From the Chair

Chris Dames

Professor and Chair, Mechanical Engineering
Howard Penn Brown Chair in Mechanical Engineering

On behalf of the students, staff and faculty of Mechanical Engineering at Berkeley – welcome!

Berkeley Mechanical Engineering is the top ranked public mechanical engineering program in the nation and consistently ranked as one of the top mechanical engineering departments in the world.  Our teaching and research laboratories are among the most active, innovative and productive in the nation, and our faculty and students represent the best, the brightest and the most diverse. Our program in mechanical engineering is an integral part of the greatest public university in the world.

Today, mechanical engineering is at the center of most technological and environmental advancements, and the research work conducted at Berkeley covers the size spectrum from the molecular to the global, from nano-scale devices and processes to ocean engineering and atmospheric phenomena. The application areas range from critical medical devices, analytical tools and mobility assistance in healthcare; alternate fuel and energy supplies in transportation; advanced sensors and control in building; and sustainable product design and manufacturing. Our contribution to many of these areas, such as magnetic data storage, nanomaterials and phenomena and microsystems and MEMs, is pioneering.

At Berkeley, we draw on the talents of a wide range of resources offered by a great university. This is intellectually exciting and I hope you have a chance to visit us and experience this energy.

Our website and department publications offer a glimpse into the inner workings of the department.  The list of faculty current research projects and links to their personal research web pages offers a tour through this exciting work.

A degree from Berkeley implies a solid foundation in the art and science of mechanical engineering, providing our graduates the assurance that they can successfully compete with the best in the profession. Our graduates consistently tell us their Berkeley degrees have opened doors to enriching careers and leadership positions in engineering practice, engineering management, industry, research, academia and government.

The University of California, Berkeley offers students one of the most vibrant educational and cultural atmospheres available.  In close proximity to northern California’s geographical treasures and stunning landscapes, the Berkeley experience is a chance of a lifetime.

I welcome your interest in our department and, for potential students, I hope to be receiving an admission application from you.