Research Areas

Lasers are important as diagnostic tools and in instruments whose use spans a spectrum from materials fabrication to medical applications. The underlying physics is applied to diverse areas such as advanced propulsion systems, X-ray generation, and understanding the properties of complex materials and fluids.

Cells and tissues are living, active materials. Studying the behaviors of these materials, as well as the mechanics of organs and organisms, gives us new insights into both the mechanics of life and how to better control and engineer living systems.

The analysis of nonlinear dynamic systems play important roles in many aspects of engineering.

Experimental, analytical, and numerical studies of fluid flow underlie many areas of technological innovation.

Modern materials science seeks to understand and influence the behavior of materials at a variety of length scales.

Energy conversion by combustion is and will continue to be the overwhelming mode of energy conversion in the electricity generation, ground and air transportation, and space propulsion sectors.