Coursework

Spring 2018

• ME 302 Engineering Mechanics 2 (Dynamics): Fundamentals of engineering dynamics. Kinetics and kinematics of rigid bodies in two and three dimensions. Newton's Laws. Lagrangian methods. Introduction to mechanical vibrations.
• ME 366 Probability and Statistics: Principles of probability and statistics including events, Bayes' theorem, random variables, joint and marginal distributions, random sequences and series, reliability theory, estimation, and quality control. Examples drawn from engineering applications.
• ME 419 Heat Transfer: Fundamentals of heat exchange processes and applications to heat exchanger design. Principles of steady and unsteady conduction. Introduction to numerical analysis. Natural and forced convection heat transfer in internal and external flows. Radiant heat exchange. Introduction to boiling and condensation heat transfer. Includes lab and design project.
• ME 500 Nanomanufacturing and Hierarchical Materials: Nanoscale materials are often celebrated as having unique properties that exceed their bulk counterparts. However, leveraging such nanoscale materials as components in bulk materials is challenging as it requires (1) making enough material to be relevant on bulk scales and (2) incorporating nanomaterials at a bulk scale in a manner so as to maximize their effect. The goals of this course are to: obtain fundamental understanding of how emergent properties derive from structure and material, overview nanoscale effects that can be leveraged in bulk materials, understand the challenges of scaling nanomanufacturing, learn applications of conventional semiconductor processing to materials processing, survey classes of bulk nanostructured materials and their applications, overview colloidal assembly processes and characteristics of smart materials, define metamaterials in different contexts and understand associated design principles, and to develop the ability to critically read primary literature related to nanomanufacturing

Fall 2017

• IR 512 Resource Geopolitics: This seminar provides students with a roadmap through the important literature, policy approaches, and empirical research on natural resources, conflict, and geopolitics. The overarching objective of the course is to untangle the most contentious themes in the political economy of resources, specifically: violence, resources and population, energy matters, and agro-food production. In other words, we will look closely at the material basis of most conflicts defining the world today, which emerge from a resource nexus between food, water, and energy sources.
• ME 306 Introduction to Materials Science: Structure and properties of solids; crystalline structure; defect structures; atom movement and diffusion; nucleation and growth; deformation; phase diagrams; strengthening mechanisms; heat treatment; ferrous/nonferrous alloys; ceramics; polymers; composites. Includes lab.
• ME 360 Product Design: This course emphasizes the profitable conversion of product ideas to useful and attractive products desired by customers. This course includes aspects of both engineering design and industrial design. Materials selection, intellectual property, sensing and controls are covered. Exercises include product manufacturing considerations. Guest lectures are given by local start-up CEOs. Resources for design exercises are presented in working studio sessions.
• ME 425 Compressible Flow and Propulsion: Fluid mechanics and thermodynamics of compressible fluid flow with application to external and internal flows as found in propulsion systems. Fluid/thermal related topics include: normal and oblique shocks, Prandtl-Meyer expansion waves, variable area duct flow, and wave drag. Propulsion applications include rocket nozzles, rocket engine staging, supersonic inlets, and exhaust nozzles for airbreathing propulsion systems. Parametric cycle analysis for ramjet, turbojet, turbofan, and turboprop engines.
• ME 359 Introduction to CAD and Machine Components: Modeling and technical drawing in two- and three-dimensions is covered in detail using advanced computer aided-design (CAD) tools. CAD-based assembly, mechanism creation, and finite element analysis (FEA) are introduced. Geometrical dimensioning and tolerancing methods are applied to a variety of tasks and a course project. Other topics include design for manufacturing and assembly, specification and analysis of basic machine components, including gears, bearings, cams and the relationship of those components to modern manufacturing processes.

