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> > Graduate Study Brochure
Letter to Applicants
Like the engineering profession itself, the Woodruff School is characterized by the vitality that accompanies change and expansion.Our programs are built on more than a century of tradition in quality engineering education.A highly qualified faculty, state-of-the-art facilities, close interaction with industry, and outstanding students are all marks of our success in fostering and sustaining an environment of academic excellence.
Georgia Tech is committed to maintaining a diverse and open community of scholars.We actively encourage applications from those who are underrepresented in the engineering profession.Woodruff School students are alike in the impressive abilities and the seriousness of purpose they bring to their studies traits that have made Georgia Tech graduates among the most sought after in the nation.
I encourage you to visit the Woodruff School to talk with our faculty and students and become better acquainted with the varied resources that are available at the Institute.Or visit our detailed web sites at www.me.gatech.edu, www.nre.gatech.edu or www.mp.gatech.edu, which contain everything you need to know about the Woodruff School, including on-line graduate application information.
We are proud of the accomplishments of the Woodruff School, and we invite you to consider becoming a member of our talented and energetic graduate community.
William J. Wepfer
Eugene C. Gwaltney, Jr. Chair
George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering
Atlanta, Georgia
February 2005
Admissions
Who Should Apply
The Woodruff School selects graduate candidates who are expected to become outstanding engineers and professionals.We want individuals who will be able to contribute to, and benefit from, the programs offered by the School.Demonstrated engineering skills, research ability, and the potential for future growth are important factors in the evaluation of applicants.We value prior experience in engineering and research because it leads to an understanding of complex technical matters, provides chances to assume responsibility, and gives opportunities to take initiative in solving technical problems.
Evaluation of intellectual ability is based on undergraduate grades, graduate work, if any, GRE general test scores, letters of recommendation, as well as other evidence that you present.Because of the participatory nature of our graduate programs, you must have well-developed written and oral skills in English.Another important criterion is personal characteristics.Here the Woodruff School looks for such traits as thoughtfulness, maturity, motivation, leadership, ethical standards, and interpersonal skills.Personal integrity and responsible decision-making are particularly important.These characteristics are assessed primarily through your biographical essay and the three, required letters of recommendation.
Admission to our graduate program is highly competitive.Each year there are many more outstanding applicants than there are places.The challenge for the Woodruff School is to choose a class from a very qualified applicant pool.Therefore, we seek compelling reasons to admit candidates.We hope you are one of those people selected to join us.
The Decision to Apply
The decision to apply to graduate school is both demanding and exciting.You should have a lot of information to help you make the right choice of which degree to obtain and program to enter.There are a number of sources, in addition to this publication, that are useful in preparing your application to the graduate programs in the Woodruff School.These publications may be found on our web page at www.me.gatech.edu or obtained from the Office of Student Services by calling 404.894.3204.
How to Apply
You may apply to the Woodruff School directly online through the Institute's web site at www.grad.gatech.edu/admissions, or see the Buzz icon on the Woodruff School's web pages at www.me.gatech.edu,www.nre.gatech.edu, or www.mp.gatech.edu.Please allow at least eight weeks from the time you submit your application materials before you make an inquiry about it to the Woodruff School's Office of Student Services.
In addition to completing an online Woodruff School Application, you should have a bachelor's degree or its equivalent from an ABET-accredited engineering program.Most applicants have a degree in mechanical engineering or nuclear engineering, however, we also accept a bachelor's degree in science, mathematics, or other engineering programs, but you may be required to take additional courses upon admission.
Graduate Record Exam (GRE) general test scores are required of all applicants to the Woodruff School.A grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 is desirable.In addition, if you are an international student you must have a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of at least 240 (out of 300) on the computer test or 580 (out of 677) on the paper-based test, and file a certified statement that indicates you have sufficient financial resources to meet all costs of your first year of graduate study.
When to Apply
The Woodruff School admits the vast majority of graduate students in mechanical engineering and nuclear and radiological engineering for fall semester, however, you may apply at any time for admission starting the following term.Medical physics students who wish to be on campus are admitted once a year for fall semester only.Applications for summer or fall semester received after February 1st will be considered only if there are openings in the class.Early applications are strongly advised particularly if you are applying for financial aid.
If you want to enter the master's degree program in mechanical engineering at our European campus at Georgia Tech Lorraine (GTL) in Metz, France or the School's distance-learning program, you must meet the same admission requirements as for the on-campus program.
Deadlines
For those who wish to attend classes on the Atlanta or the GTL campus, the following deadlines should be adhered to:
| February 1 |
For summer and fall semesters for program and full financial aid consideration, but March 1st for summer, June 1st for fall, and November 1st for spring. |
| April 1 | Medical physics students applying to the distance learning program have an application deadline of April 1st for fall or summer semester enrollment. |
| October 1 | For spring semester for full financial aid consideration, but December 1st otherwise. |
The deadlines for those entering the distance-learning program are June 1st for fall, December 1st for spring, and May 1st for summer.
Programs of Study
The Woodruff School has a challenging graduate program that encompasses advanced study and research.Graduate programs lead to the degrees of:
- Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
- Master of Science in Nuclear Engineering
- Master of Science in Medical Physics
- Master of Science in Paper Science and Engineering
- Master of Science in Bioengineering
- Master of Science
- Doctor of Philosophy
for qualified graduates with backgrounds in engineering, mechanics, mathematics, physical sciences, and life sciences. The master's degrees in mechanical engineering and medical physics are available to working professionals through the distance-learning program.
A study-abroad program is also offered at Georgia Tech's European campus in Metz, France.The Georgia Tech Lorraine (GTL) program allows U. S. students to earn an M.S.M.E. degree from Georgia Tech and to study in France.A dual-degree program is available for study at GTL and ENSAM, a French school of mechanical engineering.
