Today, Purdue Engineering students have numerous opportunities to gain industry experience, such as the Undergraduate Co-op Program that enables them to alternate semesters between school and work. But this wasn’t always the case. Someone had to be the first Purdue student to ever take on a co-op. That someone is Thomas Clement.

Lowering the barrier to adoption of heat pumps and electrification

Electrifying homes is one of the best steps we can take to battle climate change. But there’s a hidden cost to today’s electric heat pumps, water heaters, and cooktops: most older homes will trip their breakers with the new leap in peak usage. Purdue University researchers have demonstrated a simple control technique that can integrate new electric appliances into old homes, without requiring expensive upgrades to their breaker panel.

The 3rd annual Women in ME Symposium will take place on Monday, October 28. Women of Purdue Mechanical Engineering will have a unique opportunity to meet other women students and faculty, attend seminars and chats, and network with successful alumnae. All are welcome to attend!

Every year, the School of Mechanical Engineering at Purdue University recognizes alumni who have demonstrated excellence in industry, academia, governmental service, or other endeavors related to mechanical engineering. Honorees have shown outstanding character and leadership and have accomplished great things. Since 1991, 327 of our alumni have been honored with the prestigious Outstanding Mechanical Engineer Award.

Terrence Meyer and Steve Son are collaborating with the Air Force Research Laboratory to investigate using solid propellants in rotating detonation engines.

Imagine you’re a farmer who has to monitor miles of corn rows. Not only is it repetitive and time-intensive, but the rows are too narrow to walk in. Perfect job for an autonomous robot! Purdue University researchers have created a small autonomous robot to help farmers monitor crops and regularly collect physical samples, saving them time and effort.

Liang Pan leads a team of Purdue University researchers whose 3D printing innovation produces a higher throughput of high-resolution 3D nanostructures faster and less expensively than traditional laser-based printing technologies.

3D printing has revolutionized manufacturing, but it still has some built-in heartache — if your print runs out of filament in the middle of the night, hours of work are ruined. Now, Purdue University alumni have created a solution: Infinity Flow, a new device that automatically loads and feeds multiple rolls of filament into any 3D printer, making the process faster, easier, and totally seamless.

Sometimes bigger is better! Purdue University has passed Georgia Tech to become the largest mechanical engineering school in the nation, demonstrating the Pinnacle of Excellence at Scale.

One of the largest, most complex microgravity test facilities on the International Space Station, designed by mechanical engineering professor Issam Mudawar, has provided vital data for long-duration space travel and habitats.