Engineering seeks to create new processes, products, methods, materials, or systems that impact and are beneficial to our society. To enable its graduates to lead the advancement of technology, the Case School of Engineering offers fourteen degree programs at the undergraduate level (twelve engineering degrees, plus the BS in computer science and the BS in data science and analytics). At the post-graduate level, the School of Engineering offers Master of Science programs and the Doctor of Philosophy for advanced, research-based study in engineering. The Case School of Engineering offers two specialized degrees at the master’s level: a Master of Engineering specifically for practicing engineers, and an integrated Master of Engineering and Management jointly administered with the Weatherhead School of Management. The Case School of Engineering also offers two dual degrees at the graduate level jointly administered with the School of Medicine: a Doctor of Medicine/Master of Science and a Doctor of Medicine/Doctor of Philosophy.  The faculty and students participate in a variety of research activities offered through the departments and the interdisciplinary research centers of the university.

At the core of its vision, the Case School of Engineering seeks to set the standards for excellence, innovation, and distinction in engineering education and research prominence.

Statement of Educational Philosophy

The Case School of Engineering prepares and challenges its students to take positions of leadership in the professions of engineering and computer science. Recognizing the increasing role of technology in virtually every facet of our society, it is vital that engineering students have access to progressive and cutting-edge programs stressing five areas of excellence:

• Mastery of fundamentals
• Creativity
• Societal awareness
• Leadership skills
• Professionalism

Emphasizing these core values helps ensure that tomorrow’s graduates are valued and contributing members of our global society and that they will carry out the tradition of engineering leadership established by our alumni.

The undergraduate program aims to create life-long learners by emphasizing engineering fundamentals based on mathematics, physical, and natural sciences. Curricular programs are infused with engineering innovation, professionalism (including engineering ethics and the role of engineering in society), professional communications, and multi-disciplinary experiences to encourage and develop leadership skills. To encourage societal awareness, students are exposed to and have the opportunity for in-depth study in the humanities, social sciences, and business aspects of engineering. Undergraduate students are encouraged to develop as professionals. Opportunities include the Cooperative Education Program, on-campus research activities, and participation in the student chapters of professional societies. Graduates are prepared to enter the workforce and be strong contributors as practicing engineers or continue for advanced study in engineering.

At the graduate level, the Case School of Engineering combines advanced classroom study with a rigorous independent research experience leading to significant results appropriate for publication in archival journals and/or presentation at leading technical conferences. Scientific integrity, engineering ethics, and communication skills are emphasized throughout the program.

Brief History

The Case School of Engineering was established on July 1, 1992, by an action of the Board of Trustees of Case Western Reserve University as a professional school dedicated to serving society and meeting the needs of industry, government and academia through programs of teaching and research.

The Case School of Engineering continues the tradition of rigorous programs based on fundamental principles of mathematics, science and engineering that have been the hallmark of its two predecessors, the Case School of Applied Science (1880) and the Case Institute of Technology (1947). The formation of the Case School of Engineering is a re-commitment to the obligations of the gift of Leonard Case, Jr., to serve the citizens of Northern Ohio. The Case School of Engineering has been a leader in many educational programs, being the first engineering school to offer undergraduate programs in computer engineering, biomedical engineering, polymer engineering, and systems and control engineering.

Statistics

Enrollment Statistics by Degree Program (Fall 2016 through Fall 2020). Data reflects sophomore, junior and senior declared Majors. 

CSE Enrollment Stats 2020-21

CSE Degree Program	Fall 2016	Fall 2017	Fall 2018	Fall 2019	Fall 2020
Aerospace Engineering	113	114	111	93	104
Biomedical Engineering	394	331	336	338	318
Chemical Engineering	183	170	169	149	151
Civil Engineering	67	60	61	66	55
Computer Engineering	56	44	26	30	37
Computer Science (BA and BS)	281	331	374	378	388
Data Science and Analytics			2	15	25
Electrical Engineering	131	153	141	155	135
Engineering Physics	28	26	20	19	12
General Engineering	0	0	0	1	0
Materials Science and Engr	52	49	38	41	31
Mechanical Engineering	309	303	303	285	286
Polymer Science and Engr	73	55	41	40	34
Systems and Control Engr	18	20	17	17	16

Graduation Statistics by Degree Program (AY 2016-17 through AY 2020-21)

Graduate Stats 2020-21

CSE Degree Program	2016-17	2017-18	2018-19	2019-20	2020-21
Aerospace Engineering	28	34	43	18	29
Biomedical Engineering	125	117	79	82	100
Chemical Engineering	67	59	61	46	52
Civil Engineering	21	24	19	26	23
Computer Engineering	24	22	11	11	19
BA in Computer Science	34	26	25	42	46
BS in Computer Science	66	54	90	85	89
Data Science and Analytics				1	5
Electrical Engineering	43	57	54	52	58
Engineering Physics	11	9	8	8	5
General Engineering		1	1	1	1
Materials Science and Engr	15	16	14	15	10
Mechanical Engineering	102	102	115	91	99
Polymer Science and Engr	29	22	12	20	17
Systems and Control Engr	3	5	4	6	6

Administration

Venkataramanan Balakrishnan, PhD
(Stanford University)
Charles H. Phipps Dean of the Case School of Engineering

Daniel J. Lacks, PhD
(Harvard University)
Associate Dean of Academics

Christian A. Zorman, PhD
(Case Western Reserve University)
Associate Dean of Research

Sunniva Collins, PhD
(Case Western Reserve University)
Associate Dean of Professional Graduate Programs

Daniel Ducoff, MS
(University of California, Berkeley)
Vice Dean for External Relations of the Case School of Engineering

Cena Hilliard, MS, MBA
(University of Wisconsin-Madison, CWRU)
Associate Dean of Finance, Administration, and Business Operations

Deborah J. Fatica, MA
(Bowling Green State University)
Assistant Dean of the Division of Engineering Leadership and Professional Practice

Kurt R. Rhoads, PhD, PE
(Stanford University)
Faculty Director of the First-Year Engineering Experience

Bachelor of Arts

The Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science is granted by the College of Arts and Sciences and administered by the Department of Computer and Data Sciences.

---

Bachelor of Science 

The Bachelor of Science degree is available with the following majors:

• Computer Science
• Data Science and Analytics

---

Bachelor of Science in Engineering

Majors are available in the following subjects, and  the curricular requirements for the major are given in the links.

