Interdisciplinary at its core, the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at Northeastern focuses on optimizing and solving real world global challenges such as healthcare systems, energy systems, and resilience systems. Through a holistic thinking approach and partnerships with industry, our faculty and students are creating solutions to an ever changing world.
Education and Research Excellence
Experiential learning is the heart of a Northeastern education and encompasses our co-op program as well as project-based learning, research, global experiences, service learning, and student organizations.
BS, MS, and PhD Degrees
A vibrant research enterprise spans 12 disciplinary, interdisciplinary, and transdisciplinary research themes addressing global challenges and includes partnerships, collaborations, and funding with industry, academia, and government agencies.
Addressing Global Challenges
Join our welcoming, inclusive, and exciting community! With programs across the Global University System, our department provides access to global experiential opportunities, regional hubs for high- and bio-tech interactions, top hospitals in the world, strong interconnected and intercultural communities for student organizations to engage with peers, and a network of faculty, alumni, and industry professionals.
Award-Winning, Active Student ClubsSpotlight Stories
ASME Fellow
MIE Associate Professor Yi Zheng was selected as a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) for his exceptional engineering achievements and contributions to the engineering profession, particularly in the research field of micro/nanoscale heat transfer for sustainable energy harvesting, conversion, and storage.
INFORMS Fellow
Ozlem Ergun, COE distinguished professor, MIE, was elected a Fellow of the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS) for her applications of O.R. methods to humanitarian and health systems, emergency response, and transportation and logistics problems; and establishing a community of O.R. professionals with interest in public programs.
Engineering in Action
Out of This World Experiences
Mechanical Engineering student Paige Butler shares how her involvement in the student group Students for the Exploration and Development of Space landed her two co-ops at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and subsequently, a full-time position following graduation. Learn how Northeastern University’s cooperative education program helps undergraduate students explore their passions while providing unparalleled opportunities for career advancement.
PhD Research for Impact
Conor Doyle (PhD in Mechanical Engineering) found a can-do culture and spirit of discovery in his program at Northeastern University. Testing and evaluating materials in Northeastern’s advanced lab facilities, he’s gained a hands-on skillset with applications for both research and industry.
Co-op Leads to Career Position at SpaceX
Ethan Flynn, BS, mechanical engineering, says co-op sets you up for the future. He completed three co-ops in his 4.5 years at Northeastern: Sikorsky working on Black Hawk helicopters, NASA JPL working on the Mars Rover 2020, and at SpaceX, which he converted to a full time position!
From Co-op to Full Time Job Offer—Before Graduation
Sharon Melul Steinfeld, BS, industrial engineering and MS, Engineering Management, completed co-ops at Hasbro as a project engineer on the Transformer toy line, and at PriceWaterhouseCoopers as a management consultant for company mergers. Sharon got a full time job offer 18 months before graduating and contributes this to her co-op opportunities.
Recent News
Alumnus-Founded NapSpin Aims To Reshape Restaurant Work
Mike Foley, E’17, mechanical engineering, developed and launched the startup NapSpin, which produces machines that automate rolling silverware into napkins. Now with support from Northeastern’s GAP fund, Foley hopes to expand beyond the restaurant market to hospitals, hotels, and cruise ships.
Using Exoskeletons To Increase Mobility
Bouvé/MIE Assistant Professor Max Shepherd is leading a team of graduate students, including Fatima Tourk, PhD’27, mechanical engineering, to create a battery-powered exoskeleton that is intended to assist people with mobility issues and enable complex movements without causing discomfort. He co-authored research published in Nature on a new lower-limb exoskeleton.
Three COE Students Apply for 2024 Fulbright
Talin Calikyan, E’25, mechanical engineering, Molly Johnson, E’25, bioengineering and biochemistry, and Joshua Piatok, E’25, bioengineering, applied for a Fulbright Scholarships. Calikyan is pursuing a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Spain, while Johnson applied for a Fulbright Study/Research (S/R) in New Zealand, and Piatok is seeking a Fulbright S/R in Germany.
Zheng Receives ASME Rising Star Award
MIE Associate Professor Yi Zheng received an ASME Rising Star in Mechanical Engineering Award in recognition of his NSF CAREER award in “Nanoscale Radiative Heat Transfer for Enhanced Thermal Infrared Energy Conversion and Cooling.”