At UVA Engineering, our mission is to make the world a better place by putting people at the center of innovation. Our approach to engineering leadership is a uniquely UVA one, placing equal importance on being both great and good. Our faculty are pioneering researchers making groundbreaking discoveries in fields including artificial intelligence, hypersonics, cancer research and so much more. Our students excel in the classroom and through hands-on experiences that prepare them for impactful careers. The spirit of collaboration among our students and faculty not only drives innovation but creates a community of care, where collegiality, support, and engineering ethics thrive.  We invite you to learn more about our research achievements, student successes, and future aspirations, including a transformational new building that will generate new discoveries and inspire the engineers of tomorrow. Together, we can build a brighter future through engineering for the greater good.  
 

Dean Jennifer L. West, Ph.D., NAE, NAM, NAI
Saunders Family Professor of Engineering 
UVA School of Engineering and Applied Science

Facts at a Glance

3115 Undergraduate Bachelor of Science students

846 Undergraduate Computer Science Bachelor of Arts

719 First-Year Students

119 Transfer Students

Winning at Indy with the CAVCAR

Computer Science professor Madhur Behl and the Cavalier Autonomous Racing Team recently showcased new high-speed, self-correcting AI algorithms through the performance of their autonomous racecar, CAVCAR, at the Indy Autonomous Challenge. The team achieved a record-breaking lap speed of 52.628 seconds, an average lap speed of 171 mph and a top speed of 184 mph. The team attributes their edge to a mathematical tweak in vehicle dynamics and a revised car-detection algorithm that learns from its mistakes. These innovations allowed the car to perform complex maneuvers, such as high-speed passing, with remarkable agility and control. The success of CAVCAR highlights the potential for advancements in AI and vehicle safety.

  • CAVCAR team celebrating their Indy Autonomous Challenge win

    UVA's Robot Racer Zooms to Victory at Indy Speedway

    UVA engineers think fast and so does the AI racecar they program, as evidenced by CAVCAR's triumph in the Indy Autonomous Challenge.

  • CAVCAR team with their vehicle on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway track.

    Autonomous Racing at UVA

    Get to know CAVCAR, from tech specs to team members!

UVA and NCI-Funded SASCO Center Marks Milestones in Cancer Cell Organelles Research

UVA’s Center for Systems Analysis of Stress-adapted Cancer Organelles (SASCO) recently hosted its first annual symposium.

20 Years After ‘Hyper-X,’ UVA Team Makes NASA Hypersonic Breakthrough

Wind Tunnel Study Shows Hypersonic Jet Engine Flow Can Be Controlled Optically

Norfolk Flooding Predicted in Seconds With Machine Learning Models

UVA civil engineering professor Jon Goodall’s hydrological modeling expertise is helping to create tools for decision-makers coping with weather events.

Researchers Drive Safety Forward on 3 Toyota Collaborative Projects

UVA Engineering researchers received funding from a Toyota initiative to study injury prediction and prevention in collisions.

Using Machine Learning for Better Human Understanding of Disease Risk Factors and Treatments

Machine learning changed health care by making sense of biological data, but for UVA Engineering’s Aidong Zhang, that’s only part of understanding disease risk and treatments.

Researchers Put Finger on Why Men and Women Feel Touch Differently

With new experimental techniques, University of Virginia engineers identified what gives us a great sense of touch, which could make modern technologies a touch better.

UVA Engineering graduates during Final Exercises

Celebrating the Class of 2024

A little rain couldn't keep the Class of 2024 down! Our outstanding engineering graduates celebrated on the Lawn in May with their friends, families and supporters.

Kate Douglass during a race

Contributing to the U.S. Swim Team’s Olympic Success

Engineering alumnus Jerry Lu used “digital twins” for data analysis, helping gold medalist (and fellow Wahoo) Kate Douglass and the U.S. swim team win medals and set records at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

Faculty in the Media

  • Cracking the Bro Code cover art

    “Cracking the Bro Code” in Computing Cultures

    Engineering and society professor Coleen Carrigan’s book, “Cracking the Bro Code,” explores sexism and racism in tech, revealing the systemic challenges faced by women, nonbinary individuals and people of color. The book calls for a cultural shift toward inclusivity and social responsibility in computing, aiming to transform the tech industry’s workplace environment.

