News Archive

Mechanical Engineering News

Finch Selected as Spring 2025 Outstanding Co-op Student

Henry Finch, a junior majoring in mechanical engineering, was selected as the spring 2025 Outstanding Co-op Student by the Engineering Career Development Center. Finch is currently completing his third and final term with Lavender, Inc. in Aliceville, Alabama, where he has served as a project manager co-op within the engineering and project management teams.


Author: Natalie Crouse    /    Published: August 28, 2025    /    Posted in:   Awards and Honors, Mechanical Engineering, Students   

Bama Dining is Test Site for Engineering Alum’s Invention    /  UA News

UA diners who never run out of their favorite beverage have John Podsednik to thank for that. The 2023 engineering alumnus is using Bama Dining locations to perfect his low soda monitoring system and is close to that goal.


Author: Associated Engineering Press    /    Published: August 25, 2025    /    Posted in:   Alumni, Mechanical Engineering, UA News   

ariel view of Engineering Quad

3 Engineering Faculty Members Receive DARPA MTO Award

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has presented the Microsystems Technology Office Award to three faculty members from the College of Engineering. Drs. A.B.M. Tahidul Haque and Sree Kalyan Patiballa, assistant professors in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, and Dr. Shreyas Rao, associate professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, were recognized at the agency’s Spark Tank event, held July 24-25 in Aurora, Colorado.


Author: Tanner Coffman    /    Published: August 19, 2025    /    Posted in:   Awards and Honors, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Engineering, Faculty and Staff, Mechanical Engineering    /    Features:   , ,   

lots of mechanical parts and wires inside a machine near a wall

UA’s AMI Connects Research and Industry Through Materials Innovation    /  UA News

At the Alabama Materials Institute, investments in facilities and technology aim to strengthen the collaborative ecosystem around materials engineering at The University of Alabama.


Author: Associated Engineering Press    /    Published: August 6, 2025    /    Posted in:   Mechanical Engineering, Research, UA News    /    Features:     

5 people in a lab

Research in Orbit: UA to Partner with Air Force Research Labs on Satellite Fuel    /  UA News

In a recently awarded project, the Alabama Materials Institute at The University of Alabama will aid the Air Force Research Laboratory in developing technology related to a new satellite propellant. The AFRL-developed Advanced Spacecraft Energetic Non-Toxic propellant, formerly known as AF-M315E, is less toxic and burns hotter than current satellite-based propellants, resulting in greater efficiency.


Author: Jessica Nelson    /    Published: June 26, 2025    /    Posted in:   Chemical and Biological Engineering, Faculty and Staff, Mechanical Engineering, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Partners, UA News    /    Features:   , , ,   

two headshot photos of students

2 UA Students Offered Hollings Scholarships    /  UA News

University of Alabama students Zachary Griffith, of Pittsburgh, and Jesse Park, of Burr Ridge, Illinois, were selected for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship.


Author: Bryant Welbourne    /    Published: June 24, 2025    /    Posted in:   Awards and Honors, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Students, UA News    /    Features:   ,   

Group photo outside

Alabama Astrobotics Team Digs into Success at NASA’s Lunabotics Challenge

The Alabama Astrobotics Team recently returned from NASA’s 2025 Lunabotics Challenge with national recognition for its innovative approach to lunar robotics and systems engineering. Hosted annually at NASA’s Kennedy Space…


Author: Natalie Crouse    /    Published: June 18, 2025    /    Posted in:   Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics, Awards and Honors, Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Students    /    Features:     

group photo around a machine

UA Astrobotics Finishes Strong in Lunar Robotics Competition    /  UA News

With less than a week before the final event of the 2025 NASA Lunabotics Challenge, members of The University of Alabama Astrobotics team were working in shifts to fine-tune their lunar robot. Fourteen-hour days weren’t unusual. And they loved it.


Author: Jessica Nelson    /    Published: June 18, 2025    /    Posted in:   Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics, Awards and Honors, Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Students, UA News    /    Features:     

people sitting beside an ecocar

COE Motorsports Teams Start the Summer Strong at National Competitions

During the past month, three student teams from The University of Alabama College of Engineering have demonstrated their technical skills and expertise in various engineering and motorsports competitions across the country, earning notable accolades for their work.


Author: Tanner Coffman    /    Published: June 17, 2025    /    Posted in:   Awards and Honors, Home Page Main Story, Mechanical Engineering, Students,   

Alabama Space Grant Consortium names scholarship, fellowship winners for 2025-2026    /  uah.edu

The Alabama Space Grant Consortium (ASGC) has announced the recipients of its 2025-26 scholarships and fellowships. ASGC is located on the campus of The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), a part of The University of Alabama System.


Source: uah.edu    /    Published: June 2, 2025    /    Posted in:   Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics, Awards and Honors, Computer Science, In The News, Mechanical Engineering, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Students   

In 1837, The University of Alabama became one of the first five universities in the nation to offer engineering classes. Today, UA’s College of Engineering has more than 5,800 students and more than 150 faculty. In recent years, students in the College have been named USA Today All-USA College Academic Team members, Goldwater, Hollings, Portz, Boren, Mitchell and Truman scholars.