Department of Mechanical Engineering

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, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering

Andres M. Aguirre-Mesa, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Instruction

Guillermo Araya, Ph.D.

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

Keith M. Axler, Ph.D., PMP

Professor of Practice, Mechanical Engineering

Kiran Bhaganagar, Ph.D.

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

Tanveer Hossain Bhuiyan, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering

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.

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

Sidney Chocron, Ph.D.

Adjoint Professor, Mechanical Engineering

Christopher S. Combs, Ph.D.

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