Career Focus

Companies: Cargill, John Deere, Vermeer
Relevant Courses: ME 413, ME 414; EM 425, EM 544; TSM 335; AE 342; Other relevant courses can be found at the Tech Elective lists under "Agricultural Engineering"

Finite Element Analysis is widely used in industry. To learn more about FEA follow these links and take EM 425 in the Spring term.

Algor, ANSYS, CosmosWorks, IDEAS, Nastran

Biomedical

Companies: Boston Scientific, CIMA Labs, Guidant, Stryker
Relevant Courses: Chem 331, Chem 331L, Chem 332, Chem 332L; Other relevant courses can be found under courses for a minor in Non-Destructive Evaluation

"How Artificial Hearts Work"

Computer-Aided Design

Companies: Algor, Parametric Technology, Solid Edge, Solidworks
Relevant Courses: ME 415, ME 417, ME 517, ME 625

What is virtual reality?

Relevant Topics to Computer Aided Design:

Rapid Prototyping

The skill of solid modeling is required in rapid prototyping. Do you know who on the ME faculty is an expert in solid modeling and various applications of solid modeling?

Construction/Heavy Equipment

Companies: Altec, Bobcat, Caterpillar, EFCO Corp, Kiewit
Relevant Courses: ME 414, ME 445, ME 449, ME 549; EM 425, EM 544; TSM 335; AE 342

"How Hydraulic Machines Work"

"How Caterpillar Skid Steer Loaders Work"

Consulting

Companies: Accenture, Bibb and Associates, Inc., Burns & McDonnell, KJWW, Stanley Consultants, Trinity Consultants
Relevant Courses: Con E 380; ME 412; ME 441; ME 442

If you would like open your own consulting firm, you will first need to acquire a P.E. license. The very first step in getting a P.E. license is passing the Fundamentals of Engineering exam.

Controls

Companies: Emerson Process Management-Fisher Controls International LLC, GARMIN International, Inc., Rockwell Collins, Sauer-Danfoss
Relevant Courses: ME 411, ME 413, ME 414, ME 511, ME 574, ME 575; EE 475; Cpr E 308

What is control theory?

People interested in dynamic stability, robotics, avionics, or correcting mechanical error should consider courses involving control theory.

Professors Kelkar, Luecke, and Zou are experts in the area of control theory.

Professor Bernard is an expert in dynamic stability and teaches ME 549.

What is a dynamical system?

Dr. Bernard discusses this dynamical system in ME 549.

Energy

Companies: Alliant Energy, Black & Veatch, Burns & McDonnell, Halliburton, MidAmerican Energy, Omaha Public Power District, Schlumberger Technology Corporation
Relevant Courses: ME 433, ME 443, ME 444, ME 446, ME 451, ME 475, ME 484X, ME 530, ME 540; Any Biorenewable Resources Technology (BRT) courses
Solar Car

"How Hydropower Plants Work"

"How Solar Cells Work"

What is Biomass?

Who on the ME faculty is an expert in biomass research?

Professor Ron Nelson is the faculty advisor for PrISUm.

What Professor on the ME faculty is an expert at modeling thermal phenomena using Virtual Reality?

Professor Mike Pate will teach you about alternative fuels in ME 433 (fuel cells, geothermal resources, wind energy, and other alternative energies)

Professor Ted Heindel is an expert in the area of multiphase flow.

Environmental

Companies: Black & Veatch, BP, Exxon, Shell

Relevant Courses: ME 388X, ME 433, ME 484X; Con E 380; Any Biorenewable Resources Technology (BRT) courses; Any 300-400 level Environmental Science (EnSci) courses

"How Oil Refining Works"

Who is the Director of the Center for Sustainable Environmental Technologies at ISU?

Government

Military/Defense
- Companies: ATK Thiolok, CIA, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard
Public Policy
- Companies Dept. of Energy, Nuclear Regulatory Agency, U.S. Dept. of Transportation
- Relevant Courses: ME 388X, ME 484X; Con E 380
Space
- Companies: NASA
- Relevant courses can be found at the Tech Elective lists

Federal Initiatives in Engineering

Interested in Public Policy?

