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DESIGNing PHYSICAL SOLUTIONS FOR A FAST-PACED WORLD.

Mechanical Engineering (ME)

me·chan·i·cal en·gi·neer·ing

The application of fundamental physical mechanics to build the technology of the future.

Also Known As: Design Engineer, Product Development Engineer, Automotive Engineer, Manufacturing Engineer, Energy Systems Engineer, Research Engineer, Roboticist, Control Systems Engineer, Quality Control Analyst, + many more

An individual with a prosthetic leg made at U of M walks on a track

WHY ME AT MICHIGAN?

  • No. 6

    US News and World Report

  • Top-notch

    faculty and facilities

  • 4 years

    of hands-on, team-based design courses

Collaborative Environment

Application, Research and Impact Across the Engineering Field

Rigorous Fundamentals

A professor shines a light on a large metal machine held by cables emitting a bright green light

What do Mechanical Engineers do?

We design and build the products that support our society. From prosthetics to cars to planes to robots- everything that you touch, we have worked on. We can work closely with machine parts, construct intricate micro- or nano-scale systems, or perfect a final product with testing and optimization techniques, all using our foundational knowledge of how mechanical systems work.

ACADEMIC AREAS

  • Energy

    Improve the way that energy is produced, converted, and used in our modern world while taking into account the global economics, geopolitics, and environmental factors.

    Optional, can be declared and indicated on your transcript.

    Courses: Advanced Energy Solutions, Engineering Science Courses, Natural Resource & Environmental Courses

  • Manufacturing

    Pursue a career in manufacturing with a concentration that equips you with the skills to understand how to make the most efficient system at the lowest costs and the highest benefits.

    Optional, can be declared indicated on your transcript.

    Courses: Process Course, Systems Course, Manufacturing Core Course

  • Dynamics, Systems, and Control

    Design and control a wide range of time-varying engineered and natural systems in fields such as transportation, bioengineering, computational sciences, electromechanics, and more.

    Courses: Dynamics & Vibrations, Feedback Control Systems, Vehicle Dynamics, Modeling Dynamic Systems

  • Materials and Solid Mechanics

    Study how materials deform under pressure- whether it be forces of stress or strain, temperature changes, or other phenomena. Create biocompatible dental prosthesis, build better airplane wings, or combine materials to make buildings stronger and more durable.

    Courses: Mechanical Behavior of Materials, Atomistic Computer Modeling of Materials, Contact Mechanics, Friction & Wear

  • Thermal and Fluid Sciences

    Follow fluid flow and heat transfer and apply mathematical methods and physics to better understand how energy is carried. Develop energy conversion systems, design biomedical devices to separate specific biological cells, and otherwise harness the power of heat and fluids.

    Courses: Fluid Mechanics, Heat Transfer, Combustion, Biofluid Mechanics, Computational Fluid Dynamics

  • Design

    Learn how to apply tools from inside and outside of engineering to ensure that products meet their users needs. Design medical devices for the developing world, environmentally-friendly manufacturing tools and processes, and consumer products that interact with the physical world.

    Courses: Design for Manufacturing, Front-End Design, Analytical Product Design, Sustainable Design & Manufacturing

  • Students will experience all of these academic areas through the required curriculum, and can utilize electives to focus on the areas found to be most interesting. The Energy and Manufacturing concentrations are optional and can be added to your transcript.

Students will experience all of these academic areas through the required curriculum, and can utilize electives to focus on the areas found to be most interesting. The Energy and Manufacturing concentrations are optional and can be added to your transcript.

Graduate receiving hood during ceremony

Sequential Undergraduate/Graduate Studies Program (SUGS)

Complete a bachelor’s and master’s degree in only five years with SUGS. Take graduate-level classes during your ME undergraduate program that can be used towards your graduate degree.

