Information for Prospective Students
If you are a beginning or continuing graduate student in the thermal/fluids sciences and you are searching for your next academic and research challenge, we want you to consider joining our laboratory. We are the thermal science research group for the Mechanical Engineering Department of the University of Houston, and we focus primarily on experimentation. Our work typically involves the design and construction of unique research facilities and experimental techniques. Our student group is typically three to five full-time supported research assistants, and the students interact directly with the faculty (not through post-docs or other research associates). We are interested in students with a genuine desire to learn experiment design, technique development, data analysis, and written and oral communication. You can get a good idea of the research we do by reading the thesis and dissertation titles on our Graduates page and by looking at a few of our finished projects on the Research page. Our graduates obtain a wide variety of placements after they leave us, and we list those on the Graduates page.
Degree Programs
The Mechanical Engineering Department offers graduate degrees in Mechanical, Materials, Aerospace, and Biomedical Engineering. Approximately 100 students are enrolled in a typical semester; about half of those are full-time and supported by graduate assistantships. Our class size is typically 5 to 15 students, and classes are taught almost exclusively by tenure-track faculty with a demonstrated research history in the subject.
Most students in our laboratory seek degrees in Mechanical Engineering. The MS with thesis program is comprised of seven courses and a defended thesis. One of the seven classes is a mathematics course; the remaining six are selected to compliment the student's research. The PhD program consists of a defended dissertation and seven courses beyond the MS. While the MS degree is the traditional preparation for the PhD program, we do offer a direct-admit PhD program (without completing an MS) for students who excel in the first-year graduate courses and demonstrate outstanding productivity and maturity in research. The requirements for the direct-admit PhD program vary with the background of the student and are determined by petition to the Director of Graduate Studies. To learn more, please visit our Department's Graduate Program website.
Financial Support
Research and teaching assistantships may be available for qualified students. A typical assistantship includes a stipend of $1200 - $1500 per month depending on background and degree program, in-state tuition status, a University fellowship that offsets a large portion of the in-state tuition, and an additional allowance for UH staff medical insurance.
Living in Houston
Houston is the fourth largest city in the US and the largest city in the southern US. It is a truly international metropolis with a population of 4.8 million in the city and its surrounding communities. Houston is served by two major airports and the largest medical center in the world. Cost of living is important for graduate students, and Houston has the second-lowest cost of living among major US cities. You might want to see this photo tour of Houston and learn about the major local attractions. For international students, the University's office for International Student Services is very helpful.
To Apply
If you are interested in joining our lab, download the Graduate Application materials. Indicate your interest in our laboratory by marking "Heat Transfer" as your #1 interest on the "Application for Financial Aid and Statement of Purpose" form, and describing your interest in experimental thermal science in your written "Statement of Purpose".
