The Department of Mechanical Engineering will develop new scientific understandings, launch innovative technologies, and nurture creative engineers that will solve today's societal challenges: improving human health, enabling security, and creating sustainable energy systems. There are eight focus areas for mechanical engineering students enrolled in the Master of Science Thesis program. Mechanics of materials is an area focusing on quantitative description of the motion and deformation of solid materials subjected to forces, temperature changes, electrical voltage or other external stimuli. At CU Boulder, we apply theoretical modeling, computational simulation and experimental characterization to study a wide range of soft materials, from biological tissues and gels to smart polymers. Our applications cover a long list of current and emerging technologies including tissue engineering, membrane filtration, stretchable electronics, smart materials, medical robots and innovative surgical devices.