Opportunities exist for students in the nuclear and radiological engineering/medical physics program to specialize by combining various courses offered in the Woodruff School with courses from programs in other schools at the Institute.We are offering a master's degree in medical physics in cooperation with the Emory University School of Medicine.The program in medical physics stresses applied medical physics and includes a clinical rotation.
The Master's Degree Program
Most graduate course work is elective, but the program of study must meet the Woodruff School's requirements of breadth, depth, and level.Graduate degrees in mechanical engineering can be completed through a combination of studies at GTL, via video and on-line course offerings, or by attending classes at the Atlanta campus.We also offer interdisciplinary degrees in paper science and bioengineering.
Thirty credit hours of coursework are generally required for the master's degree.The undesignated master's degree (M.S.) allows you to pursue a program of highly interdisciplinary course work.This allows you to select courses from other departments at the Institute.The designated degree, such as the M.S.M.E., is usually pursued by students who have an undergraduate engineering degree.The majority of the course work for the designated degree has an ME or an NRE/MP label.For either the designated or the undesignated degree, you must have the necessary engineering prerequisites.
The master's degree in paper science and engineering requires 33 credit hours and has substantially different requirements from those of other Woodruff School degrees.There are core courses, PSE-ME courses, and electives.
Well-qualified graduate students typically complete the master's program in three to five semesters of full-time study.Your choice of the thesis or nonthesis option may affect completion time.Master's degree students in the Woodruff School must maintain a minimum overall semester grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in course work to be in good academic standing.
- Thesis Option. The faculty of the Woodruff School strongly believes that an independent and in-depth study of an engineering topic is valuable preparation for a professional career.Therefore, you may earn nine hours of credit (out of the thirty hours required) by working with a faculty member on a research project and publishing the findings in a thesis.The School considers this experience valuable for all advanced engineering students.Graduate research assistants and potential doctoral students, in particular, are encouraged to choose the thesis option.In keeping with the School's policy of educating both practicing and research engineers, a thesis can range from an innovative design project to a fundamental research investigation.
- Nonthesis Option. Alternatively, you may elect to earn all credits toward the master's degree through course work.This plan is appropriate for individuals who wish to enhance their general professional capability, but who prefer a less concentrated research experience.The School recommends one special problem course, which involves work on a faculty-directed research project.
The Ph.D. Program
The Ph.D. degree recognizes proficiency and high achievement in research.After adequate preparation, you must complete a searching and authoritative investigation of a special area in a chosen field, culminating in a written thesis and oral defense that covers that investigation.The thesis must be either an addition to the fundamental knowledge of the field, or a new and better interpretation of the facts already known.
Forty-two hours of course work beyond the bachelor's degree is required for the Ph.D.Alternatively, approximately twelve hours of course work beyond the master's degree or its equivalent are required.The course work must be in an appropriate subject area.
Doctoral students should aim to complete the Ph.D. degree about three years after obtaining the master's degree or after entering the Ph.D. program.Doctoral degree students in the Woodruff School must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.3 in their course work.Students must submit a Ph.D. proposal that describes the goals and objectives of their research.It is strongly recommended that this be done within one year after the successful completion of the Ph.D. qualifying exams.
The Woodruff School Faculty
The Woodruff School maintains a standard of excellence in all the core, traditional areas of mechanical engineering and has expanded into other interdisciplinary areas and applications such as acoustics, bioengineering, information technology, microelectromechanical systems, nanotechnology, nuclear engineering, paper science, and tribology.While the emphasis on research in the Woodruff School has grown steadily, at the same time, this capability has allowed our faculty members to gain specialized skills and perspectives that enable them to bring fresh ideas and methods into the classroom.Faculty members are committed to bringing new approaches to current technological challenges.They publish extensively in scientific and technical journals, and several have written widely-used textbooks.
More details about our research program and the faculty may be found in a companion publication, Research in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering.Many ongoing research projects or ideas for study are highlighted in this publication to help you locate your interests.In addition, complete profiles of the faculty may be found in the same source book.Faculty profiles and other publications of interest may also be found on our web page at www.me.gatech.edu.
Acoustics and Dynamics
Yves H. Berthelot, Professor
Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin, 1985
- Acoustics, laser instrumentation in acoustics, and ultrasonics
- Fellow of ASA
Kenneth A. Cunefare, Associate Professor
Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University, 1990
- Active/passive control, modeling and control of brake squeal, fluid-structure interaction, optimal acoustic design, and test methods and instrumentation in acoustics
- Fellow of ASA
Aldo A. Ferri, Associate Professor
Ph.D., Princeton University, 1985
- Acoustics, structural dynamics, and nonlinear dynamics and control
Jerry H. Ginsberg, George W. Woodruff Chair in Mechanical Systems and Professor
E.Sc.D., Columbia University, 1970
- Structural vibrations and acoustics, dynamics, modal identification, and turbomachinery diagnostics