• Aerospace Engineering
• Biomedical Engineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Computer Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Engineering Physics
• General Engineering
• Materials Science and Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Polymer Science and Engineering
• Systems and Control Engineering

In addition to the major department requirements, each engineering undergraduate degree program includes the Engineering Core (Engineering General Education Requirements), which provides a foundation in mathematics and sciences as well as aspects of engineering fundamentals for programs in engineering.  The Engineering Core is also designed to develop communication skills and to provide a body of work in areas of study outside of engineering, science, and mathematics.  Requirements of the Engineering Core can be found in the Undergraduate Studies section of this bulletin.

Students enrolled in other majors may elect to pursue a minor.  The minor program advisor's approval is required. The successful completion of a minor will be indicated on a student's transcript.  Minors are available in all of the subjects listed above except General Engineering and Engineering Physics, and the curricular requirements for the minor are given in the links above. In addition, minors are available in the following subjects:

• Artificial Intelligence
• Applied Data Science
• Biomolecular Engineering
• Computer Gaming
• Electrochemical Engineering
• Mechanical Design and Manufacturing

For a full list of engineering and university minors, go to the Office of Undergraduate Studies website.

---

Bachelor of Science in Engineering/Master of Science

The integrated BS/MS program is intended for highly motivated and qualified undergraduate students who wish to pursue an advanced degree. Students admitted to the program may, in the senior year, take up to nine credits of graduate courses that will count toward both BS and MS requirements. 

---

Bachelor of Science in Engineering/Master of Engineering

Students who have received a BS degree in engineering or computer science from the Case School of Engineering, and who are accepted for admission into the Master of Engineering (ME) degree program within a period of 24 months after graduation, are entitled to transfer up to 6 credit hours of course work from their BS degree to their ME degree program.

The courses to be considered for transfer should be specified at the time of application to the ME program, and require approval by the director of the Master of Engineering Program and the Dean of Engineering. Once approved, a request for an internal transfer of credit will be sent to the Registrar, and these courses will be included in the student’s Academic Program for the ME degree.

---

Master of Engineering 

The Master of Engineering Program is a graduate degree program that targets engineers currently employed in industry. The objective of this program is to provide engineers in industry with technical as well as business, management, and teamwork skills. The program differs from a traditional Master of Science degree in engineering by combining core courses that focus on the engineering-business environment and technical elective courses that concentrate on contemporary industrial practice rather than on research.

• More details on the Master of Engineering
• For more details about the exclusively online Master of Engineering degree program, visit online-engineering.case.edu/masters/.  

---

Master of Engineering and Management

The Master of Engineering and Management (MEM) program provides business acumen and leadership skills to uniquely position graduates for rapid advancement in technology-oriented organizations.  The MEM curriculum is the result of nearly 20 years of ongoing research and interviews with hundreds of industrial stakeholders and more than 600 graduates in our thriving alumni network. This interdisciplinary, joint degree program combines the analytical expertise and rigor from the Case School of Engineering and the organizational insights of the Weatherhead School of Management.  MEM is a 1 year, cohort program that starts every year in June. This program is designed for undergraduate engineering majors and is focused on developing high-impact talent, which companies are actively seeking. Students can enter this program after their junior year or upon graduation. 

• More details on the Master of Engineering Management

---

Master of Science

The Master of Science degree is available with the following majors:

• Aerospace Engineering
• Biomedical Engineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Computer Engineering
• Computing and Information Science
• Electrical Engineering
• Engineering (Undesignated)
• Macromolecular Science and Engineering
• Materials Science and Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Systems and Control Engineering

Recognizing the different needs and objectives of resident and non-resident graduate students pursuing the master’s degree, three different tracks are offered. In all plans, transfer of credit from another university is limited to six hours of graduate-level courses, taken in excess of the requirements for an undergraduate degree, approved by the student’s advisor, the department chair, and the dean of graduate studies.

By the end of the second semester of enrollment, all Master of Science degree programs require an approved Planned Program of Study or a defined Academic Requirements Report, hereafter referred to as the student's Academic Program, via the Student Information System. Revisions must be submitted and approved via the Student Information System when any change in the Academic Program occurs.

A cumulative quality point average of 3.0 or above in all courses taken for credit as a graduate student at Case Western Reserve University (excluding grades in thesis research and grades of R) is required for the award of the master's degree. 

The University requires all foreign applicants to show English Proficiency by achieving a TOEFL score of at least 90 on the internet-based exam for a thesis-focused or a project-focused track.  For a course-focused track, a minimum TOEFL score of 80 is required.  If there is any professional student-to-student interaction, e.g. as a teaching assistant, a lab instructor, or a tutor, then a minimum TOEFL score of 90 is required.  

Master’s Thesis-Focused Track

Minimum requirements for the degree of Master of Science in a major field under this plan include a total of 30 hours of coursework and thesis work with the:

1. Completion of at least 18 hours of graduate coursework at the 400 level or higher. The courses must be approved by the department offering the degree.
2. Completion of at least 9 hours of thesis work culminating in a thesis examination given by at least three professors, plus approval by the chair of the department offering the degree. A student with research experience equivalent to a thesis may petition the Graduate Committee of the Case School of Engineering for substitution of nine hours of coursework for the thesis requirement. In this case, the thesis examination above is replaced by a similar examination covering the submitted research work and publications. Additional requirements may be specified by individual degree programs.

Master’s Project-Focused Track

Completion of 30 hours of approved coursework including three to six hours of Special Problems. At least 18 (21) hours must be at the 400 level or higher corresponding to a 6 (3) hour Special Problems course work. Special Problems course work must consist of an engineering project approved by the chair of the department offering the degree and may be carried out at the student’s place of employment with nominal supervision by a faculty advisor or in the school's laboratories under direct supervision. The project must culminate in a written report and examination by at least three professors plus approval by the chair of the department offering the degree. The Special Problems course may be waived for students who have had industrial design or research experience and who submit sufficient evidence of this experience in the form of a publication or internal report. For these students, a minimum of 30 hours of coursework and the final oral examination covering the submitted publications or reports as well as related course material will be required for the master’s degree. 

Master's Course-Focused Track

Completion of 30 hours of approved coursework. At least 24 hours must be at the 400 level or higher, satisfactory completion of the culminating course-focused experience, i.e. passing the course ENGR 600 with requirements defined by the student's curricular program, and additional requirements as specified by the program.  Students should consult with their academic advisor and/or department to determine the detailed requirements within this framework.  

