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2026 Spring Newsletter
VOL. 11, ISSUE 1
VOL. 6, ISSUE
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Message from the Chair
Welcome to the Department of Mechanical Engineering at San Diego State University! Whether you are a new student embarking on your academic journey, a returning Aztec, or a member of our esteemed alumni and industry network, we are glad to share our news. In our department, we are committed to providing a transformative education that blends fundamental principles with pioneering research. As the engineering landscape evolves, SDSU continues to lead by fostering an environment where students don't just learn about the future—they build it. I am particularly excited to highlight our landmark collaboration with Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI). This partnership has established a world-class Maritime R&D Center right here at SDSU, positioning our department at the forefront of global maritime innovation. Beyond our maritime initiatives, the department remains strong for diverse engineering disciplines. From bioengineering to advanced manufacturing, we offer: State-of-the-Art Facilities: Access to labs that prioritize hands-on learning and experimental research. Student-Led Innovation: Our nationally recognized teams, including Aztec Electric Racing, Aztec Baja SAE, Luna Robotics, etc., continue to push the limits of what is possible. Career Readiness: Our deep-rooted connections with San Diego’s tech and defense sectors ensure our graduates are among the most sought-after in the country. To our students, as Chair, my goal is to ensure you have the resources, mentorship, and opportunities necessary to thrive. I encourage you to be curious, stay driven, and take full advantage of the unique global partnerships we have cultivated for you. We look forward to seeing what you will achieve.
Go Aztecs!
Patrick Kwon, Ph.D. Professor and Chair, Department of Mechanical Engineering
San Diego State University
Sincerely,
Patrick Kwon, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair
SDSU Mechanical Engineering
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Join Us for Engineering Design Day 2026
38 Mechanical engineering teams will showcase their projects at Design Day on Wednesday May 6th, 2026 in the Viejas Arena. To view the map click here
| | Students Working on Their Capstone Projects in the Northrop Grumman Fabrication Facility | | |
Fall 2025 Design Day Photos
The Fall 2025 Design Day was held December 11th, 2025 in the EIS Courtyard. Twelve teams showcased their projects to sponsors and visitors. The photos below are images from the displays. Read More!
| | | | One of our students Utku Solmaz, was apart of the winning team from our 2025 Innovation Challenge program and they are now in the BRDG launchpad program receiving an additional 12 weeks of entrepreneurial coaching to launch a startup and guidance to pitch for funding. | |
Dr. Khaled Morsi's new book An Engaging Approach to the Science and Engineering of Materials, science textbook
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The textbook offers an in-depth treatment of materials in a new, easy-to-understand, and engaging manner. The goal is to make materials and their behavior intuitive to the reader. The textbook also includes a dedicated chapter on nanomaterials. Click here to view the textbook.
| | The SDSU team featuring with the exclusive Thermal Club | |
SDSU, Samsung Heavy Industries announce new maritime center. Click here to read more!
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Dr. Khaled Morsi has been ranked amongst the top 1 % scientists in materials. According to the Stanford/Elsevier top 2% scientists in Materials list.
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Dr. George Youssef received a $376,176 award from the National Science Foundation Division of Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation. Click here to read more!
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Dr. Luca Carmignani was interviewed by the Guardian about the new wildfire-related policies in California. Click here to read more.
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Dr. Bhalla was invited to give a research seminar for the Computational Interdisciplinary Graduate Program (CIGP) at Purdue University on March 11, 2026. During the seminar, Dr. Bhalla gave a talk titled “Towards a Fully Resolved Computational Framework for Modeling Four-Phase Flows with Multiple Phase Change Phenomena.”
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Dr. Zahra Nili Ahmadabadi has received the ASME Rising Stars Award in Mechanical Engineering. This prestigious honor, presented by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, recognizes early-career researchers who have secured significant awards from U.S. government agencies for their research. She also (in collaboration with SDSU CCEE and ECE departments and UVA) has received $4.5M from NSF to develop a Research Traineeship program called SCIBER-CT.
| | Speakers from our Spring ME Seminar Series | |
- Januaray 20th, 2026 - Unraveling – and Controlling – the Complex Structure - Mechanics Relationships of PEGDA Hydrogels, Dr. Megan Valentine, University of California, Santa Barbara
- February 3, 2026 - What They Don't Teach You in College: Resume and Interview Skills, Brian Austin, Solar Turbines
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February 17th, 2026 - Nanostructure Engineering for Conducting Polymers and Superconductors for Energy Device Applications, Meysam Heydari-Gharahcheshmeh, San Diego State University
- February 24th, 2026 - Army Research Office (ARO) Solid State Physics Program Overview, Dr. Mahesh R. Neupane, US Army Research Office
- March 3rd, 2026 - New Materials Processing via Electro-Nano-Pulsing (ENP), Dr. Wenwu Xu, San Diego State University
- March 17th, 2026 - E-FIELD Flames on the ISS, Combustion and Gas Hydrates Research, E-FIELD Flames on the ISS, Dr. Yu-Chien (Alice) Chien, University of California, Irvine
- March 18th, 2026 - From Powder to Performance: Advancing Binder Jet Metals, Dr. Junghoon Yeom, US Naval Research Lab
- March 24, 2026 - Bioinspired Aerial Robotics: From Birds to Insects, Dr. Hoang-Vu Phan, University of Nevada, Reno
| | Baja SAE team consists of 35+ members who are challenged every school year to design, test, and build a single seat off road buggy that will compete in 3 nation-wide events where 100 global universities are evaluated in static and dynamic events. | | The Mechatronics Club consists of 40 members who are developing an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) for the 2019 RoboSub Competition. | | |
Aztec Electric Racing, commonly referred to as AER, is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, electric Formula SAE team at SDSU. They design, build, and race a small-scale, high performance race car each year.
| | ASME Club sponsors workshops, tours and guest speakers to prepare students for a career in the field of Mechanical Engineering. | | |
BMES Mission:
Our mission is to promote the education of our members by supporting academic and professional excellence, and innovative research.
| | Quality of Life + brings together America's brightest engineering students at leading universities nationwide to create life-transforming assistive technology for our country's injured and ill heroes. Their mission is to foster and generate innovations that aid and improve the quality of life for those who have served our country. | | |
From the Baja Car to Senior Capstone Projects to Scholarship support, your generous giving makes a tremendous difference for our students. Please consider making a gift to support the Department of Mechanical Engineering
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| Welcome | Mechanical Engineering | College of... | | The Department is the vibrant home to about 1400 undergraduate and graduate students, several active and award-winning student clubs and organizations, multiple teaching and research laboratories, internationally-renowned faculty who are... | | | | |
San Diego State University | Mechanical Engineering |
5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182-1323
619-594-7050 | me@engineering.sdsu.edu
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