Research

College of Engineering Research Focus Areas

Advanced Manufacturing

Advance mobility, empower space travel, efficiently heat and cool, monitor and optimize processes, and more—through research in materials and manufacturing processes.

Aerospace and Space

We focus on designing ion space propulsion and developing planetary surface technologies and ultra-strong composite materials needed for deep space exploration.

Energy and Sustainability

The sustainable, clean, and energy-efficient solutions we all need rest on the education of our engineers.

Engineering and Infrastructure

Continuous collaboration allows us to push the envelope on powering safe and secure autonomous systems, buildings, and infrastructure.

Engineering for Health

We collaborate continuously to advance what is possible in healthcare, to help medical professionals save lives.

Environmental Response

We collaborate across campus to advance the possibilities for clean and sustainable solutions to navigate the environment—roads, bridges, and buildings, as well as the models that prepare us for disasters.

Mobility

We reshape the future of mobility by introducing autonomous systems, sensor data, controls, processors, and advanced power systems.

Engineering Research Seminars

Sponsored Programs in the College of Engineering

  • 9
    engineering departments engaged in research
  • 309
    awards in 2022–23
  • $34.3M
    awarded in 2022–23
  • 42%
    increase over two years
Ana Dyreson seated by solar panels.

Solar Energy in Cold Climates: Ana Dyreson

Ana Dyreson is an assistant professor of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics at Michigan Tech. Her work centers on solar and alternative energy—and the impacts of climate change on those systems in the U.S. Great Lakes region through her Great Lakes Energy Group.

“In the last few decades, solar photovoltaics (PV) have become extremely cost-competitive,” she says. “This economic reality, combined with a push for decarbonization of the electric power sector in general, means that large-scale solar PV is growing—not only in traditional southern climates but also in the north where significant snow can reduce power output.”

Innovation and partnership showing 3D metal printing.

Partnerships and Innovation

Just and Sustainable

Remove barriers towards education and research. Foster robust life-cycles in manufacturing and industry.

Prosperous and World-class

Design next-generation medicine, mobility, energy, and materials. Adopt scales that reduce costs.

Engineering Research News