Online MS Degree Options

The Case School of Engineering offers three MS degree programs exclusively online, giving working engineers the opportunity to advance their careers from anywhere:

• Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering
• Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
• Master of Science in Systems & Control Engineering

The programs are designed for working professionals and can be completed in less than two years. All courses are taught by the same faculty who teach graduate students on campus. With the same in-depth, rigorous content delivered in a convenient online format, students who participate in the online programs receive the same robust education and training as traditional on-campus master’s students.

Learn more and apply.

Additional Distance Learning Opportunities

In addition to the online-exclusive programs, the Case School of Engineering offers select classes in its campus-based graduate degree programs in a convenient online format designed for students who need additional flexibility.

Learn more about available online courses.  

---

Doctor of Medicine/Master of Science

Medicine is undergoing a transformation based on the rapid advances in science and technology that are combining to produce more accurate diagnoses, more effective treatments with fewer side effects, and improved ability to prevent disease. The goal of the MD/MS in Engineering is to prepare medical graduates to be leaders in the development and clinical deployment of this technology and to partner with others in technology-based translational research teams.  For further information, see the MD/MS Program in the Biomedical Engineering graduate section of this bulletin. Interested students should apply through the biomedical engineering department.

---

Doctor of Philosophy

The Doctor of Philosophy degree is available with the following majors:

• Aerospace Engineering
• Biomedical Engineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Computer Engineering
• Computing and Information Science
• Electrical Engineering
• Macromolecular Science and Engineering
• Materials Science and Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Systems and Control Engineering

The student’s PhD program should be designed to prepare him or her for a lifetime of creative activity in research and in professional engineering practice. This may be coupled with a teaching career. The mastery of a significant field of knowledge required to accomplish this purpose is demonstrated by an original contribution to knowledge embodied in a thesis and by satisfactory completion of a comprehensive course program which is intensive in a specific area of study and includes work in other areas related to, but not identical with, the major field. The necessity for breadth as well as depth in the student’s education cannot be overemphasized. To this end, any engineering department may add additional requirements or constraints to ensure depth and breadth appropriate to its field.

No student may be admitted to candidacy for the PhD degree before approval of his or her Academic Program via the Student Information System. After this approval has been obtained, it is the responsibility of the student’s department to notify the dean of graduate studies of his or her admission to candidacy after the student has fulfilled any additional department requirements. Minimal requirements in addition to the university requirements are:

1. The minimum course requirement beyond the BS level is 36 credit hours of courses taken for credit, at least 18 hours of which must be taken at Case Western Reserve University. The following courses taken for credit will be acceptable for a PhD program of study:
   i.  All 400-, 500-, and 600-level courses
   ii. Approved graduate-level courses taken at other institutions
2. A minimum depth in basic science equivalent to six semester hours (for credit) is required. This requirement is to be satisfied by courses that have been previously approved by the faculty of the department in which the student is enrolled.
3. The requirement for breadth is normally satisfied by a minimum of 12 semester hours of courses (for credit) outside the student’s major area of concentration as defined by the student’s department and does not include courses taken to fulfill the basic science requirement.
4. A minimum of three teaching experiences as defined by the student’s department. All programs of study must include departmental 400T, 500T, and 600T courses to reflect this requirement. All students fulfilling teaching duties must complete UNIV 400A or UNIV 400B.
5. The minimum requirement for research is satisfied by at least 18 hours of thesis (701) credits.
6. A cumulative quality point average of 3.0 or above in all courses taken for credit as a graduate student at Case Western Reserve University (excluding grades in thesis research and grades of R) is required for the award of the doctoral degree.

Qualifying Examination

The student must pass a qualifying examination relevant to his or her area of study as designated by the curricular department with which he or she is affiliated. For students who obtain the MS degree from Case Western Reserve University, the qualifying examination should be taken preferably before the end of the student’s fourth semester of graduate study but no later than the end of the fifth semester at the university. For students entering with the master’s degree, the examination should be taken no later than the end of the third semester at the university.

Program of Study

Before registering for the last 18 credit hours of the program, all Doctor of Philosophy degree programs require an approved Planned Program of Study or a defined Academic Requirements Report, hereafter referred to as the student's Academic Program, via the Student Information System. Revisions must be submitted and approved via the Student Information System when any change in the Academic Program occurs.  

If the student is pursuing the PhD degree without acquiring the MS degree, a petition to waive the requirement of the MS degree should be approved by the departmental advisor and the chair and submitted to the dean of graduate studies. All required courses taken at the university beyond the BS degree should be shown on the Academic Program with the grade if completed. If the requirements are to be fulfilled in ways other than the standard described above, a memorandum requesting approval should be submitted to the dean of graduate studies.

The Academic Program must be submitted within one semester after passing the qualifying examination.

---

Doctor of Medicine/Doctor of Philosophy

Students with outstanding qualifications may apply to the MD/PhD program. Students interested in obtaining a combined MD/PhD, with an emphasis on basic research in biomedical engineering are strongly encouraged to explore the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), administered by the School of Medicine. For further information, please see the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) section of this bulletin.  Interested students should apply through the MSTP office in the School of Medicine. The Doctor of Medicine/Doctor of Philosophy program is available with PhD majors in Biomedical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering.

---

Interdisciplinary Research Centers

Interdisciplinary research centers act as intensive incubators for students and faculty doing research and studying applications in specialized areas. Research centers and research programs at the Case School of Engineering have been organized to pursue cutting-edge research in collaboration with industrial and government partners. The transfer of technology to industry is emphasized in all the centers.

The educational programs of these centers encompass the training of graduate students in advanced methods and strategies, thus preparing them to become important contributors to industry after graduation; the involvement of undergraduates in research; the presentation of seminars that are open to interested members of the community; and outreach to public schools to keep teachers abreast of scientific advances and to kindle the interest of students in seeking careers in engineering.

