About
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) at the University of Virginia is a thriving program of undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty with a commitment to exploration, innovation, and engineering excellence. MAE’s focus on engineering excellence has led to many international and national awards, scholarships and fellowships along with prestigious accolades and new research centers.
The Aerospace program’s research strengths include the Applied Research Laboratory, the Rolls-Royce Commonwealth Center for Advanced Propulsion, and projects in combustion and wind energy.
Key research strengths for the Mechanical program include the Center for Applied Biomechanics (world leaders in auto safety engineering with $10 million in annual research), the Center for Rotating Machinery (more than 40 member companies), a $7.8 million MURI in bio-propulsion and award-winning nano-scale research.
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Recent rankings:
- #1 Public University for Women in STEM — Forbes
- #1 Grad Program among public MAE departments with 25 or less tenure/tenure-track faculty (USN&WR)
- #6 Online Mechanical Engineering Degree (Masters Programs)
- #8 Online Mechanical Engineering Degree (Best Colleges)
- #12 Aeronautical Engineering (Best Engineering Colleges)
The Princeton Review ranked UVA as the best public or private university in the country for financial aid, and the No. 3 best-value public school. In May, Money Magazine ranked UVA the No. 3 best-value college in the United States.
UVA remains one of the only public universities to meet 100% of every undergraduate student’s financial need and offers admission to students with no consideration of a family’s income.
Vision
The vision of the University of Virginia’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering is to realize its mission through an educational framework that is embedded in a vibrant community of scholars and is underpinned by critical thinking in science, engineering, and humanities.
Mission
The mission of the University of Virginia’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering is to educate undergraduate and graduate students to apply the principles of the physical sciences, mathematics and engineering to solve challenging multidisciplinary problems; to empower the students to teach themselves new knowledge and ideas to solve problems far beyond the factual boundaries of their education; to develop informed, articulate, and transformative leaders of the profession, academia, and society as a whole.
Honors and Awards
Outstanding Graduate Research Award
This award recognizes MAE graduate students that have demonstrated excellence in their academic and scientific endeavors. This award is given to students based on research performance from the previous year, including GPA, conference publications, journal papers, talks and awards.
Outstanding Graduate Leadership and Service Award
This award recognizes MAE graduate students that have demonstrated excellence in leadership and engagement within our local, national and international communities, and a commitment to advancing our mission related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award
This award recognizes the MAE graduate students that have demonstrated excellence in supporting the education mission of the department. The award is given to students who have been recognized by MAE faculty based on their commitment and dedication to undergraduate instruction.
John E. Scott award
This award recognizes a graduate or undergraduate student with demonstrated research excellence in fluid mechanics or related areas and has a minimum GPA of 3.5.
Columbia Scholarship
This award recognizes a hard-working student who demonstrates passion and enthusiasm for aerospace engineering.
George B. Matthews Scholarship
This award recognizes third-year aerospace engineering students who demonstrate passion and enthusiasm for aviation, appreciation for aviation history, and aptitude for technical knowledge balanced with practical application.
Harold S. Morton Scholarship
This award recognizes hard-working students who demonstrate strong academic ability and get along well with others
Louis T. Rader Undergraduate Chairperson Award
This award recognizes hard-working graduating fourth-year students who demonstrate strong academic ability and get along well with others.
Community Impact Leadership Award
This award recognizes a student who consistently betters MAE through their own example as a leader and learner, and through consistent welcoming of and advocacy for the many members of our department community.
Walter and Barbara Pilkey Scholarship
This award recognizes an outstanding student in their third year of study in honor of their exceptional leadership, scholarship, and citizenship and in the hope that this will make a significant difference in their life and academic career.
Outstanding Student in Mechanical Engineering Award
This graduating student achieved the highest GPA in Mechanical Engineering over the past four years.
Outstanding Student in Aerospace Engineering Award
This graduating student achieved the highest GPA in Aerospace Engineering over the past four years.
Scientist of the Year Award
This award recognizes the MAE Research Scientist who best demonstrates scholarly excellence and research enterprise.
Researcher of the Year Award
This award recognizes the MAE Professor who best demonstrates scholarly excellence and research enterprise.
Early- to Mid-Career Research of the year
This award recognizes the young MAE Professor at the Assistant or Associate rank who best demonstrates scholarly excellence and research enterprise.
Graduate Advisor of the Year
This award recognizes the MAE Professor who best demonstrates advising excellence of graduate students.
Chair's Great and Good Service Award
This award acknowledges the MAE team member or members who have exemplified UVA's "great and good" ideal by selflessly serving the department's mission while maintaining excellence in the performance of their job.
Pi Tau Sigma Oustanding Faculty Award
Selected by Mechanical Engineering Student Honor Society.
Sigma Gamma Tau Oustanding Faculty Award
Selected by Aerospace Engineering Student Honor Society.
Undergraduate Advisor of the Year
This award recognizes the MAE Professor who best demonstrates advising excellence of undergraduate students.