- Fellow of ASA and ASME
Peter H. Rogers, Rae and Frank H. Neely Chair in Mechanical Engineering and Professor
Ph.D., Brown University, 1970
- Underwater acoustics and bioacoustics
- Fellow of ASA
Automation and Mechatronics
Wayne J. Book, HUSCO/Ramirez Distinguished Chair in Fluid Power and Motion Control and Professor
Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1974
- Robotics, automation, modeling, fluid power, and motion control
- Fellow of ASME and IEEE
Ye-Hwa Chen, Professor
Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, 1985
- Controls, manufacturing systems, neural networks, and fuzzy engineering
Imme Ebert-Uphoff, Associate Professor
Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University, 1997
- Robotics, theoretical kinematics, dynamics, parallel manipulators, and digital clay
Kok-Meng Lee, Professor
Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute ofTechnology, 1985
- System dynamics, control, automation, and optomechatronics
Harvey Lipkin, Associate Professor
Ph.D., University of Florida, 1985
- Design and analysis of mechanical systems, robotics, and spatial mechanisms
John G. Papastavridis, Associate Professor
Ph.D., Purdue University, 1976
- Analytical, structural and nonlinear mechanics, vibrations, and stability
Nader Sadegh, Associate Professor
Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, 1987
- Controls, vibrations, and design
William E. Singhose, Assistant Professor
Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1997
- Vibrations, flexible dynamics, and command generation
Bioengineering
Andrés J. García, Associate Professor
Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania, 1996
- Cellular and tissue engineering, cell adhesion, and biomaterials
Robert E. Guldberg, Associate Professor
Ph.D., University of Michigan, 1995
- Biomechanics, microCT imaging, and tissue engineering
Jens O. M. Karlsson, Associate Professor
Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1994
- Thermodynamics and transport in biological systems, nonequilibrium solidification, tissue engineering, and bioMEMS
David N. Ku, Lawrence P. Huang Endowed Chair in Engineering and Entrepreneurship and Regents' Professor
Ph.D., Georgia Institute of Technology, 1983
M.D., Emory University, 1984
- Thrombosis, biomaterials, and tissue engineering
- Fellow of AIMBE
Marc E. Levenston, Assistant Professor
Ph.D., Stanford University, 1995
- Orthopedic biomechanics, soft tissue mechanics, and tissue engineering
Robert M. Nerem, Parker H. Petit Distinguished Chair for Engineering in Medicine and Institute Professor
Ph.D., Ohio State University, 1964
- Biomedical engineering and cellular and tissue engineering
- Fellow of AAAS, AIMBE, APS and ASME
- Member of NAE and IOM
Raymond P. Vito, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor
Ph.D., Cornell University, 1971
- Biomechanics, tissue mechanics, and design
- Fellow of ASME
Timothy M. Wick, Professor of Chemical and BiomolecularEngineering (Joint Appointment)
Ph.D., Rice University, 1988
- Tissue and bioprocess engineering, bioreactor design, cell adhesion, and blood rheology
Ajit P. Yoganathan, The Wallace H. Coulter Distinguished Faculty Chair in Engineering and Regents' Professor (Joint Appointment)
Ph.D., California Institute of Technology, 1978
- Cardiovascular mechanics, cardiac implants, tissue engineering, Doppler ultrasound, and MRI
- Fellow of AIMBE
Cheng Zhu, Professor
Ph.D., Columbia University, 1988
- Biomechanics of single cells and single molecules, cell adhesion kinetics, and bioMEMS
Computer-Aided Engineering and Design
Bert Bras, Professor
Ph.D., University of Houston, 1992
- Environmentally conscious design and manufacturing, design for remanufacture and recycling, life-cycle assessment and costs, inclusion of uncertainty and robustness
Farrokh Mistree, Professor
Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, 1974
- Strategic design, simulation-based system realization, and distributed design and manufacture
- Fellow of ASME and Associate Fellow of AIAA
Chris Paredis, Assistant Professor
Ph.D., Carnegie Mellon University, 1996
- Simulation-based design, information and knowledge management, composable simulations, uncertainty quantification, and model validation
David W. Rosen, Professor
Ph.D., University of Massachusetts, 1992
- Rapid prototyping, additive manufacturing, and computer-aided product development
- Fellow of ASME
Suresh Sitaraman, Professor
Ph.D., Ohio State University, 1989
- Microelectronics and packaging interconnects, failure mechanisms and reliability modeling, CAE/FEM, fabrication and characterization of nanostructures, and bioassay
- Fellow of ASME
Fluid Mechanics
Cyrus Aidun, Professor
Ph.D., Clarkson University, 1985
- Hydrodynamic stability, liquid coating, and suspended particle hydrodynamics
Ari Glezer, George W. Woodruff Chair in Thermal Systems and Professor
Ph.D., California Institute of Technology, 1981
Macro- and microscale fluid mechanics and heat transfer processes, flow control, actuators and sensors, and diagnostics
Associate Fellow of AIAA
G. Paul Neitzel, Professor
Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University, 1979 <>
- Hydrodynamic stability, surface-tension-driven and rotating flows, noncoalescence, and nonwetting and bioreactor fluid dynamics
- Fellow of APS and ASME, and Associate Fellow of AIAA
David Parekh, Deputy Director of GTRI and Associate Vice Provost for Research (Joint Appointment)
Ph.D., Stanford University, 1989
- Active flow control, propulsion, and fuel cell systems
Marc K. Smith, Professor
Ph.D., Northwestern University, 1982
- Hydrodynamic stability, surface tension-driven flow, liquid films, drops and numerical computation atomization
Fotis Sotiropoulos, Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering (Joint Appointment)
Ph.D., University of Cincinnati, 1991
- Computational fluid dynamics, turbulent shear flows, fluid mixing, biofluid mechanics, and environmental hydraulics
Minami Yoda, Associate Professor
Ph.D., Stanford University, 1993
- Experimental fluid mechanics, suspension flows, nano- and microfluids, and optical diagnostics
Heat Transfer, Combustion, and Energy Systems
Frederick W. Ahrens, Professor
Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, 1971
- Heat and mass transfer, drying, transport phenomena in porous media, thermal and energy systems modeling, simulation, and optimization
J. Narl Davidson, Associate Dean of Engineering and Professor
Ph.D., University of Michigan, 1969
