Reimagining the Graduate MEMS Education
The Master’s Program in the MEMS Department continually re-evaluates its course offerings and classroom pedagogies in an effort to:
- enhance the student experience thereby prepare them to be positive contributors to society,
- provide continuous development of the faculty and staff through team-teaching and timely scholarly projects,
- lead innovation both in and out of the classroom that would benefit the rest of the world, and
- prepare an environment where students would, within one semester, be prepared to enter a laboratory to start their master’s-level work.
Four thematic clusters, or concentrations, were identified as MEMS strengths and represent the sub-disciplines for which the department has firmly illustrated expertise. These four concentrations are detailed below, but feel free to learn about our Master of Science and Master of Engineering programs at this website.
Automated, Intelligent Machines and Systems
- Robotic mechanisms, structures, and actuators
- Artificial intelligence, machine learning applications
- Control algorithms and operating systems
- Motion capture and planning
Energy, Propulsion, and Structures for Earth and Space
- Thermal-fluid systems design, machinery
- Heat transfer, psychrometrics, and compressible flow
- Vibrations and acoustics of structures
- Environmental implications
Multi-scale, Advanced, and Bio-Inspired Materials
- Soft and bio-inspired materials research
- Nanoscale experimentation
- Machine learning for material discovery
Optimal Design of Physical and Virtual Systems
- Simulation-based design synthesis and analysis
- Numerical design optimization
- Manufacturing tools and techniques
- 3D printing; microcontrollers; electronics; programming
Skills Development
Note that in each of these concentrations, experiment design and research methods are needed for effective contribution to their field. Students are also engaged in the following practices throughout their careers in Duke MEMS.
- Research Skills Video Lectures
- Measurement chain, instruments, data acquisition, and processing
- Statistical analysis and numerical methods
- Technical communication (written and oral)
- Design thinking applied to problem identification and formulation
- Project planning and management
- Hands-on-at-Home
- Learn the basics of electronics, 3D printing, and coding microcontrollers
- Purchase accessible kits and part to perform these modules at home