Advanced Manufacturing and Mechanical Reliability Center (AMMRC)

White Building (7205)
Phone: 216.368.4234
John J. Lewandowski, Director
john.lewandowski@case.edu

Website: http://ammrc.case.edu

The Advanced Manufacturing and Mechanical Reliability Center (AMMRC) was established to provide advanced manufacturing (e.g. deformation processing, extrusion, forming, etc.) and mechanical characterization (e.g. mechanical testing, reliability testing, fatigue, etc.) expertise to the CWRU campus, medical, industrial, legal, outside university, and government laboratory communities. The center, housed in the Charles M. White Metallurgy building, currently maintains equipment valued in excess of $4.5M and has been accessed by the local, national, and international communities. The CWRU campus community can access the facility via the use of a valid CWRU university account number that will be charged at an internal rate for machine time, including set up and any technician time involved. Long-term testing can be provided at pro-rated charges in consultation with the center directors. Arrangements can be made to train users on the equipment and reserve time for equipment use by contacting the center co-director. Outside (i.e. non-CWRU) users can access the facility via a number of different mechanisms by contacting the center director.

In general, the center is capable of mechanically evaluating and deformation processing materials that range in size scale from the micrometer range up through bulk quantities. This unique facility enables mechanical characterization at loading rates as low as one micrometer/hour (i.e. rate of fingernail growth!) up through impact (e.g. 3-4 meters/sec) at temperatures ranging from -196C (i.e. liquid nitrogen) up to 1400C. Hot microhardness testing up to 1000C is available. Monotonic as well as cyclic fatigue testing is possible in addition to evaluations of mechanical behavior and processing with superimposed pressures up to 2 GPa. Novel high-rate and multiple-deformation sequence forging simulations are possible with the use of a multi-actuator forging simulator, in addition to sheet metal forming experimentation with independent control of forming rate and blank hold down force. Hot extrusion is also possible at temperatures up to 900C on 0.5" diameter billets. Materials systems that have been investigated span the range of organic and inorganic materials, including metals, ceramics, polymers, composites, electronic materials, and biomedical materials systems. Descriptions of specific equipment and capabilities are provided with the website link.

Back to top

Advanced Platform Technology (APT) Center

Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center
10701 East Boulevard, Mail Stop 151 W/APT
Cleveland, Ohio 44106
Phone: 216.707.6421 Fax: 216.707.6420
Ronald J. Triolo, Executive Director
ronald.triolo@case.edu

The Advanced Platform Technology (APT) Center at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center is a designated Center in the Rehabilitation Research and Development (RR&D) Service. Established in 2005 as a collaboration between the Cleveland VA Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University (CWRU), the APT Center focuses on addressing the medical needs of veterans with sensorimotor dysfunction, cognitive impairment, or limb-loss through the application of cutting-edge technologies or rehabilitation techniques and translating them from proof of concept to viable clinical options. The APT Center captures advances in material science, microfabrication and microsystem design, neural engineering, mechanics, and communications that are organized into four thematic clinical Application Areas - Prosthetics & Orthotics, Health Monitoring & Maintenance, Neural Interfacing, and Activity-Based Neurorehabilitation. Over 50 engineers and clinician scientists at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, CWRU, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland State University, Kent State University, University of Michigan, and Cornell University are affiliated with the APT Center and contribute to its mission. The APT Center is able to provide or facilitate access to the following resources:

• Neural modeling and analysis of interface designs

• Polymer and bioactive material development

• Microelectromechanical (MEMS) systems design and fabrication

• 3-D and laser printing/prototyping, mechanical testing, and dynamic simulation

• Pre-clinical in vitro and in vivo verification of device performance

• Circuit, sensor, and software design and fabrication

• System validation and design control documentation

• Professional engineering support and project management

• Administrative support for intellectual property protection, regulatory affairs, and quality systems

 Back to top

Breakthrough Electrolytes for Energy Storage Energy Frontier Research Center

Phone: 216.368.1636
Robert F. Savinell, Director
robert.savinell@case.edu

The Center for Breakthrough Electrolytes for Energy Storage is a DOE Office of Science EFRC center intended to identify new battery chemistries with the potential to provide large, long-lasting energy storage solutions for facilitating the introduction of intermittent renewable energy and for enhancing power grid efficiency.   The research of the BEES focuses on understanding the fundamental underpinnings of electrochemistry, structure, and transport properties of several new classes of materials that can be tailored to give optimal properties. The EFRC BEES is led by CWRU and collaborates with several other universities and two National Labs.

Case Metal Processing Laboratory (CMPL)

Case Metal Processing Laboratory (CMPL)
105 White Building
Phone: 216.368.5070 Fax 216.368.3209
Matthew A. Willard, Faculty Director
matthew.willard@case.edu

The CMPL houses state-of-the-art, melting and casting capabilities for a wide range of ferrous and non-ferrous alloys. The facility has a unique combination of laboratory and industrial scale equipment. Research projects with federal and industrial support are carried out by teams of faculty, graduate, and undergraduate students. Computer Aided Design, flow and solidification simulation, and rapid prototyping tools are used to optimize our casting process.  Sand and permanent mold castings are available on a moderate scale (to 1500 lbs) using our induction melters. Our facility provides hands-on experiential learning opportunities for engineering students in laboratory classes and summer research programs.

Facilities

• Industrial UBE 350 Ton Vertical Squeeze casting machine (with preheatable tooling for manufacturing of high integrity parts)
• Induction melting furnaces with a 350 kW/1000 Hz Inductotherm power supply (up to 1,500 lb. steel capacity)
• Vacuum induction melting and casting furnace using a 35 kW/10 kHz Inductotherm power supply (up to 50 lb. capacity)
• Lindberg 75 kW electrical melting furnace (up to 800 lb. of aluminum capacity)
• Thermal Fatigue Testing Unit for die material qualification in molten aluminum (a.k.a. Dunkers)
• Permanent molds for casting test bars and evaluation of molten metal quality
• Sand molding and sand testing equipment
• Equipment for melting and casting magnesium alloys
• Computer modeling workstation with flow and heat transfer finite element software

 Back to top

CAPP is a state-of-the-art center for advanced polymer blending and compounding and reactive extrusion at CWRU able to perform basic research and applied research and development in support of the Ohio and US plastics industry. The main tools of CAPP are:

• State-of-the-art sensors that allow multiple rheological, physical, chemical and morphological quantities to be measured along the screw axis of twin-screw extruders;
• Advanced multi-scale computational simulation capabilities to build physical-chemical-structural models of polymer systems under flow in realistic polymer transformation processes;
• Integration of on-line sensors and multi-scale softwares to develop new advanced and functional multiphase complex materials or optimize the performance of existing ones.