- Academic administration, engineering education, plasma physics, and power plant operation
Andrei G. Fedorov, Assistant Professor
Ph.D., Purdue University, 1997
- Catalysis and fuel cells, chemical and electrochemical sensors, atomic force microscopy, and thermal radiation
Srinivas Garimella, Associate Professor
Ph.D., Ohio State University, 1990
- Sustainable technologies, phase change in microchannel and compact heat exchangers, and heat and mass transfer in binary mixtures
S. Mostafa Ghiaasiaan, Professor
Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles, 1983
- Multiphase flow, aerosol and particle transport, microscale heat transfer, and nuclear reactor thermal-hydraulics
- Fellow of ASME
Sheldon M. Jeter, Associate Professor
Ph.D., Georgia Institute of Technology, 1979
- Thermodynamics, energy systems, and heat transfer
Yogendra K. Joshi, Associate Chair for Graduate Studies and John M. McKenney and Warren D. Shiver Distinguished Chair in Building Mechanical Systems
Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania, 1984
- Thermo-fluid issues in emerging technologies, microthermal systems, and thermal management of high-heat flux buildings
- Fellow of AAAS and ASME
David Orloff, Professor
Ph.D., Drexel University, 1974
- Paper making processes, energy use minimization, paper physics, new paper material, heat transfer and mechanical de-watering and drying
Samuel V. Shelton, Associate Professor
Ph.D., Georgia Institute of Technology, 1969
- Energy systems, HVAC systems, absorption, and refrigeration
- Fellow of ASHRAE
William J. Wepfer, Vice Provost for Distance Learning and Professional Education and Professor
Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, 1979
- Heat transfer and thermodynamics
- Fellow of ASHRAE and ASME
Zhuomin Zhang, Associate Professor
Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1992
- Microscale heat transfer, thermophysical properties, and radiation thermometry
Ben T. Zinn, David S. Lewis Chair of Aerospace Engineering and Regents' Professor (Joint Appointment)
- Combustion instability, active control, microscale combustion, propulsion, and acoustics
- Fellow of AIAA and ASME
- Member of NAE
Manufacturing
Daniel F. Baldwin, Associate Professor
Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1994
- Electronics manufacturing, electronics and MEMS packaging, and systems integration
Jonathan S. Colton, Professor
Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1986
- Manufacturing, polymer/composites processing, MEMS, and nano/microfabrication
- Fellow of ASME and SPE
Steven Danyluk, Morris M. Bryan, Jr. Chair in Mechanical Engineering for Advanced Manufacturing Systems and Professor
Ph.D., Cornell University, 1974
- Semiconductor processing, lubricant-surface interaction, polishing, and sensors
- Fellow ofASME, ASMI, and STLE
Steven Y. Liang, Morris M. Bryan, Jr. Professorship in Mechanical Engineering
Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, 1987
- Modeling, monitoring, and control of advanced manufacturing processes and equipment
- Fellow of ASME
Shreyes N. Melkote, Associate Professor
Ph.D., Michigan Technological University, 1993
- Precision machining, laser-assisted micromachining, surfaces, flexible fixturing, and CAM/CAPP
Timothy Patterson, Assistant Professor
Ph.D., Georgia Institute of Technology, 1999
I. Charles Ume, Professor
Ph.D., University of South Carolina, 1985
- Electronic packaging, mechatronics, and laser moir and laser ultrasonics
- Fellow of ASME and IEEE
Mechanics of Materials
Mohammed Cherkaoui, Professor
Ph.D., University of Metz (France), 1995
- Micro- and nanomechanics, multiscale transition methods, crystal plasticity, behavior of materials with high strength and ductility, phase transformation, and smart materials
Karl J. Jacob, Associate Professor of Polymer, Textile and Fiber Engineering (Joint Appointment)
Ph.D., Ohio State University, 1985
- Phase transformation and clustering, nanoscale modeling, nanostructured composites, networked polymers, fracture, and drug delivery systems
Laurence J. Jacobs, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering (Joint Appointment)
Ph.D., Columbia University, 1987
- Nondestructive evaluation, wave propagation in solids, and experimental mechanics
W. Steven Johnson, Professor of Materials Science and Engineering (Joint Appointment)
Ph.D., Duke University, 1979
- Fatigue, fracture mechanics, and durability of materials and structures
- Fellow of ASME, ASTM, and NIA
Christopher S. Lynch, Associate Chair for Administration and Associate Professor
Ph.D., University of California, Santa Barbara, 1992
- Experimental mechanics and smart materials
- Fellow of ASME
David L. McDowell, Carter N. Paden Distinguished Chair in Metals Processing and Regents' Professor
Ph.D., University of Illinois, 1983
- Material deformation and damage, constitutive laws, and metals processing
- Fellow of ASME
Richard W. Neu, Associate Professor
Ph.D., University of Illinois, 1991
- Fatigue, deformation, and degradation of materials
Jianmin Qu, Professor
Ph.D., Northwestern University, 1987
- Fracture, composite materials, wave propagation, and microelectronic packaging
- Fellow of ASME
Min Zhou, Associate Professor
Ph.D., Brown University, 1993
- Micro- and nanoscale behavior, continuum and molecular dynamics modeling, experimental/computational mechanics, dynamic behavior, and fracture
Microelectromechanical Systems
F. Levent Degertekin, Assistant Professor
Ph.D., Stanford University, 1997
- Micromachined sensors and actuators, ultrasonics, atomic force microscopy, and nondestructive evaluation
James Gole, Professor of Physics (Joint Appointment)
Ph.D., Rice University, 1971
- Nanostructured materials, porous media, sensors, and micro- and nanocatalysis
Samuel Graham, Assistant Professor
Ph.D., Georgia Institute of Technology, 1999
- Microscale heat transfer, thermophysical properties, nanostructured materials, nanodevices, and device reliability
Peter J. Hesketh, Professor
Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania, 1987
- Microfabrication, micromachining, sensors, actuators, biosensors, and microfluids
- Fellow of AAAS
William King, Assistant Professor
Ph.D., Stanford University, 2002
- Micro/nanoscale heat transfer and thermal processing, atomic force microscopy, MEMS and micro/nanofabrication, and self-assembly
Wenjing Ye, Assistant Professor
Ph.D., Cornell University, 1998
- Computer-aided modeling and design of MEMS/NEMS, numerical analysis, and micro/nanoscale gas transport
