Description
The program is carried out through an
integration of physical spaces, people, and programming that enable students to
chart their own I&E journey, from just doing hands-on projects in the
Makerspace to being a paid intern helping to commercialize Pitt technology, and
many experiences in between.
Donations are applied to...
SSOE Innovation & Entrepreneurship Program!!
Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science Fund
Alumni and friends,
We would like to express our sincere appreciation for supporting the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science on Pitt Day of Giving (PDoG) 2025! Your gift will allow us to allocate resources to the SSOE Innovation & Entrepreneurship Program.
The Swanson School of Engineering hosts a robust Innovation & Entrepreneurship (I&E) program that has reached thousands of students by providing classroom and experiential learning opportunities to be creative, to think entrepreneurially, and to understand the process of developing and launching ideas that can be impactful in society.
The most amazing aspect of our I&E program is the thriving community of enthusiastic students and future innovators that has grown organically in the Swanson School. We hope that you will help us continue to grow our ecosystem and create more opportunities for our students.
Thank you so much for your support.
Hail to Pitt!
About the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science:
About the Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science:
The Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science (MEMS) is the largest in the Swanson School of Engineering in terms of students and faculty. All of our programs are ABET-accredited. The Department's core strengths include:
• Advanced Manufacturing and Design
• Materials for Extreme Conditions
• Soft Matter Biomechanics
• Computational and Data-Enabled Engineering
• Cyber-Physical Systems and Security
• Nuclear and other Sustainable Energies
• Quantitative and In Situ Materials Characterization
MEMS faculty are not only world-renowned academicians, but accessible teachers who seek to inspire and encourage their students to succeed.
The Department also has access to more than 20 laboratory facilities that enhance the learning process through first-rate technology and hands-on experience.
Each year, the Department graduates approximately 90 mechanical and materials science engineers, with nearly 100% placed in excellent careers with industry and research facilities around the globe.
Why are donations necessary?
Some of the resources provided in the I&E program include the Pitt Makerspace that is managed by over 50 student volunteers to enable members to gain hands-on experience in design and fabrication. In addition to the wide range of well-maintained equipment and useful training provided in the spaces, students create and host many events like workshops that teach members new and interesting skills to supplement classroom learning with hands on experience, competitions that promote creativity and entrepreneurship, and a “Startup Stories” speaker series through which alumni share their entrepreneurial experiences. For students who wish to venture further, the IDEA Lab provides opportunities for about 50 volunteers and 15 paid interns each year to participate in design and development of novel technologies coming out of Pitt labs and partner industries by working alongside our staff and faculty to create prototypes that meet commercialization milestones. Finally, we offer an academic certificate in Innovation, Product Design, and Entrepreneurship that includes a wide range of courses that enable students identify needs and develop desirable, feasible, and viable solutions, whether in companies, the public sector, or in their own startups.