ME-PHD - Mechanical Engineering (PhD)

The programs in the Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME) emphasize a mix of applied mechanics, biomechanical engineering, computer simulations, design, and energy science and technology. Since mechanical engineering is a broad discipline, the undergraduate program can be a springboard for graduate study in business, law, medicine, political science, and other professions where understanding technology is important. Both undergraduate and graduate programs provide technical background for work in biomechanical engineering, environmental pollution control, ocean engineering, transportation, and other multidisciplinary problems that concern society. In all programs, emphasis is placed on developing systematic procedures for analysis, creating innovative solutions to complex problems, communication of work and ideas, practical and human-centered and aesthetic aspects in design, and responsible use of technology.

The Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME) is committed to providing academic advising in support of graduate student scholarly and professional development. This advising relationship is most effective when it entails collaborative and sustained engagement between the advisor and the advisee. As a best practice, the advisor/advisee relationship and expectations of both sides should be periodically discussed and reviewed to ensure mutual understanding. All advisors and the advisee are expected to maintain professionalism and integrity.

Faculty advisors guide graduate students in key areas of their academic career. An academic advisor helps guide student selection of courses and provides help in navigating polices and degree requirements. In the case of faculty advising teaching assistants, the relationship should include help with development of teaching pedagogy and practice. If the advisor also serves as the primary research advisor, then the advising is much more extensive and also includes research training, design, execution, and career planning (see also Ph.D. section below).

In all cases, graduate students should be active contributors to the advising relationship, proactively seeking academic and professional guidance and taking responsibility for informing themselves of policies and degree requirements for their graduate program (including reading the ME Department’s Graduate Student Handbook). Graduate students conducting research should also strive to understand the method and goals of the research and the project’s contribution to the pertinent field.

The faculty Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) meets with all master’s and doctoral students at the start of their first year, and is available year-round via email and by appointment. The department’s Student Services Office is also an important part of the advising team; they inform students and advisors about university and department requirements, procedures, and opportunities, and maintain the official records of advising assignments. Students are encouraged to talk with staff of the Student Services Office, including the DGS, as they consider advisor selection, or for advice in working with their advisor(s). Another excellent resource for students is the ME Graduate Student Committee, a student-run group which organizes social, academic, and community events for the graduate student population in the ME Department.

Ph.D. and Engineer Degrees 

The ME Department provides academic advising in support of doctoral student scholarly and professional development. A successful advisor/advisee relationship is particularly important for students seeking a Ph.D. in the department. The material in this section is also applicable to students seeking the Degree of Engineer.

In addition to the goals listed above for all advisor/advisee relationships, the Ph.D. advisor provides advice and guidance on developing research skills, choosing classes that helps with the student’s research, identifying and planning research projects, dissemination/publishing of the research, and exploring academic opportunities and professional pathways. The Ph.D. advisor serves as an intellectual and professional mentor to the Ph.D. student. In some cases, a Ph.D. student may be advised by two or more advisors. In these cases, the various roles and goals of each of these individuals should be made very clear to all involved. For example, the co-advisors in such arrangements should strive to coordinate and provide non-conflicting advice to the student and the advisee should work to improve and facilitate communication with the two advisors and provide feedback to and from their advisors.

In the ME department, Ph.D. students can be admitted to be advised by a specified faculty member, or admitted with a fellowship associated with the research rotation program. For the latter, the student is initially assigned a program advisor by the department. This faculty member provides initial guidance in course selection, in exploring academic opportunities and professional pathways, and in identifying doctoral research opportunities. Students are required to perform rotations until a Ph.D. research advisor is identified, and they are strongly encouraged to explore research activities with two or three different faculty members during their first academic year. All Ph.D. students seeking a Ph.D. research advisor are encouraged to very proactively seek out, meet with, and discuss possibilities for Ph.D. advisors. Ideally, these discussions should include possible research projects and the possibility for and sources of sustained research funding.

Ph.D. students must identify their doctoral research/thesis advisor (and vice versa) prior to the end of the first year of study. Ideally, this should happen with the first 9 to 10 months. The research supervisor assumes primary responsibility for the future direction of the student, taking on the roles previously filled by the program advisor as well as the aforementioned research-related advice, and ultimately directing the student’s dissertation. Most ME Ph.D. students find an advisor from among the primary faculty members of the department. However, the research advisor may be a qualified faculty member from another Stanford department who is able to provide both advising and funding for the duration of the doctoral program. When the research advisor is from outside the department, the student must also identify a program advisor, called a co-advisor, from the primary ME faculty, to provide guidance on departmental requirements and opportunities. The co-advisor is also a member of the student’s dissertation reading committee.

For a statement of University policy on graduate advising, see the "Graduate Advising" section of this bulletin.

The Ph.D. is conferred upon candidates who have demonstrated substantial scholarship and the ability to conduct independent research. Through course work and guided research, the program prepares students to make original contributions in Mechanical Engineering and related fields.