Information About

Cate Brinson, Jerome B. Cohen Professor of Engineering, started her term as chair of the mechanical engineering department in early September. After a PhD from Caltech in theoretical mechanics and research on smart materials at the German Air and Space Agency, Brinson joined the faculty at Northwestern in 1992. She rapidly developed a group specializing in advanced materials, where projects range from microporous active materials for bone implants to nanoreinforced composites for aerospace applications. Her work reaches from theoretical material descriptions to synthesis and characterization. She has delivered many invited talks on her research, most recently in Beijing, China, as part of a U.S.-China Bio-Nano-Mechanics Workshop. Brinson also serves on the National Materials Advisory Board of the National Academies and has participated in the recent study on benchmarking U.S. competitiveness in mechanical engineering. This background provides an excellent platform for her term as chair of the ME department. “We have such a fabulous array of talent in the ME department here at NU at all levels. ME of the future is not just about big machines; it is about nanomaterials advanced sensing, adaptive and responsive systems, rapid prototyping, molecular rotors, and biomechanical interfaces. In short it is the design of systems that integrate traditional mechanical engineering knowledge with other disciplines to invent the engineering masterpieces of the 21st century. We are well-positioned with our current faculty and students to make stunning contributions and educate the next generation of mechanical engineering students.”

Jan Achenbach receives National Medal of Science

An arms race: Building better prosthetic limbs

Exploring the depths of space: Research helps solve key problems for missions to Saturn and beyond

Professor Chang Liu joins mechanical engineering department

ASME Applied Mechanics Division honors Ted Belytschko

New professor focuses on the convergence of mechanics, photonics, energy, and biology

Cate Brinson takes the helm!

Faculty honors and awards