Back to top

Center for Biomaterials

202 Wickenden Building (7207)
Phone: 216.368.4564
Steven J. Eppell, Director
Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering
steven.eppell@case.edu

Anirban Sen Gupta, PhD, Associate Director
Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering
anirban.sengupta@case.edu

The Center for Biomaterials carries out research and development projects to investigate new biomaterials, tissue engineered materials, and targeted drug delivery systems for use in cardiovascular applications and implants. The Center for Biomaterials also provides researchers access to shared use facilities, which includes high-resolution microscopy such as AFM, molecular spectroscopies, surface analysis, and polymer and peptide synthesis capabilities. The chemical and mechanical interface between the biomaterial and the host tissue are the focus of major study, with the goals being to improve biologic function and biocompatibility in the response of the human body to implants. Current projects include investigation of thrombosis (blood clotting) and infection mechanisms due to cardiovascular prosthesis, biomimetic design of novel biomaterials for cardiovascular and neural implants; and cardiovascular and neural tissue engineering based on biomimetic designs. Studies at the cell and molecular level assist our understanding of the underlying mechanisms so that novel biomedical materials may be designed, prepared, and characterized.

Back to top

Center for Computational Imaging and Personalized Diagnostics (CCIPD)

Wickenden Building Room 523
Phone: 216.368.8519
Anant Madabhushi, Director
anant.madabhushi@case.edu

The Center of Computational Imaging and Personalized Diagnostics at Case Western Reserve University is involved in various different aspects of developing, evaluating and applying novel artificial intelligence, quantitative image analysis, computer vision, signal processing, segmentation, multi-modal co-registration tools, pattern recognition, and machine learning tools for disease diagnosis, prognosis, and theragnosis in the context of more than 13 disease areas including cardiovascular, kidney, and eye disease; and multiple cancers: breast, prostate, lung, head and neck, brain tumors, colorectal, and others. The group is also exploring the utility of these methods in studying correlations of disease markers across multiple length scales, modalities, and functionalities -from gene and protein expression to spectroscopy to digital pathology and to multi- parametric MRI and CT. Utilization of multi-modal methodologies demonstrates that mined image biomarkers can be combined with multi-omics data and interrelated health variables to differentiate disease among diverse populations for precision medicine.

The Center’s goals in precision medicine are to have societal impact, reduce health disparities, and improve global health, especially in low- and middle-income countries. The Center has a team of more than 65 (faculty, staff, and students) with more than 400 publications, more than 100 patents issued or pending, 16 patents licensed, $60 million in funding since its founding in 2012, and 40 active research, industry, and pharmaceutical collaborations on six continents.

Back to top

Center for Dielectrics and Energy Storage (CDES)

312 Kent Hale Smith Building
Phone: 216.368.5861
Lei Zhu, Director
lxz121@case.edu

CDES mission is to discover, develop, and translate novel dielectric technologies for energy storage and capacitor applications.  Researching high energy density, high temperature, and low loss dielectric film capacitors, we integrate these innovations with storage devices, hybrid electric vehicles, multi-megawatt power conditioning, pulsed power, and high energy physics applications.  Originating from the Center for Layered Polymeric Systems (CLiPS), a National Science Foundation Science and Technology Center focuses on research, innovation, and education through a unique multilayer film technology, CDES extends this technology into new energy frontiers.

CDES has access to state-of-the-art equipment, which includes process equipment for fabricating, stretching, and testing dielectric films, including:

• Novocontrol Concept 80 Broadband Dielectrics Spectrometer
• Radiant Premier II Ferroelectric Tester

In addition to research, CDES plays a significant role in educating undergraduate students, graduate students, and post-doctoral associates to work in advanced energy material fields.

Back to top

Center for the Evaluation of Implant Performance

Wearn Building Room 511
Phone: 216.844.1745
Clare Rimnac, Director
clare.rimnac@case.edu

The mission of the Center for the Evaluation of Implant Performance is to pursue engineering, scientific, and economic analyses of joint replacement procedures, to evaluate the performance of implant devices during patient use, and to assess the medical and economic outcomes of joint reconstruction and related patient care.  This mission is achieved in part through IRB-approved collection, maintenance, and protection of clinical and radiographic information and total joint replacement components obtained at revision or removal surgery. The primary goals are to advance the science of joint replacement surgery by improving the performance and durability of joint replacement devices through advances in implant materials and design and to innovate improvements in patient care processes that result in improved patient outcomes. To this end, the Center for the Evaluation of Implant Performance works in close partnership and collaboration with the Center for Joint Replacement and Preservation at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center.

Back to top

Center for Layered Polymeric Systems (CLiPS)

NSF Science and Technology Center
420 Kent Hale Smith Building (7202)
Phone: 216.368.4203 Fax 216.368.6329
Eric Baer, Director
eric.baer@case.edu

CLiPS researchers and educators work together to accomplish the Center's mission of advancing the nation's science and technology agenda through development of new materials systems and for educating a diverse American workforce through interdisciplinary education programs.

CLiPS research focuses on exploration of multilayered polymeric systems at the micro- and nano-layer levels and has revealed unique properties and capabilities that are different, and often not predicted, from systems involving the same materials on a larger scale. Technology refined within CLiPS allows the production of films and membranes composed of hundreds or thousands of layers. These extremely thin layers promote interactions approaching the molecular level between the materials used in the process.

The research activities are organized to exploit the microlayer and nanolayer structures including the combination of rheologically dissimilar materials to create new polymer-based structures; science and technology initiatives that probe a fundamental understanding and explore new opportunities for layered structures; optical and electronic systems based on advanced layered materials; new combinations of polymeric materials that advance packaging options and address the need for sustainability; new combinations of polymeric materials created specifically for military and national security needs.

CLiPS was established in 2006 with funding by the National Science Foundation as a Science and Technology Center. It is the first NSF STC ever to be established at Case Western Reserve University. CLiPS is an evolving, multi-disciplinary center involving close partnerships with the Army Research Laboratory, the Naval Research Laboratory, and Université de Savoie in France.