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Sample Course List

First-Year

First-Year

  • Fall Semester
    • CoE Core Calculus I (Math 115)
    • CoE Core Engineering 100
    • CoE Core Chemistry (125/126 and 130 or 210 and 211)
    • Elective Intellectual Breadth
  • Winter Semester
    • CoE Core Calculus II (Math 116)
    • CoE Core Engineering 101
    • CoE Core Physics (140 and 141)
    • Major Requirement Economics/ Finance

Sophomore Year

Sophomore Year

  • Fall Semester
    • CoE Core Calculus III (Math 215)
    • CoE Core Physics (240 and 241)
    • Major Requirement Solid Mechanics (ME 211)
    • Elective General Elective
  • Winter Semester
    • CoE Core Differential Equations (Math 216)
    • Major Requirement Thermodynamics I (ME 235)
    • Major Requirement Dynamics and Vibrations (ME 240)
    • Major Requirement Design & Manufacturing I (ME 250)

Junior Year

Junior Year

  • Fall Semester
    • Major Requirement Circuits (EECS 215/314)
    • Major Requirement Fluids I (ME 320)
    • Major Requirement Design & Manufacturing II (ME 350)
    • Major Requirement Engineering Materials (ME 382)
  • Winter Semester
    • Major Requirement Heat Transfer (ME 335)
    • Major Requirement Systems & Controls (ME 360)
    • Major Requirement Laboratory I (ME 395)
    • Major Requirement Advanced Mathematics Course
    • Elective Intellectual Breadth

Senior Year

Senior Year

  • Fall Semester
    • Major Requirement Laboratory II (ME 495)
    • Major Requirement Core Technical Elective
    • Major Requirement Core Technical Elective
    • Elective General Elective
    • Elective General Elective
  • Winter Semester
    • Major Requirement Design & Manufacturing III (ME 450)
    • Major Requirement Specialization Elective
    • Major Requirement 400-level Technical Elective
    • Elective Intellectual Breadth
    • Elective Intellectual Breadth

Individualized schedules will be made by students in consultation with an advisor who will tailor their classes to better fit the student's needs.

Practice Your Purpose

Apply the skills you are learning in class to the real world.

Student Design Teams

A female student with protective goggles sands a black machine part by hand
Wilson Center
A sleek black student-driven racecar with maize accents and a large number 9 turns around the track
MRacing Formula SAE
2 team members wipe the completed maize and blue solar car. The car has a sleek design and half covered in solar panels.
Solar Car Team
A student races an all-terrain baja car with enormous wheels on a dirt track with mountains in the background.
Michigan Baja Racing
A student adjusts wires on a platform covered with circuitboards and wires on the inside of the team’s high-efficiency car.
Supermileage Team
3 students in scuba gear float next to a submarine in the water while a man on a platform above them gives instructions
U-M Human Powered Submarine
A maize and blue model airplane with a large block M takes off from the runway
M-Fly
M-Heal members gather around the rock painted with the M-Heal emblem.
M-HEAL - Michigan Health Engineered for All Lives
4 students wearing MRover shirts smile while carrying the rover, a machine platform with 4 tires and a robotic arm.
MRover - Michigan Mars Rover
A student with a facial welding shield stands behind a metal sheet smiling and giving a thumbs up.
MPEDD - Michigan Process Equipment Design & Demonstration
A large group of members of “Society of Women Engineers” pose for a picture in front of a wall-sized map of Minneapolis.
Society of Women Engineers
A student in a full-face motorcycle helmet sits nearly horizontally as he rides the maize electric motorcycle named “Chronos”
SPARK - Electric Racing
A student wears a powered exoskeleton. It is worn like a backpack and has metal pieces that extend down to the feet.
STARX - Strength Augmenting Robotic eXoskeletons
the end-view of a simple rectangular steel bridge with a metal "University of Michigan" sign
Steel Bridge Team
A small vessel made up of two boxes sits in the NERS Fountain. The bottom box has a painted shark face
UM:: Autonomy - Autonomous Boat Team

Professional Development

A student with colorful hair discusses ASME with a student wearing a Michigan hat at Northfest
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
Team members stand and smile at the camera wearing professional suits
Pi Tau Sigma - Honors Society

Research

A researcher adjusts a glowing purple and green model of a plant
RISE: Research, Innovation, Service, and Entrepreneurship
READ MORE
SFL Logo
S3FL: Student Space Systems Fabrication Laboratory
READ MORE
A view through large circular cutouts from wood looking up at a student in a pink dust mask
NSF Engineering Research Center for Reconfigurable Manufacturing Systems
READ MORE
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GM/U-M Institute of Automotive Research and Education
READ MORE
Lift Logo
LIFT: Lightweight Innovations for Tomorrow
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Alumni Biographies

Each of these alumni are real people who were once in your shoes, deciding a major. Explore their path and how a Michigan education set their life in motion.

