CoE Research Today
Whereas research might originate in one area, the work frequently is so highly complex that it's necessary for a number of areas to work collaboratively. The College conducts much of this interdisciplinary work in research centers and labs where investigators from various areas can come tog ether to share resources. Here's a sampling of today's CoE research.
Aerospace Engineering
Electric and scramjet propulsion 
Micro-engines
High temperature structures of re-entry vehicles
Space Shuttle microgravity experiments
Spacecraft rendezvous with a comet
The active control of helicopter blades to reduce noise
The use of high-speed computers and sophisticated programs to simulate aircraft motion
Atmospheric, Oceanic and Space Sciences 
Modeling climates to explain how humans affect global weather
Building space instruments to study the Earth, planets and solar system
Collecting and analyzing information from an AOSS instrument headed for Saturn
Exploring and studying extraterrestrial weather and climate
Biomedical Engineering
Synthetic scaffolds on which new bone and flesh can grow to replace otherwise irreparable tissue
A Total Artificial Lung that uses the action of the heart and synthetic fibers to oxygenate the blood of patients waiting for lung transplants
Implanted micro-machines that manage neural malfunctions at the cellular level
Chemical Engineering
The "lab on a chip"
Fuel cells for transportation
Methods for unclogging oil pipelines
Synthesizing nanoparticles that attack cancer
Predicting the self-assembly of nanoparticles into novel materials
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Design of sustainable infrastructure systems that use green technologies to minimize the impact of human activity on the environment
Fibers and polymers that combine with cement to produce "intelligent composites"
Wireless sensors and systems that monitor themselves and identify and control structural and environmental risks when loads change
Magnetorheological fluids that alter soil behavior
Microfluidics sensors and nano-particlebiocides that treat hazardous waste sites
Earthquake engineering
Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Advanced architecture for low-energy/high-performance computing, verification of complex systems, and fault tolerance
Machine learning
Autonomous robotic systems that emulate human learning, language and movement
Natural language processing
Sensor networks, coverage and connectivity
High-powered lasers for surgery, ultrafast ablation and thin-film deposition
Remote sensing
Wireless communications
Network security
Microfabrication technologies
Industrial and Operations Engineering
Operations, tools and techniques for the modeling, management and improvement of manufacturing processes
Computerized simulation of human movement to improve ergonomic designs, prevent injuries and improve human-machine systems
Improved healthcare delivery systems and optimized radiation therapy for cancer
Systems for efficient, on-time package delivery
Materials Science and Engineering
Computational methods to study novel materials -- without conducting physical experiments
Very high-temperature alloys for the power and propulsion industries
Materials that permit electrical contacts between neurons in the body and electronic circuits
Novel materials that promote the healing of tissues ranging from bones to nerves
Mechanical Engineering
Reconfigurable manufacturing systems 
Real-time, three-dimensional observation of chemical activity inside living cells
Muscle actuators to help injured, disabled and aging people
Fuel cells
Hybrid power
Automotive engine research
Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering 
Polymers and air injection to reduce drag on a ship's hull
Ballast water exchange to prevent the spread of non-indigenous species (e.g., zebra mussels)
Nonlinear ship motions to study the effects of violent motion and impact on ship bottoms and bows
Ship structural-response (fracture and damage mechanics, nonlinear dynamics simulation, finite element codes, and vessel re-design)
Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences
Laser-driven production of protons for cancer therapy
Miniaturized room-temperature radiation detectors for medical imaging and homeland security
Nuclear-fission reactor technology
Materials for next-generation nuclear power plants
Handling and storing radioactive waste
Nuclear space propulsion
Use of magnets in microwave ovens to eliminate "noise that can interfere with cordless phones and computer communications