Tribology
Itzhak Green, Professor
Sc.D., Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, 1984
- Hydrodynamic lubrication, vibrations, rotordynamics, fluid sealing, design, and diagnostics
- Fellow of ASME and STLE
Richard F. Salant, Georgia Power Distinguished Professor in Mechanical Engineering
Sc.D., Massachusetts Institute ofTechnology, 1967
- Fluid mechanics, fluid sealing, lubrication, and tribology
- Fellow of ASME and STLE
Jeffrey L. Streator, Associate Professor
Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, 1990
- Computer-disk tribology, thin-film lubrication, capillarity, and contact mechanics
Ward O. Winer, Eugene C. Gwaltney, Jr. Chair of the Woodruff School and Regents' Professor
Ph.D., Cambridge University, 1964
Ph.D., The University of Michigan, 1961
- High-pressure rheology, lubrication, tribology, thermomechanics, and mechanical systems diagnostics
- Fellow of AAAS, ASEE, ASME, and STLE
- Member of NAE
Nuclear and Radiological Engineering/Medical Physics
Said I. Abdel-Khalik, Southern Nuclear Distinguished Professor
Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, 1973
- Fission:Reactor engineering and thermal-hydraulics, two-phase flow and heat transfer, and inertial fusion technology
- Fellow of ANS and ASME
Cassiano de Oliveira, Professor
Ph.D., University of London, England, 1987
- Fission:Numerical radiation transport, computational fluid flow and molecular flow, and numerical modeling
Nolan E. Hertel, Professor
Ph.D., University of Illinois, 1979
- Fission:Radiation shielding, neutron dosimetry, radiological assessment, radioactive waste management, accelerator sources and applications, and high-energy particle transport
Farzad Rahnema, Associate Chair of the Woodruff School, Chair of the Nuclear and Radiological Engineering/Medical Physics Program, and Professor
Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles, 1981
- Fission and Medical Physics:Reactor physics, perturbation and variational methods, computational transport theory, and criticality safety
- Fellow of ANS
Weston M. Stacey, Jr., Fuller E. Callaway Professor in Nuclear Engineering and Regents' Professor
Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1966
- Fusion:Fusion engineering, plasma physics, and reactor physics
- Fellow of ANS and APS
C.-K. Chris Wang, Associate Professor
Ph.D., Ohio State University, 1989
- Medical Physics:Radiation detection and dosimetry, medical and industrial applications of ionizing radiations, and spent nuclear fuel measurements
Selected Graduate Courses
This is a listing of selected graduate course offerings in the Woodruff School.You are encouraged to examine the Institute's general catalog at www.catalog.gatech.edu to appreciate the breadth and depth of opportunities available to students at Georgia Tech.You can also use the resources of other Schools at Georgia Tech to design a program of study that will prepare you for your chosen career.To find out which courses are being offered in a particular term, view the web page at www.catalog.gatech.edu.
Acoustics and Dynamics
- ME 6441 Dynamics of Mechanical Systems: Motion analysis and dynamics modeling of systems of particles and rigid bodies in three-dimensional motion.
- ME 6442 Vibration of Mechanical Systems: Introduction to modeling and oscillatory response analysis for discrete continuous mechanical and structural systems.
- ME 6443 Variational Methods in Engineering: Calculus of variations, Hamilton's principle and Lagrange's equations, Sturm-Liouville problems, and approximation techniques.
- ME 6449 Acoustic Transducers and Signal Analysis: Acoustic instrumentation and methods of signal analysis.
- ME 6452 Wave Propagation in Solids: Wave motion in solids, wave equations, analytical and numerical solutions, and ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation.
- ME 6760 Acoustics I: Fundamental principles governing the generation, propagation, reflection, and transmission of sound waves in fluids.
- ME 6761 Acoustics II: Radiation and scattering of sound waves in fluids, duct acoustics, and dissipation phenomena.
- ME 6762 Applied Acoustics: Mufflers, resonators, acoustic materials, barriers, industrial noise, room acoustics, and active noise control.
Automation and Mechatronics
- ME 6401 Linear Control Systems: Theory and applications of linear systems, state-space, stability, feedback controls, observers, and Kalman filters.
- ME 6402 Nonlinear Control Systems: Analysis of nonlinear systems, geometric control, variable structure control, adaptive control, optimal control, and applications.
- ME 6403 Digital Control Systems: Comprehensive treatment of the representation, analysis, and design of discrete-time systems.Techniques include z- and w-transforms, direct method, control design, and digital tracking.
- ME 6404 Advance Control System Design and Implementation: Analysis, synthesis, and implementation techniques of continuous-time and real-time control systems using classical and state-space methods.
- ME 6405 Introduction to Mechatronics: Modeling and control of actuators and electro-mechanical systems, performance and application of microprocessors and analog electronics to modern mechatronic systems.
- ME 6406 Machine Vision: Design of algorithms for vision systems for manufacturing, farming, construction, and the service industries, image processing, optics, illumination, and feature representation.
- ME 6407 Robotics: Analysis and design of robotic systems including arms and vehicles, kinematics and dynamics, and algorithms for describing planning, commanding, and controlling motion force.
Bioengineering
- ME 6782 Cellular Engineering: Engineering analysis of cellular processes.
- ME 6783 Orthopaedic and Injury Biomechanics: Structure-function relationships in a variety of tissues, with an emphasis on mechanical adaptation and failure properties of orthopaedic and neural systems.
- ME 6793 Systems Pathophysiology: Overview of human pathophysiology from a quantitative perspective, emphasis on systems of interest to bioengineering faculty.Introduction to quantitative models for biological systems.
- ME 6794 Tissue Engineering: Biological, engineering, and medical issues in developing tissue engineered constructs, emphasizing the integration of these disciplines at a basic molecular and cell biology level.
Computer-Aided Engineering and Design
- ME 6101 Engineering Design: Design concepts, processes,and methodologies, including quality and robustness.
