Welcome to the Department of Mechanical Engineering at UTSA! The Department of Mechanical Engineering offers programs at both the undergraduate and graduate level that prepare students for future challenges and opportunities. Our programs include a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering (an ABET accredited undergraduate program), a M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, a M.S. in Advanced Manufacturing and Enterprise Engineering, and a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, which is a joint program with Southwest Research Institute. In addition to these four degrees, we also offer four certificate programs: Aerospace Engineering, Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, and Oil & Gas. We have multiple undergraduate scholarships and research opportunities available to our undergraduate students. Graduate fellowships are also available for both our masters and doctoral students.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Mechanical Engineering Department is “to provide excellent educational and research opportunities to our undergraduate and graduate students who will contribute to the technological and economic development of the community, the region and the nation.”

“The faculty of the Department of Mechanical Engineering values excellence in teaching, research, and service to the community and the profession. Our students learn to be technically competent and socially responsible, while they acquire a solid background to perform diverse engineering functions; to succeed in graduate education; and acquire life-long learning skills.”

Mechanical Engineering Faculty

Omar Abbaas

Omar Abbaas, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering

Adel Alaeddini Ph.D.

Adel Alaeddini, Ph.D.

Professor, CAMLS Director, Mechanical Engineering

Guillermo Araya, Ph.D.

Guillermo Araya, Ph.D.

Wayne and Julie Fagan Endowed Professor, Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering

Keith M. Axler, Ph.D., PMP

Keith M. Axler, Ph.D., PMP

Associate Professor of Instruction, Mechanical Engineering

Kiran Bhaganagar, Ph.D.

Kiran Bhaganagar, Ph.D.

Professor, Associate Fellow of AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astraunatics), Mechanical Engineering

Tanveer Hossain Bhuiyan, Ph.D.

Tanveer Hossain Bhuiyan, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering

Krystel K. Castillo, Ph.D.

Krystel K. Castillo, Ph.D.

Lutcher Brown Chair in Mechanical Engineering , Professor, Director, Texas Sustainable Energy Research Institute (TSERI) at UTSA, Mechanical Engineering

F. Frank Chen, Ph.D.

F. Frank Chen, Ph.D.

Lutcher Brown Distinguished Chair in Advanced Manufacturing, Professor, SME Fellow and IISE Fellow, Mechanical Engineering

Sidney Chocron, Ph.D.

Sidney Chocron, Ph.D.

Adjoint Professor, Mechanical Engineering

Christopher S. Combs, Ph.D.

Christopher S. Combs, Ph.D.

Dee Howard Memorial Endowed Faculty Fellowship in Mechanical Engineering, Graduate Advisor of Record: M.S. Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering

Alifer Crom, Ph.D.

Alifer Crom, Ph.D.

Senior Lecturer, Mechanical Engineering

Robert De Lorenzo

Robert De Lorenzo, MD, MSM, MSCI, FACEP

Adjoint Professor, Mechanical Engineering

Zhi-Gang Feng, Ph.D.

Zhi-Gang Feng, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering

Ender Finol, Ph.D.

Ender Finol, Ph.D.

Zachry Mechanical Engineering Department Endowed Chair, Professor, Fellow of ASME and AHA, Chair of Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering

Cody Gonzalez, Ph.D.

Cody Gonzalez, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering

Madhavrao “Rao” Govindaraju

Madhavrao “Rao” Govindaraju, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Instruction, Mechanical Engineering

Hai-Chao Han, Ph.D.

Hai-Chao Han, Ph.D.

Professor, Fellow of ASME, AHA & AIMBE, Mechanical Engineering

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Francisco Herbert, Ph.D.

Klesse Endowed Fellow, Professor of Instruction, Undergraduate Advisor of Record, Mechanical Engineering

R. Lyle Hood, Ph.D.

R. Lyle Hood, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering

James E Johnson, MBA

James E Johnson, MBA

Associate Professor in Practice, Mechanical Engineering

Amir Karimi, Ph.D.

Amir Karimi, Ph.D.

Professor, Undergraduate Advisor of Record, ASME and ASEE Fellow, Mechanical Engineering

Randall D. Manteufel, Ph.D.

Randall D. Manteufel, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, ASME Fellow, Mechanical Engineering

Harry Millwater, Ph.D.

Harry Millwater, Ph.D.

Samuel G. Dawson Endowed Professor, Associate Chair for Research, Mechanical Engineering

Arturo Montoya, Ph.D.

Arturo Montoya, Ph.D.

Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs, Associate Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Construction Management

Morteza Seidi, Ph.D., P.E.

Morteza Seidi, Ph.D., P.E.

Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering

Ashok Nedungadi, Ph.D.

Ashok Nedungadi, Ph.D.

Professor of Instruction, Mechanical Engineering

Daniel I. Pineda, Ph.D.

Daniel I. Pineda, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering

Carl F. Popelar, Ph.D.

Carl F. Popelar, Ph.D.

Adjoint Professor

David Restrepo, Ph.D.

David Restrepo, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering

Hardev Singh

Hardev Singh

Assistant Professor of Practice, Mechanical Engineering

Yesh P. Singh, Ph.D., P.E.

Yesh P. Singh, Ph.D., P.E.

Professor Emeritus, ASME Life Fellow, Mechanical Engineering

Elizabeth S. Sooby, Ph.D.

Elizabeth S. Sooby, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Joint appointment with Department of Physics and Astronomy, Mechanical Engineering

Firat Y. Testik, Ph.D.

Firat Y. Testik, Ph.D.

Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Construction Management

Brendy Rincon Troconis, Ph.D.

Brendy Rincon Troconis, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering

James D. Walker, Ph.D.

James D. Walker, Ph.D.

Adjoint Professor, ASME and AIAA Fellow, Ballistics Sciences Fellow of IBS, Mechanical Engineering

Xiaodu Wang, Ph.D.

Xiaodu Wang, Ph.D.

Professor, ASME and AIMBE Fellow, Graduate Advisor of Record: Mechanical Engineering, M.S. & M.S. AMEE, Mechanical Engineering

Hung-da Wan, Ph.D.

Hung-da Wan, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Assistant Chair, Mechanical Engineering

Xiaowei Zeng, Ph.D.

Xiaowei Zeng, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Graduate Advisor of Record for PhD program, Mechanical Engineering

Xuan Zhou, Ph.D.

Xuan Zhou, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Joint Appointment with Mechanical Engineering, Department of Physics & Astronomy

Have an inquiry about our program?

We appreciate your interest in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at UTSA and extend our warmest welcome to you from the Department.