Message from the Chair

Kimberly Turner

Welcome to the Mechanical Engineering Department at UCSB!  We are a diverse and vibrant group of faculty, staff and students carrying out top-level research and education.

 Our department is comprised of five main areas of excellence:  Dynamics and Control (DCR),  Thermal/Fluidic systems (TFS), Micro/Nanoscale Science (MEMS), Computational Science and Engineering (CSE) and Solids, Materials and Structures (SMS).   In addition, many of our research themes are synergistic, comprising multiple areas.  Our department has an extremely strong presence in Systems Biology, which we are currently expanding.  Faculty in Controls, Computation, Solids, and MEMS all are part of the ongoing efforts in systems biology.  Systems biology allows us to gain understanding about how biological processes function, and ultimately, can be controlled.  This understanding can revolutionize everything from how to perform better (understanding of the sleep/wake cycle) to disease prevention/treatment.  Additionally, our focus on energy efficiency also draws from Dynamics/Control, MEMS, Fluids, etc. in its quest to develop strategies for energy savings in buildings and energy harvesting stray sources. 

We have an award winning, diverse group of faculty.   We have National Academy of Engineering members, Guggenheim Fellows, Sloan Fellows, NSF CAREER awardees, Professional Society awardees and fellows on the faculty.    Nearly all of our undergraduate and graduate courses are taught by ladder faculty.  

Our Alumni are also a valued resource.  UCSB Mechanical Engineering alumni can be counted among the ranks of CEO’s, Company Founders, Professors, and successful employees at many major corporations.  They are entrepreneurs, engineers, inventors, designers, educators, etc.  We value our alumni and love to hear from them!  Please drop me a line at:  turner [at] engineering [dot] ucsb [dot] edu and let me know what you are up to! 

We currently have a faculty position opening in the area of Systems Biology.  If this is your specialty, I would point you to the announcement HERE.  Consider a career at UCSB!  You will not be disappointed.

Here’s to another great year at UCSB!

Go Gauchos!

Sincerely,

Kimberly L. Turner, Ph.D.

Professor & Chair