"How Submarines Work"

"How Rocket Engines Work"

"How a U.S. Spy-plane Works"

Graduate Schools in Mechanical Engineering

Do you know who the Director of Graduate Education is for the Mechanical Engineering Dept?

What is the GRE?

Are you considering a career as an engineering professor?

Heating/Cooling/Refrigeration

Companies: Amana, Carrier, Lennox, Maytag, Trane
Relevant Courses: ME 441, ME 442
American Society of Heating Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)

What is the name of the ME faculty member that teaches both HVAC elective courses?

"How Air-Conditioners Work"

Law Schools

Patent Law

Manufacturing

Companies: 3M, Alcoa, Andersen Corporation, Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc., General Mills, Novellus Corporation, Pella Corporation, Rhodia, Inc.
Relevant Courses: ME 418, ME 466, ME 520, ME 521, ME 522, ME 528; EM 362, EM 362L; IE 348, IE 361, IE 419, IE 439, IE 448, IE 545X

Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME)

Who is the ME faculty member with an expertise in tribology?

Laser processing and nano-fabrication are areas of expertise for Professor Molian.

Professor Chandra is interested in nano-scale fabrication.

Mechatronics/Robotics

Companies: Electrolux, Goodrich Corp, Micron Technology, Genesis Systems Group
Relevant Courses: ME 410, ME 411, ME 418, ME 428X, ME 511; TSM 465

"How Robots Work"

"How FIRST Works"

Do you know what a nerual net is?

What is mechatronics?

Professor Luecke teaches ME 410

Medical Schools

Do you see applications of mechanical engineering at this web site?

MEMs/Nanotechnology

Companies: BinOptics, Bioscale, Capella Photonics, Guidant, SRI International, Zyvex Corporation
Relevant Courses: ME 528, ME 560X, ME 561X

What are MEMs?

Want to see some MEMs in action?

Professors Olsen, Shrotriya, and Sundararajan are experts in MEMs and nanotechnology.

Nano Science and Technology Institute

"How Nanotechnology Will Work"

Sales

Companies: Caterpillar, Timken, Trane
Relevant Courses: IE 305; MIS 330; OSCM 320

What do you need to know to be a sales engineer?

"Successful candidates will possess a bachelor's degree in mechanical or industrial engineering or technical degree and two years of engineering experience. Sales and/or Marketing experience preferred. An expert in market knowledge and competitors is desirable. Must be computer literate. Excellent interpersonal communication and presentation skills required."

Transportation

Aircraft
- Companies: Boeing, General Electric, Lockheed Martin, Rolls-Royce, Woodward
Automotive
- Companies: General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, Dodge, Toyota, Honda
Motorcycles/Recreation Vehicles
- Companies: Harley-Davidson, Mercury Marine, Polaris
Railroads
- Companies: Burlington Northern, Union Pacific
Relevant Courses for the above Transportation areas:
- ME 417, ME 445, ME 449, ME 549; EM 425, EM 544; TSM 335; A E 342
- Any courses for a minor in Non-Destructive Evaluation;
- Other relevant courses for Aircraft can be found at the Tech Elective lists
Solar Car Organization
Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)

What is Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)?

NASA needs experts that understand CFD.

Professors Battaglia, Pletcher, and Subranamian have expertise in the area of CFD.

Take a look at these CFD simulations.

"How Airplanes Work"

"How Diesel Locomotives Work"

"How Car Engines Work"

"How Auto Stuff Works"

Relevant courses for any engineering area:

ME 388X, ME 425, ME 443, ME 466, ME 484; EM 425; IE 305; any courses for a minor in Non-Destructive Evaluation

Professor Elliot Winer is an expert in the area of optimization; he teaches ME 425.

"How Engineering Stuff Works"

Discovering Mechanical Engineering