PhD Student Outcomes

Launch into a High-Impact Career

A PhD in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science from Duke helps to open opportunities for future success. Duke MEMS has an excellent track record of placing doctoral graduates in industry, national labs, and academia—and empowering a growing number of graduates to start their own companies.

Duke Chapel and Abele Quad at Duke University

Success in Numbers

Our PhD graduates go on to make important contributions across a range of opportunities. Click to get interactive with our data.

More Data
61.2%

go on to careers in industry and the public sector

with leading organizations such as Amazon, Northrop Grumman, SpaceX and the U.S. Department of Defense

17.7%

go on to positions in academia

at places such as Johns Hopkins, Northwestern, UT Austin and the U.S. Naval Academy

13.5%

go on to further training

including post-doctoral fellowships

Meet Duke MEMS Alumni

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Ted Kaufman
5/2 Duke Magazine

The Perfect Fit

Discover how Ted Kaufman’s education and experience in Duke’s mechanical engineering program helped launch his political career closely tied to President Joe Biden.

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