Back to top

Cleveland Functional Electrical Stimulation Center (FES)

10701 East Boulevard, Cleveland, Ohio 44106
Phone: 216.231.3257 Fax: 216.231.3258
Robert J. Kirsch, Executive Director
info@FEScenter.org

Functional electrical stimulation (FES) is the use of small, artificially generated electrical currents that are safely and selectively applied to the central or peripheral nervous system to replace the actions of neurons that have been damaged by injury or disease. FES can produce and control the movement of otherwise paralyzed limbs, for standing and hand grasp, activate visceral bodily functions such as micturition, create perceptions such as skin sensibility, arrest undesired activity, such as pain or spasm, facilitate natural recovery, and accelerate motor relearning. The FES Center is the most comprehensive and cohesive program in the world performing FES investigation that spans from basic to applied, and the investigators work on many different applications within five research thrusts:

• Movement Restoration: Restoring limb and other body movements
• Brain Health: Brain stimulation for movement disorders, stroke and traumatic brain injuries, epilepsy and neuropsychiatric disorders
• Pain: Pain mitigation through stimulation of peripheral nerves and the spinal cord
• Autonomic System: Autonomic nervous system stimulation for restoration and/or regulation of internal body and visceral functions
• Tools & Technology: Development of implantable systems and electrodes, modeling & simulation tools and other rehabilitation approaches complementary to FES

The FES Center was established as a VA RR&D Center of Excellence in 1991 and is based at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center. The center is a consortium of five nationally recognized institutions: Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, MetroHealth Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, University Hospitals of Cleveland, and the Cleveland Clinic Neurological Institute. The FES Center strives to create an inquisitive and collaborative environment from which researchers, engineers and clinicians work in a unique alliance to develop innovative, patient-centric solutions that improve the quality of life of individuals with neurological or other musculoskeletal impairments. Through the use of neurostimulation and neuromodulation research and applications, the Cleveland FES Center leads the translation of this technology into clinical deployment.

Back to top

Control and Energy Systems Center (CESC)

Olin Building, 6th Floor
Phone: 216.368.5122
Mario Garcia-Sanz, Director
mario@case.edu

Website: http://cesc.case.edu

With an interdisciplinary and concurrent engineering approach, the Control and Energy Systems Center (CESC) focuses on bridging the gap between fundamental research and applied industrial projects in Advanced Control and Systems Engineering, with special emphasis in energy innovation, wind energy, power systems, water treatment plants, sustainability, spacecraft, environmental and industrial applications.  Fundamental research is conducted to gain knowledge and understanding on multi-input-multi-output systems, distributed parameter systems and nonlinear plants with uncertainty, and to develop new methodologies to design quantitative robust controllers to improve the efficiency and reliability of such systems.

The CESC’s expertise has been applied to real-world problems with industrial partners and space agencies in the following main areas:

• Multi-Megawatt Onshore and Offshore Wind Turbines
• Airborne Wind Energy Systems
• Renewable Energy Plants, Advanced Energy Systems
• Power System Dynamics and Control, Grid Integration, Energy Storage
• Large Radio Telescope Control, Optical Telescope Control
• Formation Flying Spacecraft, Satellites with Flexible Appendages
• Wastewater Treatment Plants, Desalination Systems
• Heating Systems, Fluid Dynamics
• Robotics, Parallel Kinematics 

The CESC's capabilities and equipment include:

• Fully instrumented wind tunnel to test prototypes at wind speeds up to 20 m/s
• Lab-scale wind turbine blade manufacturing units
• State-of-the-art computer programs for commercial wind turbine design
• Aerodynamics, Solid Modeling, and Electrical Design CAD/CAE software
• Advanced software to design robust QFT control systems
• Software for analysis and simulation of dynamic systems
• Multiple laboratory scale wind turbines with a variety of collinear and orthogonal rotors, electrical generators, gearboxes, sensors, actuators and hierarchical real-time torque/pitch/yaw control systems
• Lab-scale wind farms with flexible configurations
• Fully-controlled 6-DOF Stewart platform for lab-scale Floating Wind Turbine experimentation
• Laboratory helicopter to test advanced control systems

Back to top

Electronics Design Center (EDC)

112 Bingham (7200)
Phone: 216.368.2935
Chung-Chiun Liu, Director
chung-chiun.liu@case.edu

Website:  https://engineering.case.edu/edct/

iLab site: https://cwru.corefacilities.org/service_center/show_external/5609

The Electronics Design Center (EDC) is a multi-disciplinary educational and research center focusing on the applications of microfabrication processing to the advancement of chemical and biological micro systems specializing in application-oriented electrochemical-based biosensors. The center has complete thick film and thin film processing facilities, including screen printing, inkjet printing, and sputtering equipment. Other facilities supporting the microfabrication processing are also readily available. The EDC is a resource for industrial and academic researchers, offering access to equipment, laboratories, and trained staff.

Back to top

Great Lakes Energy Institute (GLEI)

219 Olin Building (7074)
Phone: 216.368.0748
Rohan Akolkar, Faculty Director
rohan.akolkar@case.edu

The Great Lakes Energy Institute empowers faculty, students, and partners to catalyze breakthroughs in energy sustainability that address the most pressing problems facing our world.  Since 2008, GLEI has helped catalyze a five-fold increase in energy research, won awards from NSF, DOE, (ARPA-E, EERE, OE), Ohio Third Frontier and other organizations, attracted over $110 million in awards, worked with over 100 different industry partners, and encouraged multidisciplinary proposals throughout the university.  At the heart of these efforts are over 90 engaged faculty, hailing from engineering, arts & sciences, management, and law.  And while GLEI’s work supports all types of energy, the focus lies in five priority areas:

Energy Storage - Storage research builds on historical strengths in electrochemistry, materials and lifetime and degradation science. Recent research awards include ARPA-E and DOE.

Energy Materials - Research spans topics in areas of interest to industry and the U.S. Department of Energy, to include materials reuse and recycling, rare earths and critical materials, and materials use in renewable energy. A particular focus is on next-generation photovoltaics (PV), focused on organics and lifetime and degradation science, stemming from a strong reputation in materials, research, and development.

Future Power - CWRU's energy program is underpinned by research in power systems. Strengths in controls, sensors, and electronics provide a core foundation for smart grid connectivity of energy and storage.

Wind Energy - Wind energy emphasizes offshore deployment and is founded on wind and ice measurement, controls, power management, and grid interface expertise. Much of this work is supported by DOE awards and the State of Ohio.

