PhD in Industrial Engineering
PhD in Industrial Engineering
Overview
The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Industrial Engineering is awarded to students who demonstrate high academic achievement and research competence in the field of industrial engineering. To earn a PhD, a student must complete approved and advanced course work and submit and defend an original dissertation of independent research. The Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering expects all successful doctoral candidates to show depth of knowledge and research innovation in their chosen field of specialization.
The MIE department admits applicants to the PhD program either directly after earning a suitable bachelor’s degree (i.e., bachelor’s entry) or after earning a master’s degree (i.e., advanced entry).
Innovative Curriculum
This advanced degree combines research with industry leaders and real world experience to prepare for a career in research, academic or business professions.
- An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering/scientific/quantitative problems
- An ability to explain and apply engineering design principles, as appropriate to the program’s educational objectives
- An ability to produce solutions that meet specified end-user needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
- An ability to recognize and advance industrial engineering tools/principles needed for in many areas, including healthcare systems, supply chains, logistics and transportation engineering, manufacturing, sustainability, resilient systems, energy systems, and human-in-the loop systems
- Located in downtown Boston, which facilitates tremendous collaborations with other nearby academic institutions, hospital facilities, and tech firms.
- Conduct research alongside faculty in labs, research centers, and research institutes. Many faculty hold young investigator awards, other national recognitions, and are elected fellows of professional societies for contributions to the engineering profession.
- The department has 12 collaborative research themes, including robotics, energy systems, sustainability & environmental protection, resilient & sustainable service systems, mechanics, human-technology integration and systems, materials for the future, intelligent manufacturing, networks and complex systems, and more.
- Can be combined with a Gordon Engineering Leadership certificate.
Experiential Learning
Northeastern combines rigorous academics with experiential learning and research to prepare students for real world engineering challenges. The Cooperative Education Program, also known as a “co-op,” is one of the largest and most innovative in the world, and Northeastern is one of only a few that offers a Co-op Program for Graduate Students. Through this program students gain industry experience in a wide variety of organizations, from large companies to entrepreneurial start-ups, while helping to finance their education. Students can also participate in an internship or the university’s Experiential PhD program.
Academic Advising
We have a variety of advisors to help make your graduate career a success, so use the link below to determine which one will help you the best.
Admissions & Aid
Ready to take the next step? Review degree requirements to see courses needed to complete this degree. Then, explore ways to fund your education. Finally, review admissions information to see our deadlines and gather the materials you need to Apply.
Student Experiences
PhD Spotlight: Lluvia “Weijia” Jing, PhD’25, Industrial Engineering
Lluvia “Weijia” Jing, PhD’25, industrial engineering, focused on optimizing global humanitarian supply chains. As part of a multi-year collaboration with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Jing led the development of advanced models to support decision-making for both pre- and post-disaster planning strategies in regions affected by food insecurity.
2025 COE Outstanding Graduate Student Awards
The COE Outstanding Graduate Student Awards for 2025 were awarded to more than 40 graduate students across the Northeastern global campus for their exceptional achievements in research, teaching, leadership, and service.
Medication Plus Support Groups Increases Effectiveness of Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
MIE Associate Professor Muhammad Noor E Alam’s research, published in the International Journal of Medical Informatics, found that people in treatment for opioid addiction are 25% more likely to complete medication if they also attend a support group.
PhD Spotlight: Burcu Ozek, PhD’24, Industrial Engineering
Burcu Ozek, PhD’24, industrial engineering, focused research on developing objective pain assessment methods through machine learning, aiming to accurately quantify uncertainty and preexisting pain conditions. She co-authored six peer-reviewed journal articles, with four as lead author.