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UNC Charlotte: William States Lee College of Engineering

UNC Charlotte graduate programmes fuse advanced academics, research, and industry opportunities so students see on-campus research come to life in real world applications. The William States Lee College of Engineering shapes what’s next — transforming lives, communities and industry.

In 2022, UNC Charlotte faculty members received a record US$73 million in government, corporate and private research awards, the William States Lee College of Engineering earned 24% of those awards. Students learn first-hand the skills needed to make an impact with their research while also having opportunity for tuition and stipend funding. This spirited collaboration has led to 85 new patents ranging from cancer diagnostics to solar panels.

W.S. Lee College of Engineering has 120,000 square feet of research space dedicated to industry partners, allowing college research centres to conduct their best work. The Centre for Precision Metrology works with dimensional tolerances on the order of 10 parts per million or better to study and research methods of production and inspection in manufacturing, measurement, algorithms, tolerance representation, and the integration of metrology into factory quality systems. The Centre for Precision Metrology is also the top academic Precision Metrology facility in the US and top three globally.

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PhD in Mechanical Engineering

The PhD in Mechanical Engineering allows students with research-level expertise to explore the field further, widening their knowledge and uncovering unknowns.

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PhD in Electrical Engineering

Led by the Electrical and Computer Engineering department, this programme allows candidates to advance their knowledge and research in four specialisations: communication, control, and signal processing; computer systems; devices, circuits, and systems; and power systems.

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MS and PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering

As it relates to areas such as energy infrastructure, environmental/water resources engineering, geotechnical engineering, land development engineering, structures, and transportation, civil engineering has some of the fastest-growing job opportunities in the engineering sector.

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Olalekan Ogundairo

“I am a fifth-year PhD candidate in the mechanical engineering department working under the supervision of Dr. Ahmed El-Ghannam and Dr. Harish Cherukuri. It has been a great learning experience for me at UNC Charlotte. I have worked on multiple projects and served as a teaching assistant, course instructor, and mentor for undergraduate students. All these roles helped me in expanding my depth of knowledge and improving interpersonal and communication skills. UNC Charlotte's mechanical engineering department has great facilities and knowledgeable faculty that help immensely in academic growth. The department provides a supportive environment for students to excel in their studies and professional development. It's been a great experience for me.”

Farjana Sultana

Heli Rivera

“I pursued a PhD in Mechanical Engineering under the guidance of Dr. Ahmed El-Ghannam at our university. My PhD was a long-held dream of mine and I am grateful to my university for making it possible. The facilities in the Mechanical Engineering department were top-notch and the professors were always willing to help. I faced many challenges during my PhD, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the birth of my child and the death of my mother. However, I was able to complete my PhD on time thanks to the complete support of my advisor and the graduate school.”

Sujithra Chandrasekaran

William States Lee College of Engineering wants you to come to Charlotte NC and shape what’s next