Spring 2017

• IR 599 Science, Politics and Climate Change: This course focuses on the interplay between science, technology and policy-making from the perspective of science and technology studies (STS), which is an interdisciplinary field that examines the societal context in which science is conducted and the interplay between science and politics in identifying and addressing policy issues. Specifically, the course applies a STS perspective to climate change science and policy. It introduces students to STS and to central scientific and political debates that shape climate change policy. The goal is to understand the larger picture of intertwining relationships between scientific, technical and political systems that shape policy with a focus on climate change mitigation and adaptation. The course, which is based on a combination of short lectures and extensive class discussion, begins with an introduction to STS and often very complex relationships between science, technology and policy-making. In parallel, the course explores the history of climate change science up to present days understanding of the climate system and climate change. Next, the course applies a multilevel governance perspective as it examines major climate change policy developments across global, regional, national and local levels. Finally, the course looks at the roles of different non-state actors and strategies for communicating climate change science and policy.
• ME 304 Energy and Thermodynamics: Macroscopic treatment of the fundamental concepts of thermodynamic systems. Zeroth, first, and second laws; properties of simple compressible substances; entropy; energy availability; ideal gas mixtures and psychometrics; and thermodynamic cycles. Application to engines, refrigeration systems, and energy conversion.
• EK 481 Introduction to Nanotechnology: Nanotechnology encompasses the understanding and manipulation of matter with at least one characteristic dimension measured in nanometers with novel, size-dependent physical properties as a result. This course explores the electronic, mechanical and optical properties of material at the nanoscale and their applications in nano-scale devices. Wave-mechanics and wave optics are reviewed and used to understand confinement and energy quantization. The parallels of confined light, mechanical and electron waves are emphasized in terms of resonator physics, and normal modes, resonances and quality factors are disussed both qualitatively and quantitatively. The different energy dispersion of light and electrons are introduced to relate energy and wavelength. Nano-devices, such as nano-resonators and nano- biosensors, and their applications are discussed. Fabrication using top- down and bottom-up methods are discussed, as well as characterization using scanning probe methods, electron microscopy, and spectroscopic techniques. In the labs, students will build digital microfluidics chips, and synthesize plasmonic nanoparticles and quantum dots. The students will use scattering and spectroscopy to characterize the novel optical properties emerging at the nanoscale.
• EK 307 Electric Circuits: Introduction to electric circuit analysis and design; voltage, current, and power, circuit laws and theorems; element I-V curves, linear and nonlinear circuit concepts; operational amplifier circuits; transient response of capacitor and inductor circuits, sinusoidal-steady-state response, frequency response, transfer functions; Includes design-oriented laboratory.
• EK 210 Introduction to Engineering Design: A two credit introductory course to the principles of engineering design, intended to give second-year undergraduates a basic understanding of the process of converting a product from concept through design and deployment. Students will work in multi-disciplinary teams with time and budget constraints on externally sponsored design projects. Web-based lectures will cover topics concurrent with specific phases of the projects. The course will culminate in a "Design Competition".

Fall 2016

• ME 305 Mechanics of Materials: Introduction to stress and strain. Axial and shear loading. Torsion of shafts and thin-walled tubes. Stress within and deflection of bending beams. Combined loadings. Stress and strain transformations. Generalized Hooke's law. Material failure theories. Column buckling.
• ME 303 Fluid Mechanics: Properties of fluids. Fluid statics. Flow kinematics and dynamics. Dimensional analysis. Control volume approach to conservation of mass, momentum, and energy. Analysis of fluid flow along streamline using the Bernoulli equation. Pipe flow analysis techniques. Discussion of boundary layers, and methods for estimating drag, and lift forces.
• EK 156 Design and Manufacture: Introduction to design and processing steps required in manufacturing. Specialized project involving the design, scheduling, budgeting, and building a project selected by the student with the consent of the instructor.
• PY 313 Waves and Modern Physics: Waves and physical optics, relativistic mechanics, experimental foundations of quantum mechanics, atomic structure, physics of molecules and solids, atomic nuclei and elementary particles.
• HI 284 History of War: Why do we make war? Nothing else so engages the human genius for creative destruction. From crossbows to nuclear fire, this course traces five centuries of war to uncover depths of depravity and cruelty and heights of sacrifice and suffering.

Spring 2016

• EK 301 Engineering Mechanics 1: Statics Fundamental statics of particles, rigid bodies, trusses, frames, and virtual work. Distributed forces, uni-axial stress and strain, shear and bending moment diagrams. Application of vector analysis and introduction to engineering design.
• MA 226 Differential Equations: First-order linear and separable equations. Second-order equations and first-order systems. Linear equations and linearization. Numerical and qualitative analysis. Laplace transforms. Applications and modeling of real phenomena throughout.
• PY 212 General Physics: Electricity and Magnetism For premedical students who seek a more analytical course than CAS PY 105/106, and for science majors and engineers. Basic principles of physics emphasizing electricity, magnetism, and geometrical optics. Lectures, discussion, and laboratory.
• WR 150 Citizen Journalism: Podcasting American Politics and Culture This course explores the genre of podcasts, examining the ways in which citizen journalists interpret and analyze American politics and culture. We will also study how podcasts present academic and journalistic work for public audiences. Students will write one major research paper and then transform it into a “citizen journalism” style podcast.

Fall 2015

• CH 131 General Chemistry for the Engineering Sciences A one-semester, terminal general chemistry course for students who do not require a two-semester sequence. Stoichiometry, atomic and molecular structure, bonding, chemistry of solid state, chemical thermodynamics, and equilibrium. Three hours lecture, one hour discussion, three and a half hours lab.
• EK 102 Introduction to Linear Algebra for Engineers Systems of linear equations and matrices. Vector spaces and linear transformation using matrix notation, determinants, and eigenvalues and eigenvectors. Examples drawn from engineering applications.
• EK 132 Photonics - Engineering with Light Photonics is used in advanced technology as well as everyday familiar objects. This 6 week freshman engineering module offers a brief introduction to the physical principles of light and how light is used in many different engineering applications- from familiar consumer products, optical communication to novel bio-sensing methods. The course will highlight different research opportunities for engineering students during their undergraduate career. Apart from lab based demonstrations and lectures, you will: build a wireless phone, converting sound to voltage to light, to transmit wirelessly in free space and via optical fibers to a corresponding photo-receiver, visit laboratories in the photonics center for demonstrations, research and present topics related to photonics.
• MA 225 Multivariable Calculus Vectors, lines, planes. Multiple integration, cylindrical and spherical coordinates. Partial derivatives, directional derivatives, scalar and vector fields, the gradient, potentials, approximation, multivariate minimization, Stokes's and related theorems.