Driving Innovation
The Department of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics (MEAM) at Penn Engineering is where theory meets practice. At MEAM, we bring together a diverse community of students and faculty who thrive on curiosity, collaboration, and real-world problem solving. Our rigorous curriculum builds a rock-solid foundation in mechanics, materials, and systems design—and then takes you beyond the classroom through hands-on projects, cutting-edge research, and industry partnerships. Whether you’re launching your first engineering prototype or leading advanced studies in robotics, healthcare, or energy systems, MEAM at Penn Engineering empowers you to turn bold ideas into breakthrough technologies.
Dive into the latest stories, where our students, faculty, and alumni share breakthroughs, behind-the-scenes project highlights, and the real-world impact of mechanical engineering. From cutting-edge research spotlights to personal stories of innovation, our blog keeps you connected to the ideas and people shaping tomorrow.
How do forces, motion, and energy interact, and how can we control them? How do we design machines that convert energy into useful work with maximum efficiency? How do we prevent unwanted vibrations, heat loss, or material failure? Unlike electrical or chemical engineers, who focus on electrons, photons, or reactions, mechanical engineers focus on the movement of mass and energy. At MEAM, we address these core questions to build systems that move—or resist movement—and perform reliably under real-world conditions.
We create systems that turn wind and solar energy into dependable power, develop robotic platforms for automated assembly and precision surgery, and optimize manufacturing to cut waste and boost throughput. Our projects target critical goals: reducing carbon emissions through renewable integration, improving patient outcomes with advanced medical devices, and increasing factory efficiency through next-generation automation.
MEAM graduates and researchers are at the forefront of transformative breakthroughs—designing smarter, energy-efficient transportation, advancing autonomous systems, and fostering innovation that drives a more sustainable and interconnected future.
Our students thrive with access to advanced facilities, cross-disciplinary collaborations, and robust global networks. At Penn MEAM, bold ideas are not just welcomed—they’re realized, equipping you to make an impact across diverse and evolving fields.
ratio of undergraduate students to faculty
primary, tenure track faculty members engaged in teaching and research
centers and institutions are affiliated with the MEAM department
Our faculty members are dedicated to building up the next generation of engineers. In addition to being incredible mentors, they’re leading experts and researchers in their fields.
Area of Expertise: Understanding and designing materials that resist and adapt to fracture. Students Know Me For: Fostering creativity and emphasizing the power of data visualization in research. I want to make an impact in: Advancing materials that support tissue regeneration and manufacturing techniques that drive sustainability.
Area of expertise: Small-scale fluid mechanics and interfacial physics for water and sustainability.
Students know me for: My miniature bernedoodle dog, Bernoulli!
I want to make an impact in: Developing energy-efficient water and resource recovery systems.
Building upon the fundamentals of mechanical design taught in MEAM 1010, this hands-on, project-based course provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to design, analyze, manufacture. and test fully-functional mechanical systems. Topics covered include an introduction to machine elements, analysis of the mechanics of machining, manufacturing technology, precision fabrication (milling, turning, and computer-controlled machining), metrology, tolerances, cutting-tool fundamentals and engineering materials.
In many modern systems, mechanical elements are tightly coupled with electronic components and embedded computers. Mechatronics is the study of how these domains are interconnected, and this hands-on, project-based course provides an integrated introduction to the fundamental components within each of the three domains, including: mechanical elements (prototyping, materials, actuators and sensors, transmissions, and fundamental kinematics), electronics (basic circuits, filters, op amps, discrete logic, and interfacing with mechanical elements), and computing (interfacing with the analog world, microprocessor technology, basic control theory, and programming).
The selection of materials and manufacturing processes are critical in the design of mechanical systems. Material properties and manufacturing processes are often tightly linked, thus this course covers both topics in an integrated manner. The properties and manufacturing processes for a wide range of materials (i.e., metals, ceramics, polymers, composites ) are examined from both a fundamental and practical perspective. From a materials standpoint, the course focuses on mechanical properties, including modulus, strength, fracture, fatigue, wear, and creep. Established and emerging manufacturing processes will be discussed. Design-based case studies are used to illustrate the selection of materials and processes.
Senior Design is a two-semester “capstone” design project sequence required of all mechanical engineering students. During the fall semester, students form teams, choose a project and begin researching the topic. Typically, a prototype is created by the end of the semester. In the spring, teams iterate on their design and fabricate the final product, as well as produce a detailed, technical paper. In some cases, teams will pursue a research-oriented project that supplements the work of a Penn faculty member.
