From Classroom to Industry: Solving Engineering Challenges Through Simulation, Design, and Collaboration

Engineering innovation is most successful when education, research, and industry work together to solve real-world problems. This presentation highlights how the Mechanical Engineering Program at Penn State Scranton integrates engineering education, design, applied research, and industry partnerships to prepare the next generation of engineers while addressing challenges that matter to industry and the community.

The presentation begins with a brief introduction to the Mechanical Engineering Program at Penn State Scranton and its capabilities in engineering design, computational engineering, applied research, and industry collaboration. It then presents selected examples from my research demonstrating how engineering analysis and simulation can be used to address challenges related to energy infrastructure and the safety and reliability of engineering systems, including collaborative work with the Solution Mining Research Institute (SMRI) and the Pipeline Research Council International (PRCI) on the stability of pipes in underground salt caverns.

The presentation will also highlight successful student projects developed in collaboration with regional industry and community partners, including Verdantas, SIMONA, and the Monroe County Conservation District, illustrating how project-based learning creates value for both students and external partners while preparing students to solve authentic engineering problems.

The session concludes by discussing opportunities for companies to collaborate with Penn State Scranton through sponsored student projects, applied research, internships, guest lectures, and partnerships within engineering courses in design, vibrations, dynamic systems, computational fluid dynamics, and heat transfer. The goal is to strengthen connections between industry and academia while preparing students to solve real-world engineering challenges.