For internal applicants: 

We support summer research for masters and undergraduates students. These can be hourly paid RA positions or research credit. If you are interested in participating in one research project, please email Yi to initiate discussion and planing:  yzhu2@mtu.edu. If you are a current undergrad or master students at MTU and are interested in the PhD program, we can work together to apply to NSF GRFP and DOD NDSEG fellowship.

For external applicants: 

To discuss your application with Yi, please send your CV to email: yzhu2@mtu.edu. 

I encourage you to directly apply to our program if you think our research aligns well with your career goal. I will try my best to reply to students' emails on application, but sometimes I just receive way more email than what I can possibly reply. PhD opportunities (fully funded) depends on research funding availability. 

Official Application Link: 

https://www.mtu.edu/gradschool/prospective/apply-now/ 

Material needed for application:

https://www.mtu.edu/cege/graduate/civil/phd/ 

PhD degree process outline:

https://www.mtu.edu/cege/graduate/learning-outcomes/

On-campus housing options and price ranges:

https://www.mtu.edu/housing/contracts-processes/rates/ 

The recreational facilities we offer to students:

https://www.mtu.edu/room-reservations/information/recreational/

PhD expectations: 

• You will earn a PhD degree in Civil Engineering.  

• 3 journal paper of work making up 3 chapters in the dissertation. 

• Hopefully during final year, 1 journal published, 1 journal submitted, 1 under construction while working on the PhD dissertation. 

• Weekly meeting for mentoring and ensuring that the progress is on track. 

• 2 conference presentations opportunities - ideally toward the final year so that it is aligned with graduation and job search. 

• While postdoc at MTU is welcomed, for those looking for academic jobs, I will be more happy to see you become successful at another higher ranked university or prestigious national lab.  

• Research will be focusing on reconfigurable and adaptive structures. We do provide flexibility in tuning the work towards applications in robotics, aerospace engineering, and/or civil engineering, but the theme of research is affected by the funding situation. 

• MTU is at a small northern city in the US. We have long winter and free skiing for our students. There are pros and cons to live in this place. Please do learn about our location before you apply. I do not hope you drop out of your PhD program half way ;)