  • Roopa Shortt headshot
    • Roopa Shortt
    • Honeywell
  • Michael Ron headshot
    • Michael Ron
    • Nuvasive
  • Marc Zawislak headshot
    • Marc Zawislak
    • Boeing
  • Madeline Gilleran headshot
    • Madeline Gilleran
    • National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL)
  • Katie Bevier headshot
    • Katie Bevier
    • Home Chef
  • Jason Moscetti headshot
    • Jason Moscetti
    • BorgWarner Turbo Systems
  • Donald Williams headshot
    • Donald Williams
    • Grace International School
  • Donald William Lee headshot
    • Donald William Lee
    • Oak Ridge National Laboratory
  • Carrie Ketelhut headshot
    • Caroline (Carrie) Ketelhut
    • General Motors Design Center
  • Braden Baldwin headshot
    • Braden Baldwin
    • Boeing
Roopa Shortt headshot

    Roopa Shortt

    Honeywell

Michael Ron headshot

    Michael Ron

    Nuvasive

Marc Zawislak headshot

    Marc Zawislak

    Boeing

Madeline Gilleran headshot

    Madeline Gilleran

    National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL)

Katie Bevier headshot

    Katie Bevier

    Home Chef

Jason Moscetti headshot

    Jason Moscetti

    BorgWarner Turbo Systems

Donald Williams headshot

    Donald Williams

    Grace International School

Donald William Lee headshot

    Donald William Lee

    Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Carrie Ketelhut headshot

    Caroline (Carrie) Ketelhut

    General Motors Design Center

Braden Baldwin headshot

    Braden Baldwin

    Boeing

Not sure what major to choose?

Tap into our network of 85k+ engineering alumni. Do you have questions you’d like answered? Our alumni are always eager to talk about engineering.
(Current and admitted UM students only.)

Speak to an Alum
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Industries & Occupations

  • Aerospace Industry
  • Automobile Industry
  • Agricultural Industry
  • Mining Industry
  • Construction Industry
  • Business Management
  • Consulting
  • Energy Industry
  • Hydraulics
  • Machine Tools
  • Manufacturing
  • Medical/Biomechanics
  • Plant Management
  • Product Design & Management
  • Public Administration, Government, and Patent Law
  • Robotics
  • Scientific research
Two hands, one covered in Henna tattoos, hold together two metal beams

Companies

  • Department of Energy
  • Ford Motor Company
  • GE Aviation
  • Apple
  • Google
  • Lockheed Martin
  • NASA
  • Walt Disney
  • Illumina
  • Boston Scientific
  • John Deere

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Roopa Shortt headshot

Roopa Shortt

  • Honeywell
  • Strategy Director

University of Michigan, BSE Mechanical Engineering, 1994
University of Michigan, MBA Ross School of Business, 2001
Career Summary

I was hired out of undergrad into the Ford College Graduate Program. It was a great rotational program that allowed me to create my own assignments which included engineering and business roles. My first roles were design engineer roles, which I used to become a new product development expert. I worked on my MBA part-time and kept asking for assignments that blended engineering and business. When I completed my MBA, I transitioned to marketing and strategy full time. Using that skill set, I began to do Product Marketing at Honeywell, which became a launching pad to run businesses managing people and profit & loss. Today, I work in new innovation areas to stay ahead of the disruptive technologies and businesses all around us now.

Career Timeline
  • Ford Motor Company
  • Honeywell
Reflection on Time Spent at U-M

I was an active leader of the Society of Women Engineers.

I enjoyed doing diverse activities: intramural soccer, being in a film group, and meeting friends for life.

Advice to Students

Find leadership roles while you are at the University – anyone can be a member.

Have more fun and take some classes outside of the norm – I loved the Entrepreneurship and Creative Writing classes I took because they balanced the engineering curriculum.

