We know that as a graduate student you’re looking for several things—a place where you can study with the very best minds in your field of interest, and a place where you can be happy and get the academic, social and career development support you need and want. Duke is consistently ranked as one of the top research institutions in the nation. Our graduates are prepared for careers in academia, industry, or government, and many pursue research and technology development paths.
We also know how to make the most of our strengths. We strive to make our programs interdisciplinary—that means we’re busting through traditional silos and boundaries. The vast majority of our research programs focus on areas where more than one discipline of study is needed to solve the problems at hand. Our faculty is working with researchers from Duke’s medical school, the Nicholas School for the Environment, departments of chemistry, physics, math and computer science—and with scientists and engineers around the world. The most exciting science and engineering is happening in diverse groups where no idea is off limits and everyone has something to offer. What’s more, such relationships will stretch you intellectually, help you build technical depth, and help you get a job after graduate school. We feature seminars, workshops, social gatherings and networking events, and special departmental graduate course offerings designed to take your experience to the next level.
Our Values
Our students work in a supportive, close-knit community and have ample opportunities to:
- to publish with their faculty adviser,
- to present research at professional conferences,
- to work in a highly collaborative, cross-disciplinary environment, and
- to make significant contributions to their field.
Biomedical Engineering| View Your Options
A research focus is selected from the following areas: biomechanics; biomolecular and tissue engineering; electrobiology and neural engineering; and biomedical imaging. The BME department offers the degree options listed below.
- M.S. Degree (Thesis/Project)
- Ph.D. Degree
- M.D./Ph.D. Degree
Civil and Environmental Engineering| View Your Options
A research focus is selected from the following areas: materials, structures and geo-systems; hydrology and environmental fluid dynamics; and environmental process engineering. Within these study tracks, students can pursue engineering mechanics, computational mechanics, geomaterials and environmental geomechanics, engineering and environmental geophysics, structural engineering, water resource engineering, hydrology, environmental fluid dynamics, and chemical and biological aspects of pollution of water, atmosphere, and soil, among others. The CEE department offers the degree options listed below
- 4+1: B.S.+M.S. Degree (Option only for Duke undergraduate students. Thesis/Project)
- M.S. Degree (Thesis/Project)
- Ph.D. Degree
Electrical and Computer Engineering| View Your Options
A research focus is selected from the following areas: architecture and networking; biological applications; circuits and systems; nanosystems, devices and materials; quantum computing and photonics; sensing and signals; and waves and metamaterials. The ECE department offers the degree options listed below.
- 4+1: B.S.+M.S. Degree (Option only for Duke undergraduate students. Thesis/Project)
- M.S. Degree (Thesis/Project)
- Ph.D. Degree
Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science| View Your Options
A research focus is selected from the following areas: acoustics and vibrations; aerodynamics and fluid dynamics; biomechanics and biomaterials; dynamics and controls; energy tech and thermodynamics; manufacturing; and materials science and mechanics. The MEMS department offers the degree options listed below.
- 4+1: B.S.+M.S. Degree (Option only for Duke undergraduate students. Thesis/Project)
- M.S. Degree (Thesis/Project)
- Ph.D. Degree