PhD in Mechanical Engineering - Ceramics and Metals in Pullman United States | Washington State University

For decades, the Pacific Northwest has been a hub for light-metals processing research, thanks to its access to affordable hydropower for smelting. Although the smelters have closed, WSU remains at the forefront of metallurgy and advanced ceramics engineering innovation. Industries like automotive, aerospace, power generation, and electronics—both in Washington and globally—depend on breakthroughs in ferrous and non-ferrous alloy processing, as well as advanced ceramics and glass technologies. At WSU labs, experts pioneer cutting-edge manufacturing and joining methods for metals and ceramics, such as 3D printing intricate structures and friction-stir welding different materials. The facilities also focus on optimizing glass materials and growing specialized single crystals. Scientists use advanced microscopy, electron and X-ray diffraction, spectrometry, and magnetometry to analyze microstructures in depth. Computational modeling, from atomic to macroscopic scales, complements experimental work to uncover the fundamental connections between processing methods, material structures, and performance properties.