A Message from Professor Saif

Taher Saif, Associate Head for Graduate Programs

The Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering at Illinois offers world-class graduate-level engineering education and research opportunities in both Mechanical Engineering and Theoretical and Applied Mechanics. As part of the Grainger College of Engineering at Illinois— consistently ranked among the top ten in the world—the department has earned a reputation as one of the best programs in the United States. MechSE graduate students are outstanding scholars and researchers from all over the world; they are future leaders and innovators and go on to become leaders in academia, industry, and government labs.

Research opportunities in MechSE are unparalleled. Our faculty and students are engaged in multidisciplinary research in five primary areas: Biomechanics, Controls and Dynamics, Fluid Mechanics and Thermal Sciences, Nanomechanics and Nanomanufacturing, and Solid Mechanics and Materials.

Student engagement is another hallmark of the MechSE department, where we foster a culture that is highly supportive and collegial while offering all the benefits of a large department within a world-renowned institution. Many of our students actively participate in student and professional organizations, including Graduate MechSE Students (GraMS), Women in MechSE (WiM), Engineers Volunteering in Stem Education (ENVISION), the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE).

At MechSE, our teaching, research, and the personalized nature of our graduate programs offer a world-class and nurturing intellectual climate for your advanced study. If you are a prospective MechSE graduate student, we are excited that you might join us at Illinois.

Sincerely,

Professor Taher Saif
Associate Head for Graduate Programs and Research
Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering