Employment Opportunities
The Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering offers top-ranked degree programs in engineering mechanics, mechanical engineering, and theoretical and applied mechanics. Our curricula offer students unparalleled strengths in key fundamental areas, such as fluid and solid mechanics, thermodynamics and heat transfer, dynamics and controls, biomechanical sciences, computational science, applied math, applied physics, and chemistry.
Engineering is evolving from an empirical discipline to one that uses first principles to understand physical phenomena spanning multiple length and time scales. MechSE integrates basic sciences and engineering to address the critical societal needs of today and to identify and respond to emerging needs and issues. Our faculty's research is impacting energy, the environment, health, manufacturing, security and defense, and transportation.
Other Positions
Post-Graduate positions:
Undergraduate Research Positions
Working with a professor or graduate student as an undergraduate research assistant can be a very rewarding educational experience. It allows students to explore topics in which they are interested to greater depth than is possible in a classroom setting, and can lead to an interest in graduate school. Undergrad Research Assistants typically work 5-10 hours per week, and are either paid an hourly rate or earn technical elective credit.
Students are encouraged to contact professors directly to inquire if they have any undergraduate research positions available. Often faculty will hire a student who shows initiative and interest in their research. Please feel free to use the MechSE faculty directory to contact professors. It is best to make an appointment with them to discuss their work and to see if they have any openings.
Internships and Co-ops:
Please see the Grainger Academic Advising Office.
Other Resources
- Virtual Job Board (Office of Student Financial Aid)
- Hire Illini
- Engineering Career Services
- University of Illinois Career Services