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Message from the Chair

Dear Colleagues and Friends, 

I hope this message finds you well as we wrap up the academic year. Please take a moment to explore our latest updates from the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at UC San Diego. From six decades of achievements in MAE to breakthroughs in fusion research and advancements in robotics, we continue to push the boundaries of engineering. Discover our news below!

Stefan Llewellyn Smith
Professor & Chair

60 Years Strong: Highlights from MAE’s Anniversary Celebration

On April 11, 2025, MAE welcomed more than 220 guests to campus to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. The day-long event featured inspiring keynote speakers, an engaging alumni panel, faculty talks highlighting cutting-edge MAE research, student-led poster presentations, lab tours, student organizations, and a happy hour.  In case you missed it, check out event highlights, photos, and presentations.

Fusion as a Clean Energy Source: The Experiment of the Century

For scientists studying fusion energy, the “experiment of the century” at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory demonstrated the potential of fusion as a clean energy source. The experiment achieved fusion ignition, meaning the energy output exceeded the input. However, the historic breakthrough raises key engineering questions that must be addressed before fusion can become a safe, affordable solution. MAE Professors Farhat Beg and George Tynan dive into the challenges in their recent paper. Read More>>

Coordination Across Western U.S. States Could Lead to Massive Energy Savings

A recent study published in Nature Communications and led by MAE Assistant Professor Michael Davidson found that collaboration between Western U.S. states could greatly reduce energy system costs, to the tune of $3.25 billion per year. The paper outlines how various climate policy scenarios and coordination across 11 states could propel clean energy initiatives by aligning strategies among neighboring states. Read More>>

UC San Diego Engineers Build Produce-Friendly Robotic Gripper

A team of engineers, working alongside MAE Associate Professor Nick Gravish, have devised a gripper made from measuring tape that can gently pick fruits and vegetables. The grippers are both soft and pliable enough to handle produce without causing damage, while also being cost-efficient and safe. Their design, titled GRIP-tape (Grasping and Rolling In-Plane), was published in Science Advances in April. Read More>>

Associate Teaching Professor Huihui Qi Receives Dual Teaching Honors

MAE Associate Teaching Professor Huihui Qi received two awards for her outstanding contributions to engineering education. She was awarded UC San Diego’s 2025 Distinguished Teaching Award, which recognizes an extraordinary commitment to teaching excellence, innovation, and inspiration in the classroom. Qi was also honored with the ASEE 2024–2025 Archie Higdon Distinguished Educator Award for her deep commitment to advancement and improvement in mechanics education. Read More>>

Associate Professor Mamadou Diagne Wins $20K for Robotics Competition

MAE Associate Professor Mamadou Diagne was recently awarded $20,000 from the IEEE Control Systems Society (CSS) to support the Pan-African Robotics Competition (PARC) in Senegal this July. PARC, among the largest robotics events in Africa, launched a new initiative, “When Robotics Meet Controls” co-organized by Diagne, the Dakar American University of Science and Technology (DAUST), and IEEE CSS. The competition highlights the role of control systems in robotics, with student teams tackling challenges such as obstacle avoidance, sensor-based human-robot collaboration, and more. Read More>>

MAE Distinguished Professor Miroslav Krstic Named Fellow-Ambassador of CNRS

Miroslav Krstic, MAE Distinguished Professor and Senior Associate Vice Chancellor for Research at UC San Diego, was recently named a Fellow-Ambassador of the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), France's highly prestigious research organization. He was selected for this recognition based on his exceptional research in automation and control engineering for nonlinear and adaptive systems. Read More >>

Associate Teaching Professor Maziar Ghazinejad Receives Multiple Awards for Impactful Instruction

MAE Associate Teaching Professor Maziar Ghazinejad was honored with two awards recognizing his exemplary teaching and instructional practices. The first, the Warren College 2025 Outstanding Faculty Teaching Award, is based on nominations from graduating seniors and highlights his hands-on methods and unwavering dedication to student learning. The second, the Legacy Lecture Award from the UC San Diego Scholars Society, honors educators who have made a profound impact on students’ academic and personal growth. Read More>>