Students pursuing the Doctor of Philosophy degree in mechanical engineering will undertake advanced research under the mentorship of a faculty advisor (P.I.), most often on a government or industry funded project as a paid research assistant.The degree plan will involve consideration of a challenging problem utilizing analytical, experimental, andor design techniques. The objective may be 1) to determine and explain the behavior of a simple system or 2) to bring into logical order the techniques of a field which has experienced random growth. This research – in addition to coursework, exams, journal articles, and dissertation credits – will culminate in a final dissertation.The dissertation will contain new analytical knowledge, experimental knowledge, design knowledge, or a combination thereof. Whatever its nature, the dissertation must make an original contribution to the field.