An MMAE student controls a drone
Armour College of Engineering

Mechanical, Materials, and Aerospace Engineering

The Department of Mechanical, Materials, and Aerospace Engineering offers students the opportunity to explore the design and manufacture of machines, aircraft, vehicles beyond the earth's atmosphere, and the structure and properties of engineering materials. 

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About MMAE

Materials engineers are producing new and better materials that are revolutionizing the way we work and live. Whether developing energy materials for fuel cells or producing smart materials behind advanced sensors, our materials engineers are shaping innovations that are changing the world for the better.

The department's undergraduate degrees in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, and materials science and engineering are all accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org.

Our ABET-accredited programs will prepare you to excel in a wide range of industries that require optimization, processing, and selection.

Click below to view our annual ABET-accredited program data:

Fast Facts: Why MMAE?

Students work on an engine in the lab

Graduate Fellowships

We are accepting applications for full and partial graduate fellowships for the 2024–2025 academic year. We encourage students who have applied for a graduate degree program in the MMAE department to apply for these funding opportunities!

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David Williams

We're Hiring!

The MMAE department is conducting a faculty search for a tenure-track position in experimental aerodynamics. Consider being a part of our team at Chicago's only tech-focused university!

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Esma Karagoz and Nelson Rosa

Welcoming New Faculty

The MMAE department is excited to welcome two new faculty members. Adrian and Lorna Nemcek Junior Faculty Development Chair in Engineering Esma Karagoz is an expert in machine learning, system engineering, and design optimization, and Assistant Professor Nelson Rosa is an expert in mechatronics, software engineering, and dynamics.

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Photo of Professor Leon Shaw and student

Faculty Research

Our faculty research includes topics in emerging areas such as robotics, fluid dynamics, design, materials science, green energy, transportation, biomechanics, and space systems.

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Two students examine a gear in a materials lab

Student Research

Participate in breakthrough research with our mechanical, materials, and aerospace engineering faculty, applying real-world applications and working on projects that will address the biggest issues facing our local and global communities.

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A member of the motorsports club explains the mechanics of a car to another student

Student Organizations

Our students have the opportunity to gain real-world experience and develop professional skills through student-run organizations, department workshops, seminars, and networking events.

Get Started

"When I visited campus, I felt that I fit into the student population well. I enjoyed our nerdy conversations and jokes and felt at home immediately. I knew I would be getting a top-notch engineering education here where I could be research and internship focused. I found at other universities it was one or the other."

-Sydney Kaplan (ME, M.Eng. ME ’21)

Sydney Kaplan

"Illinois Tech is a good choice for anyone looking for a more personal education. Small class sizes allow professors to tailor lectures for the students present. Professors are very approachable and always have office hours, as do teaching assistants. There are many research opportunities on campus, plus faculty and student organizations are very willing to help in searching for internships."

-Rosemary Johnson (AE, M.Eng. MAE 5th Year)

Rosemary Johnson

“At Illinois Tech, I have had some of the best teachers of my entire academic career. I am always so impressed by the depth of knowledge of the faculty.”

-Joseph Borrelli (AE ’22, M.S. MAE 1st Year)

Joseph Borrelli

"My peers at Illinois Tech have been some of the greatest supporters and sources of information when pursuing opportunities. They have helped me reach my full potential, and I in turn have tried my best to do the same for them. It’s great to be at a school where you are surrounded by people who are all prioritizing and advocating for their education and career."

-Liz Karagiannes (AE, M.Eng. MAE 4th Year)

Liz Karagiannes

Faculty Research

Our extraordinary faculty members are dedicated to our students, passionate about world-class research, and make it possible for us to offer top-ranked programs.

Seebany Datta Barua
Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Leon Shaw
Rowe Family Chair Professor in Sustainable Energy Professor of Materials Science and Engineering Director of the Thermal Processing Technology Center
David Williams
Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Cassel-Kevin-320x355
Interim Dean, Armour College of Engineering Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Professor of Applied Mathematics
Ankit Srivastava
Associate Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Associate Chair of Graduate Affairs in the Department of Mechanical, Materials, and Aerospace Engineering
Carrie M. Hall
Associate Professor
Matthew Spenko
Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Co-Pi, CARNATIONS
Sumanta Acharya
Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Boris Pervan
Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Director, CARNATIONS
Louis Cattafesta III
John G. and Jane E. Olin Endowed Department Chair in Mechanical, Materials, and Aerospace Engineering
Amir Mostafaei
Assistant Professor
Scott T. M. Dawson
Assistant Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

MMAE in the Media

David Williams

Aerospace Testing International interviewed David Williams, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, to discuss his pioneering work using active flow control in an aircraft with no tail.

Contact Mechanical, Materials, and Aerospace Engineering

Phone

312.567.3175

Fax

312.567.7230

Email

mmae@iit.edu

Department Type

Academic

Office Location

Mechanical, Materials, and Aerospace Engineering
John T. Rettaliata Engineering Center
10 West 32nd Street, Room 243
Chicago, IL 60616