- ME 6102 Designing Open Engineering Systems: Decision-based integrated product and process development, metadesign and decision support problems, mathematical modeling of decisions involving ambiguity and uncertainty, critical thinking, and analysis.
- ME 6103 Optimization in Engineering Design: Use of single and multi-objective optimization in modeling and solving mechanical engineering design problems, formulations, solution algorithms, validation and verification, and computer implementation.
- ME 6104 Computer-Aided Design: Fundamentals of CAD, including geometric and solid modeling, parametric representations, features, and human-machine interactions, applications to design, analysis, and manufacturing.
- ME 6124 Finite-Element Method: Theory of line, plane, solid, plate, and shell elements, practical aspects of modeling, and applications in mechanical engineering.
- ME 6754 Engineering Data Base Management Systems: Modeling and managing engineering information systems, integration of design and manufacturing functions in engineering product development, and logical models of engineering products and processes.
- ME 7227 Rapid Prototyping in Engineering: Rapid prototyping technologies in engineering design, physical principles, materials, and materials processing.
Fluid Mechanics
- ME 6601 Introduction to Fluid Mechanics: The fundamentals of fluid mechanics; derivation of the governing equations of motion; an introduction to viscous, inviscid, turbulent, and boundary-layer flows.
- ME 6602 Viscous Flow: The mechanics of Newtonian viscous fluids, and the use of modern analytical techniques to obtain solutions for flows with small and large Reynolds numbers.
- ME 6622 Experimental Methods: Experimental methods in mechanics, including measurement techniques, instrumentation, data acquisition, signal processing, and linear and digital electronics.
Heat Transfer, Combustion, and Energy Systems
- ME 6301 Conduction Heat Transfer: Steady and transient one- and multi-dimensional conduction with an emphasis on analytical methods, numerical techniques, and approximate solutions.
- ME 6302 Convection Heat Transfer: Convection (forced and free) in laminar and turbulent, internal and external flows, analogy between momentum and heat transfer, scaling laws and modeling.
- ME 6303 Thermal Radiation Heat Transfer: Fundamentals of thermal radiation, blackbody radiation, surface characteristics, exchange in enclosures, radiation through continua, and combined mode heat transfer.
- ME 6304 Principles of Thermodynamics: Fundamentals of thermodynamics including energy, entropy, and energy analysis, property relations, equilibrium conditions, and evaluation of properties.
- ME 6305 Applications of Thermodynamics: Applications of the first and second laws of thermodynamics to analysis and design optimization of power and refrigeration systems incorporating heat exchangers and combustion processes.
- ME 6766 Combustion: Introductory chemical kinetics, deformations and deflagrations, laminar flame propagation in premixed gases, ignition and quenching, laminar diffusion flames, and droplet burning, turbulent reacting flows.
- ME 7301 Transport Phenomena in Multiphase Flow: Gas-liquid, two-phase flow patterns, basic and empirical models; conservation equations and closure relations; pool and convective boiling; aerosol transport; condensation.
- ME 8833 Thermal Issues in Microsystems: Passive, active and hybrid thermal management techniques, and computational modeling of microsystems; air cooling, single phase and phase change liquid immersion, heat pipes, and thermoelectrics.
Manufacturing and MEMS
- ME 6222 Manufacturing Processes and Systems: Materials processing analysis and selection, manufacturing systems design, and economic analysis.
- ME 6223 Automated Manufacturing Process Planning: Fundamentals of process planning,automated process planning approaches and algorithms, geometric processing for process planning, modeling and analysis of flexible fixturing systems, and mechanical assembly planning.
- ME 6224 Machine Tool Analysis and Control: Mechanics and dynamics of machining, machine tool components and structures, sensors and control of machine tools, and machine process planning and optimization.
- ME 6225 Metrology and Measurement Systems: Metrology techniques and procedures, and precision manufacturing system design and analysis.
- ME 6229 Introduction to MEMS: Principles of microfabrication for sensors and actuators; lumped parameter analysis and computer-aided design, materials properties, case studies.
- ME 6768 Polymer Structure, Physical Properties and Characterization: Formulations and analysis of molecular and phenomenological models of elastic and viscoelastic behavior, development and description of structure, and fundamental aspects of structure-property relations in the solid state of polymers.
- ME 7793 Manufacturing of Composites: Major manufacturing techniques of metal-ceramic and polymer-matrix composites, modeling of processes with emphasis on fundamental mechanisms and effects.
Mechanics of Materials
- ME 6201 Principles of Continuum Mechanics: Introductory treatment of the fundamental, unifying concepts of the mechanics of continua.
- ME 6203 Inelastic Deformation of Solids: Phenomenological aspects of nonlinear material behavior and deformation with an emphasis on model development.
- ME 6204 Micromechanics of Materials: Fundamental concepts of micromechanics of solids with emphasis on application to composite materials.
- ME 7201 Computational Mechanics of Materials: Computational treatments of material and geometric nonlinearity, emphasizing rate-dependent elastoplasticity and fracture.
- ME 7203 Advanced Constitutive Relations for Solids: Advanced treatment of constitutive laws for nonlinear behavior of solids, coupled thermomechanical laws and underlying physical and thermodynamical bases, and behavior of media with underlying substructure.
- ME 7772 Fundamentals of Fracture Mechanics: Advanced study of failure of structural materials under load, mechanics of fracture, and microscopic and macroscopic aspects of the fracture of engineering materials.
- ME 7792 Advanced Mechanics of Composites: Anisotropic elasticity, hygrothermal behavior, stress analysis of laminated composites including 3D effects, stress concentrations, free-edge effects, thick laminates, adhesive and mechanical connections, and fracture of composites.
Paper Science and Engineering
- ME 6140 Physical Properties of Paper:Structure and physical p.roperties of paper and other fibrous composites.Fundamental concepts related to single fibers and web structures.
