Engineering PhD: Mechanical Engineering PhD
A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in engineering is the highest educational degree, and explores problem solving through extensive research. As an R1 research university ranked in the top 3% of universities worldwide by the Center for World University Rankings, UWM is a premier place with which to pursue your PhD.
You may choose a concentration in mechanical engineering which will be the subject of your doctoral dissertation. When you graduate, you will have marked scholarship in the broad field of engineering as well as a distinguished critical achievement in your chosen specialization.
You’ll have the opportunity to work with our highly acclaimed faculty involved with research around construction, batteries, energy, optics, rehab robotics, sensors, biomechanics, water filtration, composite materials and tribology.
Program Type
Program Format
Student Spotlight
Farah Nourin was recently invited as a student representative to speak at a US Department of Energy (DOE) Industrial Assessment Center (IAC) roundtable to discuss how the DOE can help American manufacturers to improve efficiency, train an energy-savvy workforce and reduce their carbon footprints.
A PhD degree requires completion of 66 graduate credits beyond the bachelor’s degree. Some students pursue their PhD after completing a master’s degree, and others choose to earn a PhD instead of a master’s degree. Please see the academic catalog for specific requirements.
Many students earn Teaching Assistantships (TAs), Research Assistantships (RAs) or Fellowships during their graduate study which helps to fund their education while also building leadership skills. Assistantships decisions are made by the academic departments only after an applicant has been accepted to the program.
Earning a PhD in can provide you with a wide range of professional or academic opportunities that may include leadership roles in academia, government service, or high-level industrial research.
More Information
Contact the College of Engineering & Applied Science Graduate Programs Office.
We’re a top tier R1 research university and our students have the opportunity to work with biomedical engineering faculty engaged in cutting-edge research in areas such as:
- Batteries
- Energy
- Optics
- Rehab Robotics
- Sensors
- Tribology
Faculty
- Richard and Joanne Grigg Faculty Fellowship
- Professor, Mechanical Engineering
- Director, Industrial Assessment Center (IAC)
- amano@uwm.edu
- 414-229-2345
- University Services and Research 201L
- Professor, Mechanical Engineering
- bsra@uwm.edu
- 414-229-6916
- Engineering & Mathematical Sciences 990A
- Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
- Founder and Director, Advanced Manufacturing and Design Laboratory
- Co-Founder and Executive Director, UWM Student Startup Challenge
- Director (PI), Milwaukee Regional Energy Education Initiative
- avdeev@uwm.edu
- 414-229-6949
- Engineering & Mathematical Sciences 1181
- Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
- wjchang@uwm.edu
- 414-229-6614
- Engineering & Mathematical Sciences 1113
- Alan D. Kulwicki '77 Faculty Fellowship
- Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
- dsouza@uwm.edu
- 414-229-6952
- Engineering & Mathematical Sciences E326
- CEAS Lab Manager
- Lab Manager, Makerspace
- judes@uwm.edu
- 414-229-5192
- Engineering & Mathematical Sciences W149
- Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science & Engineering
- musinski@uwm.edu
- Engineering and Mathematical Sciences EMS 910D
- Professor, Mechanical Engineering
- nosonovs@uwm.edu
- 414-229-2816
- Engineering and Mathematical Sciences 1125
- Professor, Mechanical Engineering
- krishna@uwm.edu
- 414-229-6535
- Northwest Quadrant 4521 SFS 3021
- Research Associate, Mechanical Engineering
- Assistant Director, Industrial Assessment Center (IAC)
- mdqandil@uwm.edu
- 414-229-9371
- Engineering & Mathematical Sciences
- Johnson Controls Endowed Professor in Energy Storage Research
- Department Chair, Mechanical Engineering
- UWM Distinguished Professor
- qud@uwm.edu
- 414-251-5817
- Engineering and Mathematical Sciences E308
- Richard and Joanne Grigg Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
- Chair, Mechanical Engineering Graduate Program Committee
- Affiliate Professor, Computer Science and Biomedical Engineering
- Switzer Research Distinguished Fellow
- rahmanmh@uwm.edu
- 414-251-8406
- University Services & Research Building (USRB) 201D
- Professor, Mechanical Engineering
- Secretary of the University
- reisel@uwm.edu
- 414-229-4671
- Engineering and Mathematical Sciences 1213| LUB 451
- Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
- renken@uwm.edu
- 414-229-5755
- Engineering and Mathematical Sciences 1007
- Distinguished Professor, Materials Science and Engineering Department
- Distinguished Professor, Biomedical Engineering
- Distinguished Professor, Mechanical Engineering
- Director, Center for Advanced Manufacture of Materials
- prohatgi@uwm.edu
- Engineering and Mathematical Sciences 574
- Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
- Founder, Advanced Structures Laboratory
- salowitz@uwm.edu
- 414-251-8030
- Engineering and Mathematical Sciences 1155
- Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
- Associate Professor, Biomedical Engineering
- EMS Office 755
- slavens@uwm.edu
- 414-229-6933
- Accelerator Building, Innovation Campus 135, Lab 140
- Professor, Mechanical Engineering
- Professor, Art & Design
- Director, Student Startup Challenge
- sternn@uwm.edu
- 414-477-9602
- Engineering and Mathematical Sciences 755
- Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
- Associate Professor, Biomedical Engineering
- ysung4@uwm.edu
- 414-251-8147
- Physics 333
- Teaching Faculty 3, Mechanical Engineering
- yahiaoui@uwm.edu
- 414-229-7181
- Engineering & Mathematical Sciences E275
Advising
- Advisor, Graduate Programs
- Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Biomedical Health Informatics
- crary@uwm.edu
- 414-229-7267
- Engineering & Mathematical Sciences E379
- Advisor, Graduate Programs
- Civil/Environmental Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Industrial/Manufacturing Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering
- rpackard@uwm.edu
- 414-251-8543
- Engineering & Mathematical Sciences E379
UWM is proud to be one of only two R1 research universities in Wisconsin. We’re also a top externally funded institution with robust opportunities for teaching and research assistantships. Partners that support our important research include:
- National Academy of Sciences, Engineering & Medicine (NASEM)
- National Science Foundation (NSF)
- United States Department of Defense (USDoD)
- United States Department of Energy (USDoE)
- Regional businesses: Johnson Controls, Rockwell Automation, Harley Davidson, We Energies