Materials Science & Mechanical Engineering Degrees

Materials Science and Mechanical Engineering at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) offers comprehensive undergraduate and graduate programs that span from fundamental research in solid and fluid mechanics to innovative studies in materials, metamaterials, mechanical systems, soft materials and biomechanics. Our programs emphasize understanding system performance at multiple scales, including the mechanics of dislocations, imperfections, grain boundaries, interfaces, material heterogeneity, and the application of AI and machine learning for material discovery, human-robot interaction and to solve complex engineering problems.

Undergraduate and graduate students in our Materials Science and Mechanical Engineering programs engage in cutting-edge research on the mechanics of material structures and explore geophysical and biological systems. Key areas of study include elasticity, plasticity, buckling, fracture, and wave motion. Students delve into biological control and the self-organizing behavior of living systems—particularly the brain—to develop novel control strategies and biologically inspired machines. Our work in biomedical instrumentation, catalytic materials, soft robotics, resilient materials, and intelligent sensors positions our graduates at the forefront of technological innovation.

Mechanical Engineering covers a wide range of activities, including research in dynamics, fluid mechanics, materials science, solid mechanics, and thermodynamics. Our research is strongly interdisciplinary, with robust connections to Applied Mathematics, Applied Physics, Earth and Planetary Sciences, and Chemistry and Chemical Biology. Graduate students have the opportunity to work closely with renowned faculty on groundbreaking research projects, preparing them for leadership roles in academia, industry, and beyond.

Research is strongly interdisciplinary, with many connections to Applied Mathematics, Applied Physics, Earth and Planetary Sciences, and Chemistry and Chemical Biology.