Michael Ron headshot

Michael Ron

  • Nuvasive
  • Staff Quality Engineer

University of Michigan, BSE Mechanical Engineering, 2005
University of Michigan, MSE Biomedical Engineering, 2006
Career Summary

I started out as a project engineer in 2006 at Stryker Orthopedics in Mahwah, NJ, designing hip replacements for ~7 years. I then moved to San Diego and have been a Quality Engineer for ~6 years at Nuvasive (a spine fusion company).

Day to day, I work with Research & Development to mitigate risks in their designs by doing tolerance analyses, conduct physical implant testing using Instron/MTS machines, resolve non-conformances when manufacturers make products out-of-spec, and help mitigate risks in the entire workstream of production (barstock through machining to cleaning and packaging).

Career Timeline
  • Stryker Orthopedics | Mahwah, NJ
  • Nuvasive | San Diego, CA
Advice to Students
  • Learn about machining processes (milling, lathing, lasermarking, 3D metal printing, 3D plastic printing)
  • Learn how to technically communicate both in writing and speaking. I remember rolling my eyes at this in Eng101 in 2001, but it is very important.
  • Learn how to do tolerance analyses. All engineers at medical device companies need to do this A LOT to ensure that instruments will always work with implants.
  • Learn Solidworks or Creo well.
  • Learn FEA or at least the concepts behind why it is important.
Marc Zawislak headshot

Marc Zawislak

  • Boeing
  • Structural Engineering Manager

University of Michigan, BSE Mechanical Engineering, 2005
University of Michigan, MSE Mechanical Engineering, 2006
University of Pennsylvania, MBA Wharton School of Business, 2020
Career Summary

I interned at Caterpillar and Boeing while at the University of Michigan. After graduating, I started working full-time at Boeing and have been working there since! I have always worked in the same function (structural engineering) starting as an engineer then as a lead engineer which I was overseeing others’ technical work. I entered engineering management since I really liked working and leading people and looking at the larger picture. I have always worked on the commercial airplanes at Boeing with a majority of my time on new airplane development programs, but I have also had a chance to work with supporting airline customers.

Career Timeline
  • Boeing | Seattle, WA
  • Caterpillar Inc. | Deerfield, IL
Reflection on Time spent at U-M

The design projects at the University of Michigan really helped me apply what I learned in my classes and see what type of engineering that I was interested in.

Favorite Classes

Any class that had group work was really important to developing my people skills as employers look for in entry-level employees. The classes that allow you to improve your written or verbal communication classes are a great opportunity to improve that skill set.

Advice to Students

I would really take advantage of the organizations that the engineering college has to offer. You’re really lucky to be going to such a diverse engineering college. This will really help you develop your interests in engineering and show your passions to future employers.

Madeline Gilleran headshot

Madeline Gilleran

  • National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL)
  • Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Modeling & Data Researcher

University of Michigan, BSE Mechanical Engineering, 2017
University of Michigan, MSE Mechanical Engineering, 2019
Career Summary

I was involved in the Engineering Global Leadership Honors Program within the College of Engineering at the University of Michigan, and have co-oped (or worked during the school semesters) twice throughout my time at General Electric Appliances and Tesla Motors. I interned at Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), the utility in California, through my Tauber Institute capstone with two MBA students the summer of 2017 and ever since have been passionate about energy sustainability. I’ve since interned at Tesla and Black & Veatch in supply chain program management and management consulting roles, but wanted to do something more technical, so I ended up getting a masters in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan, focusing on environmental sustainability. I will have a data scientist role at NREL.

Career Timeline
  • General Electric Appliances | Louisville, KY
  • Tesla Motors | Palo Alto, CA
  • Pacific Gas & Electric | San Francisco, CA
  • Black & Veatch | New York City
  • National Renewable Energy Lab | Denver, CO
Reflection on Time spent at U-M

I didn’t think I’d like building things when I first started the engineering program at U of M, but over the years have gotten much more comfortable in the machine shop.

Favorite Classes: I really enjoyed the robotics classes I took as an undergraduate student where I got to design the device in a computer aided design software and build using the mill and lathe.