- ME 7771 Mechanics of Polymer Solids and Fluids:Continuum mechanics of solids and fluids; mechanics of deformation of anisotropic polymers; yield, breaking, and fatigue; non-Newtonian viscous and viscoelastic behavior of polymer fluids.
Tribology
- ME 6242 Mechanics of Contact: Mechanics of surface contact, emphasizing tribological interactions as in rolling element bearings, slider bearings, mechanical seals, and materials processing.
- ME 6243 Fluid Film Lubrication: Analytical and numerical investigation of full-film compressible and incompressible hydrodynamic lubrication problems for steady and unsteady conditions.
- ME 6244 Rotordynamics: Analysis and design of shafts for rotating machinery, torsional vibration, synchronous and nonsynchronous whirl, stability, gyroscopic effects, hydrodynamic bearings, hysteresis, squeeze film dampers, and balancing.
Medical Physics
- MP 6405 Radiation Protection and Dosimetry:Radiation dosimetry quantities, calculational and experimental methods for assessing the absorbed dose, effective dose assessment, committed effective dose assessment, radiation shielding methods.
- MP 6407 Radiation Biology and Oncology: Radiation lesions and repair, mechanisms of cell death, cell cycle effect, radiation sensitizers and protectors, tumor radiobiology, relative sensitivities of human tissues, and radiation carcinogenesis.
- MP/NRE 6756 Radiation Physics: Characteristics of atomic and nuclear radiation, transition probabilities, radioactivity and isotopes, cross sections, electromagnetic radiation, neutrons, and charged particle interaction with matter.
- MP/NRE 6757 Radiation Detection: Introduction to the theory and application of radiation detectors, measurement methods, signal processing, and data analysis.
- MP 8101 Clinical Internship in Nuclear Medicine:One hundred supervised contact hours of clinical internship in the Nuclear Medicine Department of Emory University (or the equivalent).
- MP 8102 Clinical Internship in Diagnostic Imaging:One hundred supervised contact hours of clinical internship in theRadiation Department of Emory University (or the equivalent).
- MP 8103 Clinical Internship in Radiation Therapy:Two hundred supervised contact hours of clinical internship in the Radiation Oncology Department of Emory University (or the equivalent).
Nuclear and Radiological Engineering
- NRE 6101 Transport Fundamentals: Neutral and charged particle transport; fluid mass, energy, and momentum transport; models used on nuclear radiation transport; fluid hydrodynamics, and radiative and plasma transport.
- NRE 6102 Plasma Physics: Physics of ionized plasmas, magnetic confinement, kinetic and fluid theories, equilibrium, waves and stability, plasma-material interactions, atomic/molecular-plasma interactions, multispecies transport, and plasma processing applications.
- NRE 6103 Computational Methods of Radiation Transport: Deterministic and stochastic computational methods for solving transport equations of neutral particles.
- NRE 6201 Reactor Physics: Fundamentals of reactor physics for nuclear analysis of neutron chain reactors and for developing tools required for design of those reactors.
- NRE 6301 Reactor Engineering: Two-phase flow, boiling heat transfer, fast reactor thermal-hydraulics, reactor thermal-hydraulics uncertainty analysis, loss-of-coolant-accidents, and reactor thermal-hydraulic accident analysis.
- NRE 6401 Advanced Nuclear Engineering Design: Synthesis of principles of nuclear engineering in the design of nuclear reactors and other facilities.
- NRE 6434 Nuclear Criticality Safety Engineering: Concepts, computational techniques and the principal methods of criticality safety such as accident experience, standards, experiments, computer and hand calculations, limits, and regulations.
Other Courses
- ME/NRE/MP 6758 Numerical Methods in Mechanical Engineering: Numerical methods for solution of engineering problems; initial, eigenvalue, and boundary value problems; computational stability for ordinary and linear partial differential equations.
- ME/NRE/MP 7000 Master's Thesis Research
- ME/NRE 7757 Teaching Practicum: Supervised teaching for doctoral students: teaching techniques, course and curriculum design, student evaluation methods and criteria; student may prepare and present lectures.
- ME/NRE 801X Seminars: Seminars involving current research projects presented by graduate students, faculty, and invited speakers.
- ME/NRE 880X Special Topics: Special topics offerings of current interest not included in regular courses.
- ME/NRE 890X Special Problems: Individual studies and/or experimental investigations of problems of current interest.
- ME/NRE 8997 Teaching Assistantship: For graduate students holding a graduate teaching assistantship.
- ME/NRE 8998 Research Assistantship: For graduate students holding a graduate research assistantship.
- ME/NRE 9000 Doctoral Thesis Research
Finances
Tuition
Tuition rates at Georgia Tech are established by the Board of Regents once a year, usually in April. There are different tuition rates for Georgia residents and out-of-state students. Current tuition rates may be viewed at www.gradadmiss.gatech.edu/costs.php.
Financial Assistance
If you are seeking financial aid, submit an application by February 1st of the year in which you wish to enroll. Financial aid is generally awarded only to students entering the program in the fall term. At times, financial aid might be available for students starting in spring or summer semesters.
Georgia Tech and the Woodruff School offer numerous financial programs to help academically qualified students with the cost of their education. Approximately seventy-five percent of the on-campus graduate students in the Woodruff School receive some form of aid, with graduate assistantships providing support for the majority of these students. This aid is promised for a specific period of time, usually for the first academic year. Continuation of support is contingent upon satisfactory progress toward the degree, being in good academic standing, and the availability of funds.
Graduate Assistantships
The Woodruff School awards assistantships to capable students for one-third time employment on the basis of academic credentials. The amount of compensation is based on academic achievement and the ability to do effective teaching and research. Initial awards of graduate assistantships for fall 2005 are $18,500 for the calendar year. Some amounts might be higher, and depend on such things as qualifications, undergraduate grade point average, and experience.
