In the Media

Three specialty graduate programs in the William States Lee College of Engineering rose in US News & World Report’s national rankings: Civil engineering: 75th (up 16 spots) Electrical engineering: 91st (up 18 spots) Mechanical engineering: 85th (up six spots) The university has invested heavily in its graduate programs and research capacity in recent years, attaining R1 research status […]

The American Nuclear Society’s Radwaste Solutions published research by Michael Smith, assistant professor of mechanical engineering technology, examining 3D-printed impact limiters for spent nuclear fuel transportation casks. The collaborative study with Orano Federal Services found that additively manufactured components using gyroid infill patterns could potentially save over $1 million compared to traditional designs while meeting […]

Aerospace America featured the 2026 AIAA Carolina Aerospace Symposium hosted at UNC Charlotte’s Energy, Production and Infrastructure Center (EPIC), which drew more than 80 participants from industry, government and academia. The article noted that UNC Charlotte now has the third-largest AIAA student membership in the Carolinas, underscoring the university’s expanding role in aerospace education. To […]

Foundation For The Carolinas’ FOCUS publication featured the Alan D. Kulwicki Motorsports Laboratory in a story on the late NASCAR champion’s enduring legacy. The article highlights how engineering students design and build Formula SAE race cars in the 6,800-square-foot lab, noting that more than 25 percent of NASCAR drivers and crew chiefs are Formula SAE […]

A U.S. Air Force-funded study at the William States Lee College of Engineering reveals that thin-film nanocomposite coatings for gears reduce friction by over 50 percent and significantly improve wear resistance. Published in Gear Solutions magazine, these findings offer high-performance solutions for the aerospace and automotive industries. To read the article, visit Gear Solutions.

WFAE turns to Charles Lee, associate professor of mechanical engineering, for insight into the impacts of federal funding uncertainty. Visit WFAE to listen to the segment.

A team of mechanical engineering students from the William States Lee College of Engineering partnered with Charlotte-based Carolina Signs and Wonders to solve a longstanding safety issue affecting bucket trucks industrywide. The five-student senior design team developed an aluminum catch pan and drainage system that prevents hydraulic fluid from dripping onto windshields, improving driver visibility—a […]

Construction Equipment Guide featured the William States Lee College of Engineering’s partnership with Bobcat Company in its coverage of the manufacturer’s major 2025 achievements. The collaboration brings $200,000 in student scholarships, an on-campus Innovation Hub in the PORTAL building, and expanded internship opportunities connecting Niner Engineers with industry professionals at Bobcat’s nearby Statesville facility—its largest […]

Niner Engineer Tiffani Teachey, a senior mechanical engineer with over 20 years of experience and host of the Women in Engineering Podcast, explains that engineering leaders can achieve work-life harmony by leading with intentional priorities, designing healthy boundaries, and embedding well-being into their daily systems. Her core message is that harmony isn’t about balancing competing […]

Niner engineer Nick Dietterich ’05 shares how UNC Charlotte’s construction management program prepared him for his role as a project engineer at Poettker Construction. To read the article, visit Collegiate Standard.