Oil and Gas - Research focuses on technologies that enhance safe extraction, transport, and processing of shale gas and oil in Ohio.  Strengths are present in macromolecules, sensors, corrosion-resistant casings, cementitious materials, and modeling and simulation of hydro-fracking process and its impact on the subsurface.

The role of CWRU in energy also touches economic development and education.  Through research and investment, university spin-outs are poised to contribute to a new energy economy while working toward a clean and sustainable future.  Students undertake key roles in the research and commercialization of the energy technologies contributing to worldwide impact.

 Back to top

Industrial Assessment Center (IAC)

110 Glennan Building
Phone: 216.368.5191
Chris Yuan, Operations Director
chris.yuan@case.edu 

The Industrial Assessment Center (IAC) at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU), funded by the US Department of Energy, was established in 2019. The mission of the IAC is to improve energy efficiency, reduce wastes and enhance productivity at small and medium-sized manufacturing companies and water treatment plants in Northeast Ohio, part of the lower peninsulas of Michigan, and Western Pennsylvania. 

The IAC is led by a multidisciplinary team including six faculty members from three Engineering departments (Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering; Electrical, Computer, and Systems Engineering; and Materials Science and Engineering). We work closely with many established partner organizations and stakeholders in the region, including utility companies, governmental agencies, industrial associations and Chambers of Commerce. Every year, the IAC works with 10-12 manufacturing companies/water plants, trains 6-10 engineering students on industrial energy efficiency, and graduate 2-4 of them as energy engineers.

The Industrial Assessment Centers program, formerly known as Energy Analysis and Diagnostic Centers, was created by the Department of Commerce in 1976. Today, the IAC program is managed through the Advanced Manufacturing Office under the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the Department of Energy. Including the IAC at Case Western Reserve, there are 31 centers established at different universities all over the US.

Website: https://engineering.case.edu/research/centers/industrial-assessment-center/

Materials for Opto/Electronics Research and Education (MORE) Center

616 White Building (7204)
Phone: 216.368.4007 
Ina Martin, Operations Director
ina.martin@case.edu 

Kenneth Singer, Faculty Director
kenneth.singer@case.edu

The Materials for Opto/Electronics Research and Education (MORE) Center advances science and innovation with facilities and expertise enabling the fabrication and characterization of materials and devices for emerging electronic and optoelectronic technologies, including renewable energy and quantum computing. Located in the Charles M. White Metallurgy Building, the MORE Center is a hub for undergraduate and graduate research, education, and collaboration. The center has 21 tools available for both direct use and service work; in addition to a suite of thin film deposition options, the MORE Center has large-area profilometry, ellipsometry, mechanical testing, and microscopy characterization tools, a cleanroom facility, electron and photolithography capabilities, and inert gloveboxes for work with air-sensitive materials.

Established in 2011, the MORE Center has amassed over 600 users from 60 research groups across the College of Arts and Sciences, the Case School of Engineering, the CWRU School of Medicine, and the CWRU School of Dental Medicine. The MORE Center is open to internal and external academic and industrial users.

Back to top

Microfabrication Laboratory (MFL)

342 Bingham Building (7200)
Phone: 216.368.6117 Fax: 216.368.6888
Christian Zorman, Director
christian.zorman@case.edu

MFL houses a state-of-the-art facility that provides the latest in microfabrication and micromachining processes. The laboratory focuses on the applications of microfabrication and micromachining technology to a wide range of sensors, actuators, and other microelectromechanical (MEMS) systems. In addition to silicon-based technology, the laboratory has a unique strength in silicon carbide micromachining that is particularly valuable for applications in harsh environments.  To support the development of flexible microsystems, polymer micromachining is also available. Undergraduate students, graduate students, and post-doctoral assistants use the laboratory's facilities to carry out their research or special projects.

Researchers not affiliated with CWRU can also use the laboratory through a facilities use agreement.

Back to top

National Center for Space Exploration Research (NCSER)

21000 Brookpark Rd., MS 110-3
Phone: 216.433.5031
Mohammad Kassemi, Director
mohammad.kassemi@case.edu

The National Center for Space Exploration Research (NCSER) is an advanced research collaborative partnership between Case Western Reserve University (CWRU), Universities Space Research Association (USRA), HX5 Defense & Space, LLC, and NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC). Under the umbrella of the NASA Glenn Engineering & Research Support (GEARS) contract, NCSER provides NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) with specialized science and technology development capabilities essential to sustaining its leadership role in NASA’s Space Exploration and Space Science Missions. In particular, the center provides fundamental scientific and research support to NASA’s Biological and Physical Sciences (BPS) Division in the NASA Science Mission Directorate (SMD) to perform microgravity experiments aboard the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory. Scientific and engineering expertise resident at NCSER include: reduced gravity fluid mechanics and combustion processes, heat and mass transfer, physiochemical fluid processes, multiphase flows, micro-fluidics, phase change and interfacial phenomena, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), and multiscale fluid-structural-interaction modeling of human physiological systems. These expertise have been applied to numerous areas and research interests including:

• Microgravity thermal and fluid systems management and control
• Cryogenic fluid management
• Microgravity flow and pool boiling
• Microgravity combustion
• Spacecraft fire safety
• Energy storage
• Environmental systems monitoring/control
• On-orbit repair of electronics
• Astronaut life support systems
• Astronaut health and space disorder countermeasures
• ISS Integrated system health monitoring
• Performance of human cardiovascular, vestibular, musculoskeletal and renal physiologies in space 
• Bio-Fluid mechanics
• Bio-Systems modeling
• Dust mitigation and management
• Planetary surface mobility
• In-situ resource utilization
• Materials synthesis

Back to top

Neural Engineering Center (NEC)

112 Wickenden (7207)
Phone: 216.368.3974 Fax: 216.368.4872
Dominique Durand, Director
dominique.durand@case.edu

The research mission of the center is to bring to bear combined tools in physics, mathematics, chemistry, engineering, and neuroscience to analyze the mechanisms underlying neuronal function and to solve the clinical problems associated with neuronal dysfunction. Research areas include: Neuromodulation, Neuroprostheses, Quantitative Neurophysiology, Neural Dynamics, Neuro-Mechanical Systems, Neural Regeneration, Neural Interfacing, Neural Imaging and Molecular Sensing, Neuro-Magnetism, and Systems Neuroscience. The education mission of the center is to provide engineers and scientists with an integrated knowledge of engineering and neuroscience capable of solving problems in neuroscience ranging from the molecules to the clinic. The center is also an outlet for technology transfer of new ideas to be commercialized by industrial partners. The center’s goals are accomplished by fostering interdisciplinary research between clinicians, scientists, students and local industry, educational experiences including didactic material, laboratory experience, and clinical exposure, and close ties to industrial partners.

