DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Sergey Nersesov, PhD, and Hashem Ashrafiuon, PhD, in the lab with autonomous vehicles.

The Department of Mechanical Engineering is a dynamic scholarly community of undergraduate and graduate students and faculty immersed in mechanics and materials, thermal fluid systems, and dynamics and controls.

Our highly-acclaimed professors excel in both the classroom and laboratory in specialties including biomechanics, mechatronics, nanomaterials, renewable energy and more.

At a Glance

23 Full-time faculty members
310 Undergraduates (32% female)
57 Master's students
53 PhD students

All students enjoy small class sizes, practical, hands-on experiences and the attention of professors who are fully committed to your success.

OUR RESEARCH

The Mechanical Engineering Department is associated with three of the College’s six research centers:

Center for Nonlinear Dynamics and Control (CENDAC)

CENDAC is distinguished by its strong interdisciplinary teams working on real-world applications—including security, mobility and healthcare—of nonlinear dynamic systems and control theory.

The Center for Energy-Smart Electronic Systems (ES2)

A National Science Foundation Industry/University Cooperative Research Center, ES2 develops methodologies, tools and systems to maximize energy efficiency for the operation of data centers.

Villanova Center for Analytics of Dynamic Systems (VCADS)

VCADS develops new tools and techniques for analytics of dynamic systems with applications in engineering, medicine and finance.

RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES

Students at all levels are encouraged to pursue research opportunities with Mechanical Engineering faculty in the areas of:

Novel nanomaterials
Data center efficiency
Dynamic control of unmanned vehicles
Swarm robotics
Advanced energy storage
Biomimetic materials

FEATURED FACULTY

Aaron Wemhoff, PhD

Associate Professor Aaron Wemhoff applies his considerable knowledge of thermodynamics, heat transfer and fluid mechanics to research related to energy efficiency. A faculty member in Villanova’s Center for Energy Smart Electronic Systems, he is currently investigating energy efficiency issues in cannabis grow facilities. He also received an EPA grant to partner with University Dining Services to implement carbon eco-labeling in Villanova’s dining halls. MORE...

Hashem Ashrafiuon, PhD

When learning about dynamic systems, there’s no one better to teach you than Professor Hashem Ashrafiuon. The director of the Unmanned Surface and Underwater Vehicles lab and the Heterogeneous Autonomous Vehicles Laboratory (HAVLab), Dr. Ashrafiuon is an expert in vibrations, system dynamics, robotics, and multibody and advanced dynamics. He often leads projects for the Office of Naval Research and other federal agencies. MORE...

Ani Ural, PhD

Professor Ani Ural is Director of the Computational Biomechanics and Solid Mechanics Laboratory where she conducts research on orthopaedic biomechanics, computational bone mechanics, and fracture mechanics. In 2020, she was awarded a three-year National Science Foundation collaborative research grant for “Uncovering the Multiscale Determinants of Atypical Femoral Fracture using MRI and CT-Based Modeling.” The goal is to uncover the factors that contribute to atypical femoral fracture, which is a rare side effect of long-term use of some drugs to treat osteoporosis. MORE...

C. Nataraj, PhD

The Moritz Endowed Professor of Engineered Systems and Director of the Villanova Center for Analytics of Dynamic Systems, Dr. C. Nataraj is one of the busiest faculty members on campus. In addition to leading VCADS and several grant-supported research projects, he most recently launched NovaMed, the Villanova Laboratory for Affordable Medical Technologies. The lab will build upon the work he and a team of Villanovans did on NovaVent, an affordable ventilator developed during the COVID-19 pandemic. MORE...

DEPARTMENT NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Villanova University’s Research on Nanomaterial Assembly Published in Nature Communications

The paper, “Universal salt-assisted assembly of MXene from suspension on polymer substrates,” opens the gate toward flexible thermal management platform under extreme environments.

Sridhar Santhanam, PhD, Named Vice Dean of College of Engineering

In this newly created role, Dr. Santhanam, a professor of Mechanical Engineering, will facilitate College operations and work closely with the leadership team of associate deans, external relations, and strategic initiatives, while helping to support College-level academic programs.

Villanova Engineering Professor Awarded Patent for Isothermal Compression System Design

Villanova University’s Sylvie Lorente, PhD, Associate Dean for Research and Innovation and the William M. Brown ’84, ’87 Endowed Chair in Mechanical Engineering in the College of Engineering, has been awarded a patent for the design of an isothermal compression system that compresses and expands air without significant temperature changes.