International students might not receive school-sponsored assistantships for the master's degree program, however, those with very strong credentials for the Ph.D. are considered for assistantships. Other international students can be supported through graduate assistantships funded by external research contracts or grants, usually after establishing a good academic record at Georgia Tech.
Fellowships
Most fellowships are awarded on the basis of academic potential and performance, not on need. The Woodruff School assists qualified graduate students in applying for nationally competitive fellowships offered by industry and the federal government.
- President's Fellowships. The Institute awards these highly-competitive fellowships to outstanding students who are pursuing or intend to pursue a doctoral degree. Applicants are nominated by the Woodruff School, and selection is made by the Dean of Graduate Studies. This fellowship supplements the benefits provided by a graduate assistantship. The award includes the waiver of all fees and may be renewed for up to three additional years.
- Woodruff Fellowships. An endowment established by the late George W. Woodruff enables the School to select a limited number of exceptional students for these awards. The qualifications for receiving a Woodruff Fellowship and the benefits the award offers are identical to those of the President's Fellowship.
- Woodruff School Doctoral Teaching Intern Program. Doctoral candidates who are considering academic careers gain valuable classroom experience as Woodruff Teaching Interns. The program requires each student to spend at least twenty hours a week team-teaching a course under the close supervision of a senior faculty member.
- Sponsored Fellowships. Several companies, organizations, and alumni have established fellowships of varying amounts for graduate students in the Woodruff School. These awards are administered by the Woodruff School and are intended to supplement research assistantships for outstanding students.
Out-of State Tuition Waivers
The Dean of Graduate Studies, upon recommendation of the Woodruff School, grants a limited number of tuition waivers each semester to outstanding, nonresident doctoral students.
Other Financial Programs
Students with a demonstrated need for financial assistance may apply to the Financial Aid Office (404.894.4160) for employment under the work-study program or for student loans. Students who are not offered financial aid upon admission and who wish to be considered for aid may submit an application, however, only a fraction of these requests are granted due to limitations on resources. For more information, view www.grad.gatech.edu/financial_support.html.
Office of Student Financial Planning and Services
The Institute administers other aid programs such as state loans, the federal work-study program, the Veterans Administration Program, and Stafford loans. Applicants may request information from the Director of Student Financial Planning and Services, Georgia Tech, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0460, phone 404.894.4160, or see www.finaid.gatech.edu.
Housing
The Department of Housing (404.894.2470 or view www.housing.gatech.edu) coordinates housing arrangements for graduate students. On-campus, single graduate students may apply for a room in a residence hall or in the Graduate Student Living Center, which features apartment-style living. Unmarried students should be able to meet minimum necessary expenses, exclusive of tuition and fees, of $16,500 for the calendar year. Married students are eligible for apartments in several sizes, ranging from efficiency to three-bedroom units. Tenth and Home, a new family housing complex, will be ready for fall 2005 occupancy. The apartment complexes are located near the campus shuttle bus route, which provides convenient transportation for students and their families. Residence halls are within easy walking distance from campus.
The Department of Housing also maintains active contact with the Atlanta rental community. Rooms and apartments near campus in privately owned dwellings are available in several price categories. The proximity of the Institute to the city's major expressways and its rapid transit system, MARTA, provides convenient access to housing in Atlanta's suburban districts. The off-campus housing coordinator can provide computer listings of units available throughout the city.
Students should write to the Graduate and Family Housing Office at the Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30320-0475 for additional details and questions about housing.
Student Groups and Services
The Institute's enrollment in fall 2004 was 16,643, including more than 5,372 graduate students. Students come from every state and more than one hundred and twenty countries. Almost 25 percent of all graduate students at Tech are women. In fall 2004, the Woodruff School had 2,172 students: 687 were graduate students, of whom 299 were working at the doctoral level.
Services for students include the Student Athletic Complex (404.894.3910), Student Center (404.894.2788), Counseling Center (404.894.2575), Student Health Center (404.894.2584), Robert Ferst Center for the Arts (404.894.9600), Georgia Tech Bookstore (404.894.2515), and Career Services (404.894.2550).
In addition, the Mechanical Engineering Graduate Student Association (MEGA) provides Woodruff School students with activities of an academic and social nature. Several students serve as members of School or Institute advisory committees and as representatives to the Georgia Tech student government.
Student Outcomes
A graduate degree from Georgia Tech is a valuable investment in your career and your financial future. Our graduates are much sought after and our placement rate is exceptional. Approximately thirty percent of our graduating Ph.D.'s take positions in academia and the rest take jobs in industry and government.
Georgia Tech has one of the best career services programs in the country for engineering students. In addition, the Woodruff School has an in-house program, which includes placing rsums on a CD-ROM and a special web site, and presents numerous workshops. Through the Frank K. Webb Program in Professional Communication, we offer assistance in preparing rsums and fellowship applications, and teaching and research portfolios.
Recent graduates have been hired at universities such as Boston, Carnegie Mellon, Cornell, Drexel, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Penn State, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Virginia Tech, companies such as at General Electric, Intel, Lockheed-Martin, Milliken, Motorola, Raytheon, Schlumberger, and Siemens, and national laboratories such as Los Alamos, Oak Ridge, and Sandia.
Testimonials
An assortment of program testimonials from Ph.D. graduates of the Woodruff School can be found here. When deciding where to go to graduate school it is a good idea to speak with others who have attended the school. In place of that, we offer the written opinions of some of our Ph.D. alumni. They represent a cross section of our graduate students: they work in academia, industry, and national laboratories; most work in the United States, but some of our international students are featured as well. Everyone was asked the same open-ended questions about their experience at Georgia Tech.
To Write or Visit
We encourage you to visit the Woodruff School, Georgia Tech, and Atlanta. To learn more about graduate study in the Woodruff School, please contact the:
Office of Student Services
George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering
Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0405
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