Graduate Program

Graduate study in combustion technology at the UCI Combustion Laboratory is offered at the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) level with the Master of Science (M.S.) as a required, first step. The principal paths for graduate study are through either the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) or the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE).

For information regarding application procedures, click here for MAE and here for CEE.

In the Statement of Purpose, state your interest in the UCI Combustion Laboratory (UCICL) and the research of Professor Vince McDonell (MAE), Professor Bihter Padak (MAE), and/or Professor Scott Samuelsen (MAE, CEE) as the contact for the program.

Areas of specialization focus on the mechanistic behavior of practical, continuous combustion systems (e.g., boilers, furnaces, gas turbines) and include advanced design, smart combustion systems with advanced active control, fuel properties, and fuel air mixing behavior.

Research tools include experimental methods using state of the art test facilities, advanced laser diagnostics, computation fluid dynamics, and design of experiments.

Our graduate students have a variety of research opportunities that include experimental studies where graduate students work hands on with combustion systems and materials, and theoretical analyses and advanced computational modeling.

Graduate students in the UCICL are exposed to a diverse set of opportunities and approaches to conducting research. The majority of the UCICL research projects are conducted in collaboration with State, Federal, and regional agencies, and with industrial partners, thereby creating an opportunity for graduate students to interact with, and even work alongside professionals from the public and private sector.

The diversity of activities that a graduate student experiences in the conduct of research at the UCICL – teamwork, collaboration with professionals, experimentation, reporting, presenting research results – prepares each student with a comprehensive set of skills at the highest level to carry them forward in their professional careers after graduation.

Located just a few miles from the Pacific Ocean, UCI is surrounded by California’s nicest beaches, the art, culture, and night life of Los Angeles, the famous Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, and the Mojave Desert. From hiking, mountain biking, and surfing to film festivals, art walks, and theater performances, there is truly something for everyone. The welcoming campus, situated in the "Safest Cities in America" - Irvine, is also located near numerous well-known engineering companies, ideal for post-graduates and those looking to get ahead in the world of engineering.

Ph.D. graduate students are guaranteed on-campus housing, which offers amenities for both family and single living, parking, and a clubhouse that is available for personal or community events. Housing is also conveniently located alongside the Anteater Recreation Center, an on-campus gym that is fully equipped with large indoor/outdoor courts, fields, a swimming pool, a rock-climbing wall and an array of fitness classes.

Click here for UCI Housing information.

Funding is available for graduate students accepted into the program. The financial package supports educational fees, a stipend, as well as health and dental benefits.