skills, and the ability to prioritise work under pressure.
Students who graduate from a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering can engage in promising careers in any sector of the engineering industry. Apart from automobiles, the mechanical engineers of today are working in Aerospace Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Energy Engineering.
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