Department of Aerospace Engineering

Department of Aerospace Engineering
Iowa State University

Letter from the Chair

Welcome to the Department of Aerospace Engineering (AerE) at Iowa State University.

Aerospace engineering is a dynamic and exciting field that pushes the frontiers of science and engineering to achieve humankind's aspiration in flight, discovery, and exploration.  We have an undergraduate program in aerospace engineering and graduate programs in aerospace engineering and engineering mechanics.  Our undergraduate program in aerospace engineering emphasizes problem-solving skills and critical and creative thinking in design and analysis.  In aerospace engineering, we learn how individual components and disciplines connect and integrate to form complex engineered systems through the aircraft and the spacecraft.  Graduates leave here with knowledge and an interdisciplinary perspective that enables them to address a wide range of engineering challenges both within the aerospace industry and beyond.

Our graduate programs in aerospace engineering and in engineering mechanics offer students opportunities to engage in research over a wide range of areas that are unified under the theme of Engineering for Extreme Environments, where we seek to increase the performance, durability, and life of engineering systems.  Focus areas include

–   Aircraft icing
–   Computational and experimental solid mechanics
–   Computational fluid dynamics
–   Gas turbine science and technology
–   Guidance and controls
–   Micro and nano mechanics
–   Nondestructive evaluation
–   Rotorcraft and uninhabited/micro aerial vehicles
–   Wind engineering and experimental aerodynamics

Our department has 28 tenured and tenure-track faculty members.  The department is housed in a state-of-the-art teaching and research complex and is the home to six unique research centers including two one-of-a-kind wind tunnels and the.

• Computational Fluid Dynamics Center
• Center for Industrial Research and Service
• Center for Nondestructive Evaluation
• Iowa Space Grant Consortium
• Virtual Reality Applications Center
• WiST Laboratory (Wind Simulation and Testing Laboratory)

The ultimate measure of any educational institution is in the accomplishments of our graduates.  We have established a Hall of Distinguished Alumni, where we induct highly distinguished alumni to honor them and for them to inspire our students.

Our dedicated faculty, staff, and students, and our loyal alumni have established the Department of Aerospace Engineering as a leader, and we look forward to continuing Iowa State's tradition of excellence in serving our state, our country, and our profession.

If you have any questions about programs or opportunities in AerE, contact us at 515-294-5666 or aere-infoiastate.edu.  We look forward to serving you.

Tom I-P. Shih
Professor and Chair