Favorite Student Orgs: Engineering Global Leadership (EGL) Honors Program, Society of Women Engineers, Michigan Cycling Club

Advice to Students
  • Try out whatever interests you
  • Meet and get to know as many people as you can to grow solid friendships during your time at U of M!
  • Be patient because it won’t happen all at once. Each year you’ll feel more and more at hoMe here 🙂
Katie Bevier headshot

Katie Bevier

  • Home Chef
  • Vice President of Tech Products

University of Michigan, BSE Mechanical Engineering, 2011
University of Michigan, MSE Industrial and Operations Engineering, 2012
Career Summary

While at UM, I studied ME and IOE. I went into consulting at Bain & Co after school because I wanted to get a breadth of experiences, try different things, and get exposure to a breadth of industries. While I learned a ton in consulting that I rely on now, I realized I missed the ability to make tangible change like I would in a more ops-focused role. I joined Home Chef as the Ops Excellence Director when the company was doing about 3K boxes per week (we’re now doing close to 120K). The ops excellence team (which was just me at the start!) focused KPIs and reporting, process improvement, and plant-floor tech. Working at a startup was an awesome opportunity to make an impact, and really affect the day-to-day success of a company. I learned a ton of real world experience and how to affect change. I’ve also been able to grow my career and leadership – I now lead a team of 10 product managers on our tech team.

Career Timeline
  • Bain & Co | Boston, MA
  • Home Chef | Chicago, IL
Reflection on Time spent at U-M

I was in Engineering Global Leadership (EGL) at UM (now a part of the honors college). I can’t recommend getting involved in student orgs enough – EGL and my network provided me with a ton of opportunities.

Jason Moscetti headshot

Jason Moscetti

  • BorgWarner Turbo Systems
  • Senior Development Engineer

University of Michigan, BSE Mechanical Engineering, 2007
University of Michigan, MSE Mechanical Engineering, 2012
Career Summary

I was a full time M-Racing team member as a student, which played a significant part in finding my first job as a design engineer for Penske Racing, where I worked in engine system design and integration and suspension systems. Since 2010 I have been a Development Engineer at BorgWarner Turbo Systems, where I have enjoyed the opportunity to work within many aspects turbocharger product development including design, simulation, validation testing, and manufacturing.

Career Timeline
  • Penske Racing | Mooresville, NC
  • BorgWarner Turbo Systems | Arden, NC
Favorite Classes

My favorite classes were a blend of numerical methods, theory, and applications. I learned best when I could immediately apply lessons from class.

Donald Williams headshot

Donald Williams

  • Grace International School
  • Head of Science Department

University of Michigan, BSE Mechanical Engineering, 1966
Stevens Institute of Technology, MS Physics, 1974
Career Summary

After college, I spent two years as a Peace-Corps-type volunteer teaching science in secondary school, then returned to the US, where I was a Quality Assurance/Testing Engineer for the Department of Defense before launching into a career in education. I taught secondary school science and became a Department Head for the school district, where I continued to push for further training for educators as a School Improvement Consultant and a Professional Development Trainer, and finally landed into my current role as the Head of the Science Department at the Grace International School in Thailand. These experiences provided opportunities to encourage and improve public knowledge (including that of students) of science and engineering. These experiences provided outlets for using my scientific and technical education to support the wise cultural applications of science and technology.

Career Timeline
  • U.S. Department of Defense
  • Education
  • Grace International School | Thailand
Reflection on Time spent at U-M

Likes: Student Engineering Organization Events (social and academic); Michigan athletic events; Free concerts – School of Music

Advice to Students

Take advantage of the cultural variety on campus and around Ann Arbor. Find, develop, and contribute to a social support group. My most important was a student religious organization.

Donald William Lee headshot

Donald William Lee

  • Oak Ridge National Laboratory
  • Former Senior Research Scientist

Clarkston College of Technology, BS Mechanical Engineering, 1969
Clarkston College of Technology, MS Engineering Science, 1973
University of Michigan, Ph.D. Applied Mechanics, 1977
Career Summary

In 1969, Donald began working as a Product Design Engineer at Ford Motor Company before continuing on to graduate school. Upon graduation, Donald worked for 31 years at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory performing research in water related environmental engineering, working on controversial energy projects with associated management responsibilities and program management leadership for Federal agencies. Donald is now retired and lives in Tennessee.

