Engineering and Applied Science

The collection’s primary function is to support research and teaching programs in the School of Engineering and Applied Science. Programs of study are offered in the areas of applied mechanics, computer science, mechanical engineering and materials science, chemical and environmental engineering, electrical engineering, and biomedical engineering. All programs are under the School of Engineering & Applied Science.

Departments and Programs

• Department of Biomedical Engineering
• Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering
• Department of Electrical Engineering
• Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science
• Department of Computer Science (see separate collection development statement)

All programs offer bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. degrees.

Fields of interest for biomedical engineering include biological and medical devices, biological signals and sensors, biomaterials, biomechanics, biophotonics, computational medicine, computer vision, digital image analysis and processing, drug delivery, energy metabolism, gene therapy, modeling in mechanobiology, MRI, MRS, PET and tracer kinetic modeling, nanomedicine, network analysis, the physics of image formation (MRI, optics, ultrasound, nuclear medicine, and X-ray), physiology and human factors engineering, signaling pathways, systems biology, systems medicine, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, and vascular biology.

Subject areas supported for chemical and environmental engineering include nanomaterials, soft matter, interfacial phenomena, biomolecular engineering, energy, water and air quality, and sustainability.

Subject areas supported for electrical engineering include biomedical sensory systems, communications and signal processing, neural networks, control systems, wireless networks, sensor networks, microelectro­mechanical and nanomechanical systems (MEMS and NEMS), nanoelectronic science and technology, optoelectronic materials and devices, semiconductor materials and devices, quantum and nonlinear photonics, quantum materials and engineering, computer engineering, computer architecture, hardware security, and VLSI design and testing.

Fields of interest for mechanical engineering include fluids and thermal sciences (i.e. suspensions; electrospray theory and characterization; electrical propulsion applications; electrified and magnetized interfaces of electrically conducting liquids and ferrofluids; combustion and flames; computational methods for fluid dynamics and reacting flows; turbulence; laser diagnostics of reacting and nonreacting flows; and magnetohydrodynamics.), soft matter and complex fluids (i.e. jamming and slow dynamics in gels, glasses, and granular materials; mechanical properties of soft and biological materials; and structure and dynamics of proteins and other macromolecules), and robotics and mechatronics (i.e. machine and mechanism design; dynamics and control; robotic grasping and manipulation; human-machine interface; rehabilitation robotics; haptics; soft robotics; flexible and stretchable electronics; soft material manufacturing; responsive material actuators; soft-bodied control; electromechanical energy conversion; biomechanics of human movement; mechanics of biological muscle; and human-powered vehicles.)

Specific subject interests in materials science include studies of thin films; nanoscale effects on electronic properties of two-dimensional layered materials; amorphous metals and nanomaterials including nanocomposites, characterization of crystallization and other phase transformations; nanoimprinting; atomic-scale investigations of surface interactions and properties; classical and quantum nanomechanics; nanotribology; nanostructured energy applications; nanoparticle synthesis for energy applications; combinatorial materials science; and in situ transmission electron and scanning probe microscopy.

Engineering and applied science selection within supported subject areas is maintained at the research level for graduate study. The research level is defined as where independent research with the published sources can be pursued.

Because of the importance of the journal literature to research in engineering, serial subscriptions are given collection priority. Online databases and reference works are preferred over print. Monographs are purchased selectively in print or electronic format based on relevance to departmental teaching and research, reviews, user requests and faculty authors.

Formats and materials acquired generally

Research periodicals and scholarly monographs from academic, trade, and professional society publishers are preferred. Reference works include indexing and abstracting databases, handbooks, and encyclopedias. Electronic versions are preferred when available.

Formats and materials collected selectively or by request

• Conference proceedings are purchased selectively.
• Audiovisual material and technical reports are generally purchased only on request.
• Textbooks are generally excluded unless requested by faculty.
• Engineering standards are purchased individually by request.

Formats not collected

• Ephemera
• Instructor’s manuals
• Hardware and software manuals
• Juvenile works
• Pamphlets
• Preprints
• Manuscripts
• Microform

Materials collected are in English.

Current materials are emphasized.

No geographic areas are excluded.

Communication occurs with librarians in chemistry, environment, life sciences, and physics.

Works placed on course reserve are collected by Bass Library, along with books for which high use is anticipated.

The Medical Library collects materials related to biomedicine, particularly diagnostic radiology.

The Arts Library collects some materials in the areas of building design and construction. (Civil engineering is out of scope.)