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Mechanical Engineering Home >Department Faculty Search: Research Areas

Energy
Applications are sought from candidates in fields related to energy, including but not restricted to fluid dynamics, heat transfer, combustion, energy conversion, and nanomaterials. The candidate’s engineering expertise and documented research activity in the field of energy must demonstrate a strong potential toward enhancing both the undergraduate teaching and the graduate teaching and research missions of the department. Research interests that support or are complementary to existing focus areas are desired. Excellent opportunities for synergy exist with present activities on solar energy, power and propulsion systems, HVAC systems, biofuels, and compact and efficient fluid power systems. Several of these activities are associated with the University’s Initiative for Renewable Energy and the Environment; the Department’s NSF Center for Compact and Efficient Fluid Power; the Center for Diesel Research; and the Center for Transportation Studies.

Fluid Power
The University of Minnesota is the lead institution for the NSF-sponsored Engineering Research Center for Compact and Efficient Fluid Power (CCEFP). The center includes seven universities, three nonprofit institutions, and sixty member companies (for more information see www.ccefp.org). Fluid power offers promise for substantial improvements in the energy efficiency of heavy machinery and passenger vehicles, and for the development of a new generation of compact tools, medical devices, and robots that can operate for long periods of time without external power. CCEFP focuses on three goals: improving energy efficiency; expanding the use of fluid power in transportation; and developing portable, wearable, and autonomous fluid-power devices. Applications are sought for faculty that would like to attack large problems in an interdisciplinary team-based environment. Research areas of interest to CCEFP include, but are not limited to: energy storage, controls, fluid mechanics, fluid power, haptics, heat transfer, engines, mechanical design, materials, mechatronics, nanotechnology, MEMS, rheology, sensors, thermodynamics, and tribology.

Medical Devices
Candidates are sought with expertise in the area of medical devices that complement and support existing strengths within the department and the university. Successful applicants will participate in the new Medical Devices Center (MDC) which is part of the Institute for Engineering in Medicine (IEM), a collaborative structure between the Institute of Technology and the Medical School at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. The MDC and IEM have established seed funding to stimulate interdisciplinary medical device research, and support education and outreach between the university and the strong statewide medical device industry. Search areas of interest include but are not limited to: simulation and remote control of surgical devices, novel sensors and device actuators, device-tissue interfacial engineering including material compatibility and intervention outcome, imaging support including MR compatible devices, BioMEMs devices including lab-on-a-chip and other diagnostics, nanomedical and biotechnological devices for drug delivery, diagnosis and treatment, and next generation prototyping and manufacture of medical devices.

Nanotechnology
The Department seeks outstanding researchers in nanotechnology-related fields including nanomanufacturing, nanoparticle science and engineering, biomedical applications of nanotechnology, nanoscale heat transfer, computational nanoscience, and others. Nanotechnology-related activities centered in the Department include the internationally renowned Particle Technology Laboratory (PTL) and High Temperature and Plasma Laboratory, the NSF IGERT on Nanoparticle Science and Engineering, the Center for Diesel Research, several NSF NIRT grants, and others. Strong research collaborations exist between ME faculty engaged in nanotechnology and faculty in other IT departments as well as the UMN Medical School. The Minnesota Nanotechnology Cluster, a node of the National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network, provides state-of-the art facilities through the Nanofabrication Center, the IT Characterization Facility, and PTL. The recently-established Center for Nanostructure Applications provides seed funding for a number of interdisciplinary nanotechology research projects around the University.