Mechanical and aerospace engineering

New Code Connects Microscopic Insights to the Macroscopic World

Recent alum Tim Linke leveraged ties between UC Davis and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory to conduct his computational research and develop a new framework that couples atom-scale simulations with code that describes the macroscopic world, all within a single simulation.

The Women Machinists’ Club Turns Curiosity into Confidence

Undergraduate students Lena Araya and Lydia Miteza found their way to mechanical engineering through hands-on making, mentorship and accessible spaces offered by the Women Machinists’ Club at UC Davis. Now they are leading the WMC and reshaping how students encounter engineering.

Zhaodan Kong Awarded CITRIS-CDSS Innovation Fellowship to Advance Early Wildfire Detection

Associate Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Zhaodan Kong has earned a CITRIS-CDSS Innovation Fellowship to pilot FireFly, an AI-powered sensor and drone system designed to detect wildfires at their earliest stages.

Constellations of Possibilities as an AIAA Rising Star

In this Q&A, Aggie Engineer Ava Lewis shares the ins and outs of attending a major aerospace conference as an AIAA Rising Star, from meeting aerospace influencers to landing recruiter conversations to forging connections that will last a lifetime.

Shreya Chandra Receives 20 Twenties Award

UC Davis senior Shreya Chandra has been named to Aviation Week’s 2026 20 Twenties, a global honor recognizing standout STEM students in the aerospace field. The award highlights her achievements in mechanical and aerospace engineering and connects her with industry leaders.

UC Davis Alum Leads Safety Efforts for Roblox’s Global Community

As the chief safety officer at Roblox, UC Davis alum Matt Kaufman leads safety and civility efforts across one of the world’s most complex online ecosystems. Through this vast digital space, young users are gaining important socialization skills, such as how to communicate, collaborate and be respectful to one another.

Tomorrow, Today

From youth-extending medical interventions to 3D printers that bypass physical barriers with sound, assistant professors at the University of California, Davis, are daring to build the world of tomorrow with visionary research programs.