Department Research Focus Areas
Get ready to dive in because research opportunities are all around you at Herff! As one of only two public universities in Tennessee classified as research intensive, the UofM offers its students remarkable research opportunities in graduate-level labs, while still in undergraduate studies. Herff prides itself on the world-class research endeavors of our faculty. As early as freshman year, students are likely be invited by faculty members or mentors to work on research or design projects that match up with their interests. Students might also get the opportunity to share their findings through professional publications and presentations.
Primary departmental research focus areas are:
Biomedical Engineering
- Biomechanics & Biomaterials
- Cell & Tissue Engineering
- Electrophysiology
- Imaging
- Chemical & Biosensors and Diagnostic Devices
Civil Engineering
- Ground Water Studies
- Geotechnical Engineering
- Earthquake Engineering
- Transportation Engineering
- Environmental Engineering
- Soft Computing
Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Electrical Systems
- Imaging sensors & electronic devices
- Computer hardware/software co-design
- Sensor networks
- Biomedical Systems
- Intracranial pressure monitoring
- Medical image processing
- Medical data visualization
- Intelligent Information Systems
- Knowledge Engineering/Semantic Web
- Scientific & Engineering data visualization
- Image & multi-media processing
- Computer learning technologies
- Optical Instrumentation
- Smart Grid
- Power Systems
- Cybersecurity in Power Grids
Engineering Technology
- Industrial Automation & Control Systems
- Operational Systems Enhancement
- Electronic Communications
- Internet Protocols and Software Engineering
Mechanical Engineering Research Focus Areas
Faculty in this focus area specialize in predictive modeling, simulation, optimization, and scientific machine learning to solve complex engineering problems to advance fluid mechanics, nonlinear systems, materials, and multi-physics applications using high-performance and data-driven computational methods.
Faculty: , , Dr. Yong Hoon Lee, Dr. Vipin Agarwal, Dr. Yue Guan
Faculty in this focus area develop fundamental and applied solutions for fluid flow, heat transfer, turbulence, energy conversion, and transport processes that impact aerospace systems, renewable energy, and sustainable technologies.
Faculty: , , Dr. Yong Hoon Lee, Dr. Alexander Headley, Dr. Ranganathan Gopalakrishnan
Faculty in this focus area use their expertise for the discovery, processing, characterization, and advanced manufacturing techniques such as additive manufacturing of materials and structures to improve performance, durability, reliability, and sustainability in automotive, aerospace, transportation, energy, defense, and other industrial systems.
Faculty: Dr. Ali Fatemi, Dr. Amir Hadadzadeh, Dr. Seyed Mohammad Jojjatzadeh, Dr. Okenwa Okoli, Dr. Gladius Lewis
Faculty in this focus area investigate the behavior, control, and intelligent operation of mechanical and structural systems through research in solid mechanics, fracture mechanics, nonlinear dynamics, vibrations, controls, robotics, sensing, and autonomous technologies.
Faculty: Dr. Vipin Agarwal, Dr. Ali Fatemi, Dr. Yue Guan, Dr. Yong Hoon Lee, Dr. Gladius Lewis
Faculty in this focus area apply their expertise to biological systems and healthcare technologies through research in biomechanics, biomaterials, biomedical devices, microfluidics, rehabilitation technologies, and human-centered engineering solutions.
Faculty: Dr. Gladius Lewis, , Dr. Yue Guan, Dr. Vipin Agarwal