  • Hoos in STEM podcast art

    Improving Human Action

    Detection in Video Through AI Scott T. Acton, professor and chair of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, has developed an AI-driven advanced video analyzer that can accurately detect human actions in video footage with unprecedented precision. Its innovative design captures dynamic relationships between people and objects, enhancing applications in surveillance, healthcare diagnostics and autonomous vehicle navigation. Acton recently discussed this breakthrough on the Hoos in STEM podcast.

In addition to faculty, students also embrace entrepreneurship opportunities.

  • Student Entrepreneurs

    Students Mohammed Muslim, Arnav Wadehra and Jeremy Suh are participating in the Y Combinator incubator with their software start-up.

  • VentureForward

    The VentureForward program provides microgrants to help students pursue their innovative ideas.

  • The Foundry

    UVA recently opened The Foundry, a home for student entrepreneurship.

Professor Patrick Hopkins, Dr. John Gaskins and Dr. Brian Foley with Professor Richard Kent and Dean Jennifer West

Achievement Award Recipients Honored at Thornton Society Dinner

Each year, the University of Virginia’s School of Engineering and Applied Science presents Achievement Awards to the most distinguished members of its community – engineering alumni, faculty, staff, students and supporters who have made significant contributions to the school, the community or the professional world. 

Student Experiences

  • two-over-two color-screened portraits of featured dean's fellows

    Dean’s Fellows Experience Summer of Discovery

    Here’s what four of 38 UVA Engineering undergraduate students doing research in labs across several departments have been up to this summer as Dean’s Fellows.

  • J-Term in Dubai participants

    Immersing in Dubai’s Technological and Cultural Innovations

    UVA engineering students gained intercultural and professional skills in Dubai through hands-on projects, corporate interactions and cultural experiences, preparing them for global careers.

Cato Laurencin and Wesley Harris chat at the Celebrating Black Excellence event

Celebrating Black Excellence

The UVA School of Engineering and Applied Science welcomed a distinguished group of Black engineers back to Grounds for a panel discussion on excellence.

UVA Engineering Shines With Top University Awards

Three faculty, Brian Helmke, Natasha Smith and Garrick Louis, and graduate student Zackary Landsman were named among UVA’s best for teaching and public service.

UVA Students Help Virginia Defend Against Election Cyberattacks

UVA computer science interns are among army of “Cyber Navigators” helping local election offices in Virginia find and address potential vulnerabilities that could undermine public trust.

Nanoparticle Therapy Offers New Hope for Prostate Cancer Patients

A study conducted by researchers from the University of Virginia, Mount Sinai, the University of Michigan, the University of Texas and others, has demonstrated the clinical success of a new nanoparticle-based, laser-guided therapy for prostate cancer treatment. 

Kitty O'Brien Joyner at NACA Langley

Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future

Kitty O'Brien Joyner was the first woman to graduate from UVA's engineering program, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in 1939. A Charlottesville native, she successfully petitioned to attend UVA’s all-male engineering school after two years at Sweet Briar College. Joyner became the first female engineer at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, the predecessor of NASA Langley Research Center, where she managed supersonic wind tunnels and became a NASA Branch Head. Her legacy continues today at UVA Engineering, where female students now make up 33% of enrollment – surpassing the national average by more than ten points – and organizations like the Society of Women Engineers and Girls Who Code follow in her footsteps.

The Whitehead Road Building Project aims to create a state-of-the-art engineering facility with modern classrooms, collaborative spaces and advanced laboratories. This new building will be a hub for innovation, research and learning, reflecting UVA Engineering’s commitment to excellence and growth. Students will benefit from enhanced learning environments and hands-on experiences, while faculty will have access to leading-edge resources and collaborative spaces to advance their research. The 230,000-square-foot trans-disciplinary academic and research building will be located at the entrance of Engineer’s Way, bringing together the University and all engineering departments to collaborate on research focused on AI, biomaterials, energy and the environment. This project will have a lasting impact on the University, the Commonwealth of Virginia and society as a whole, embodying the spirit of engineering for the greater good.