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.
2025 - Muhammad Waseem, Soroush Zare, Michael Jeong
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.
2025 - Junior Noss
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.
2025 - Jiacheng Guo, Madhurima Aryal, Max Chern
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.
2025 - Alec Menzer
Columbia Scholarship
This award recognizes a hard-working student who demonstrates passion and enthusiasm for aerospace engineering.
2025 - Craig Kalkwarf
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.
2025 - Tingyo Tan
Harold S. Morton Scholarship
This award recognizes hard-working students who demonstrate strong academic ability and get along well with others
2025 - Jose Elverdin
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.
2025 - Harshit Dhayal, Kaitlin Cole
Diversity Leadership Award
This award recognizes a student who demonstrates an ongoing commitment to increase diversity within MAE and the UVa community and demonstrates a strong commitment to advancing their own awareness, knowledge and skills related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
2025 - Kathryn Geoffroy
Walter and Barbara Pilkey Scholarship
This award recognizes an outstanding female student in her third year of study in honor of her exceptional leadership, scholarship, and citizenship and in the hope that this will make a significant difference in her life and academic career.
2025 - Mary Cotter
Outstanding Student in Mechanical Engineering Award
This graduating student achieved the highest GPA in Mechanical Engineering over the past four years.
2025 - Silas Agnew, Samuel Coleman
Outstanding Student in Aerospace Engineering Award
This graduating student achieved the highest GPA in Aerospace Engineering over the past four years.
2025 - Gavin Miller, Caleb White
Scientist of the Year Award
This award recognizes the MAE Research Scientist who best demonstrates scholarly excellence and research enterprise.
2025 - Bronislaw Gepner
Researcher of the Year Award
This award recognizes the MAE Professor who best demonstrates scholarly excellence and research enterprise.
2025 - Patrick Hopkins
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.
2025 - Jason Forman
Graduate Advisor of the Year
This award recognizes the MAE Professor who best demonstrates advising excellence of graduate students.
2025 - Cindy Chang
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.
2025 - MAE Admin Team
Pi Tau Sigma Oustanding Faculty Award
Selected by Mechanical Engineering Student Honor Society.
2025 - Gavin Garner
Sigma Gamma Tau Oustanding Faculty Award
Selected by Aerospace Engineering Student Honor Society.
2025 - Chloe Dedic
Undergraduate Advisor of the Year
This award recognizes the MAE Professor who best demonstrates advising excellence of undergraduate students.
2025 - Natasha Smith