Career Timeline
  • Ford Motor Company | Detroit, MI
  • Oak Ridge National Laboratory | Oak Ridge, TN
Reflection on Time spent at U-M

My experiences at the U-M were exceptional. What I gained in my studies prepared me for my career and never left me unprepared, no matter what problems I was presented with.

Carrie Ketelhut headshot

Caroline (Carrie) Ketelhut

  • General Motors Design Center
  • Process Integration Engineer

University of Michigan, BSE Mechanical Engineering, 1983
Oakland University, MBA, 1989
Career Summary

I hired into GM as a Process Engineer in the Fabrication Shop at Design Center where we supported the Design Studios and built prototype models, show cars, seating bucks, and other design properties. After a few years on the job, I went back to school part time to get my MBA (which GM covered financially), then transitioned to the Business Manager of the Fabrication Shop and became more involved with the business aspect of the organization. After a while, and for a new experience, I moved to Pontiac Truck and Bus as Assistant Program Manager and then Business Manager for specific truck programs in which I learned about the execution and production of vehicle programs.

After a number of years, I returned to GM Design Center as an Assistant Studio Program Manager and then eventually became responsible for my own programs as Studio Program Manager for Midsize Trucks, Hummer, Specialty Vehicles and Crossovers. I then moved to the Global Vehicle Development Process Team, where I became involved in the vehicle development timing and processes specific to Styling. I am now the subject matter expert for Styling processes at GM Design Center and I provide guidance and train all levels of the organization in the areas of Creative Design, Sculpting, Studio Engineering and Studio Program Management.

Career Timeline
  • General Motors | Warren, MI
  • Pontiac Truck and Bus | Pontiac, MI
Advice to Students

There are many opportunities at GM for engineers that don’t want to work on the “technical” side of the business. An Engineering background is very valuable for non-engineering positions (Business Manager, Program Manager, Process Developer etc.) that work in the creative and technical environments.

Braden Baldwin headshot

Braden Baldwin

  • Boeing
  • Program Manager, Supply Chain

University of Michigan, BSE Mechanical Engineering, 2004
University of Wisconsin- Madison, MSE Engineering Management, 2015
Career Summary

I started my career in the auto industry, not far from Ann Arbor. I worked as a Field Quality Engineer for TRAM, Inc, a Japanese supplier supporting mainly Toyota. It was a great experience: I had the opportunity to be immersed in a new culture, learning quality tools and business management directly from a very experienced team of expats and locals. I progressed in this role, developing business processes and tools to help improve the company’s ability to process field returns from our customers, ID failure root cause, and drive engineering or manufacturing improvements. We realized significant improvements in the quantify of field failures and gained valuable insight into the environments in which North American consumers used our parts on the vehicle, as well as the vehicle system conditions that our parts experienced. I worked into a management position, eventually leading a team of Quality Engineers and an Internal Audit program manager.

After about a decade in the auto business, I jumped ship looking for new experiences and a new location. I hired into Boeing, in Everett, WA and worked as a Supplier Quality Engineer during the development of the 787-8 aircraft, then moved into larger scope airplane development and ultimately served as our Quality Leader on the Airplane Integration leadership team for the 787-9 and 787-10 development efforts. After the arrival of our first daughter, we relocated back to the great state of Michigan where I’m currently working in our Supply Chain team. I support supplier recovery efforts across Michigan and our Central Region to investigate manufacturing or supply chain issues and drive sustainable corrective actions.

Career Timeline
  • TRAM, Inc. | Plymouth, MI
  • Boeing | Grand Rapids, MI
Reflection on Time Spent at U-M

Every experience at the University of Michigan has contributed to my personal and professional development. From the people I’ve met who became professional contacts out in the “real world,” to my maturing ability to work with people to accomplish goals.

I still very much remember my experiences with my Junior and Senior level design classes. My fear entering Engin101- I had never programmed anything more than a Ti-89 calculator to plot a curve- I came out on top! I now fully appreciate the significance of communication and the role Engin100 strives to plays.

Favorite Classes: Statistics, Material Science

My first exposure to the scope of what UofM could offer was with UROP (Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program).

Advice to Students

Challenge yourself to be a leader in groups, projects, and assignments. Those skills can always use development and experience and failure are your best teacher.

Have fun!

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