Back to top

Nitinol Commercialization Accelerator (NCA)

White Building (7205)
Phone: 216.368.4234
John J. Lewandowski, Director
john.lewandowski@case.edu

Matthew A. Willard, Co-Director
matthew.willard@case.edu

Website:  http://ammrc.case.edu/node/51/

The Ohio Third Frontier Wright Projects Program has funded the Nitinol Commercialization Accelerator (NCA), a collaborative effort between the Cleveland Clinic, CWRU, University of Toledo, NASA Glenn Research Center, and Norman Noble, Inc. in order to develop a better understanding of the metallurgical processing and mechanical characterization of nitinol for use in biomedical and aerospace applications. Biomedical applications range from orthodontia to implantable devices while higher temperature shape memory alloys are of interest for aerospace. The collaboration is designed to create synergy amongst collaborators in the research and development of nitinol products.

The laboratory housed at CWRU’s Material Science and Engineering Department contains processing and characterization (thermal and mechanical) equipment that allows for the manufacture and analysis of nitinol products. Processing equipment includes a vacuum arc casting unit, vacuum heat treatment system, and hot extrusion capabilities. Thermal characterization equipment includes a high-temperature Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC) while mechanical characterization equipment for testing wire/foil includes a number of flex bending fatigue machines, rotary bending fatigue machines, and tabletop tension testing machines. 

The Cleveland Clinic and NASA Glenn Research Center also house equipment associated with the NCA program including Raydiance-Rofin Femtosecond Laser, Techne FB-08 Precision Calibration Bath, MTS Cryo-chamber and Grips, and an Aramis/Optotrak Certus 3D Strain Mapping system.

Glennan Building 101
Contact: Jennifer Carter, Jeffrey Pigott
216-368-4214, jwc137@case.edu
216-368-6012, jxp652@case.edu
Website: https://engineering.case.edu/centers/scsam/

SCSAM, the Swagelok Center for Surface Analysis of Materials, is a multi-user facility providing cutting-edge major instrumentation for microcharacterization of materials. SCSAM is administered by the CSE (Case School of Engineering) and is central to much of the research carried out by CSE's seven departments. The facility is also extensively used by the CAS (College of Arts and Sciences) Departments of Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences, as well as many departments within the School of Medicine and the School of Dental Medicine. Typically, more than 200 users, mostly academic, utilize the facility per year.

SCSAM's instruments encompass a wide and complementary range of characterization techniques, which provide a comprehensive resource for high-resolution imaging, diffractometry, and spatially-resolved compositional analysis.

Current capabilities for high-resolution imaging include: an AFM (atomic force microscope) which can optionally be operated with an imaging nanoindenter scan head or a stand-alone automated nanoindenter; a Keyence optical microscope providing the next-generation of optical microscopy with a large depth-of-field and advanced measurement capabilities for inspection and failure analysis.; two scanning electron microscopes, one equipped for FIB (focused ion beam) micromachining, and both equipped with XEDS (X-ray energy-dispersive spectrometry), TSEM (transmission scanning electron microscopy), and EBSD (electron backscatter diffraction) detectors.

For XRD (X-ray diffractometry), SCSAM provides two diffractometers with 1D and 2D detectors to allow for phase identification, phase fraction determination, crystal structure refinements, as well as stress and strain measurements of crystalline solids.

SCSAM's surface analysis suite of instruments includes an instrument for ToF-SIMS (time-of-flight secondary-ion mass spectrometry), a SAM (scanning Auger microprobe) for spatially resolved AES (Auger electron spectroscopy), and an instrument for XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, also known as ESCA, electron spectrometry for chemical analysis), that accomplishes high spatial resolution by operating with a focused X-ray beam.

SCSAM’s instruments are housed in a centralized area allowing users convenient access to state-of-the-art tools for their research. For more information, please visit the center’s website: https://engineering.case.edu/centers/scsam/"

Educational Facilities

MyApps

MyApps provides a virtual desktop environment with access to run all of the software licensed to any CWRU community member based on program of study, course enrollment or role at the university, without the need for installation on a computer. MyApps is available to all current CWRU students, faculty and staff members. Users of MyApps can stream software instantly without having to install it from any device, even public computers, through the MyApps portal.

MyApps is compatible with Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, ChromeOS, and major Linux distributions and can be accessed via a computer running an up-to-date web browser (Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Safari). MyApps can also be accessed from any mobile device, such as an iOS or Android device, by installing the Citrix Workspace app from that device’s app store.

https://myapps.case.edu
To begin using MyApps, go to https://myapps.case.edu.
For more information visit https://case.edu/utech/services/myapps/.

Nord Computer Laboratory 

The Nord Computer Laboratory is a general purpose computer facility, provided by the Case School of Engineering, open 24 hours a day, available to all CWRU students. The lab contains 56 Thin Clients that connect to a Windows environment.

Larry Sears and Sally Zlotnick Sears think[box]

Housed in the Richey Mixon Building, the Larry Sears and Sally Zlotnick Sears think[box] (http://thinkbox.case.edu) houses all the resources budding innovators and makers need to bring their ideas to life. At 50,000 square feet, this maker space and innovation center is one of the largest such facilities at any university in the world. Six floors are now open, each dedicated to a specific stage of the innovation process, including open areas and meeting spaces for interaction, prototyping tools and equipment, a fabrication machine shop and project space, in addition to an incubator where students receive guidance as they start new ventures.

Vision

Inspiring, educating, and empowering an inclusive community to explore, innovate, and solve problems

Mission

The mission of Sears think[box] is to:

• Support people learning, refining, and utilizing skills to achieve their desired goal(s) in innovation, entrepreneurship, and making
• Cultivate and welcome a diverse community
• Create a culture that encourages persistence and values resilience

Think[box] is available to instructors from across the university to assist in their development and delivery of credit-bearing courses.  In addition, think[box] resources can be accessed by undergraduate and graduate students pursuing course-related, research, or independent projects.  In order to ensure accessibility, think[box] staff regularly offer training associated with the operation of specific equipment.  Requests for custom training will be considered.