Message from the Chair
Welcome to the Department of Metallurgical, Materials and Biomedical Engineering (MMBME) at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). The department has a deep-rooted history since 1914 when it was part of the Texas State School of Mines and Metallurgy at El Paso. In 1919, it became known as the College of Mines and Metallurgy, and is the second oldest academic institution of the University of Texas System. Over the years, the name of the degrees offered has evolved and included the B.S. degree in Metallurgical Engineering in 1957 which transitioned to the B.S. degree in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering around 1987 as a result of "materials' being identified as a strategic thrust of UTEP. The B.S. in MME has been accredited since 1991.
In 2015, the Biomedical Engineering (BME) programs were incorporated into the MMBME department, which now offers the following degrees:
- B.S. in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering (MME)
- M.S. in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering (MME)
- Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering (MASE)
- M.S. in Biomedical Engineering (BME)
- Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering (BME)
The Metallurgical, Materials and Biomedical Engineering degrees are hands on programs that emphasize the materials paradigm where materials processing has influence over the material's structure, which has impact on the properties and performance of all materials. We strive to encourage student engagement in the classroom with high quality laboratory resources and strategic collaboration with multiple industry partners. Students at all levels are offered research experiences in extractive metallurgy, processing metallurgy, high temperature and high entropy alloys, forensic engineering, materials performance, polymer engineering, biomaterials, additive manufacturing, tissue engineering, STEM cells, aerospace materials and materials in extreme environments and sensors. The MMBME department includes the following research laboratories:
- Materials Development for Biomedical Applications – Dr. Boland
- Center for the Advancement of Space Safety and Mission Assurance Research (CASSMAR) – Drs. Cone, Olivas and Stafford
- The Printable Materials Center – Dr. Kim
- Oxidation Resistance Alloys - Dr. Varma
- Polymer Extrusion Laboratory (PEL) – Dr. Roberson
- Advanced Materials Manufacturing and Sensing - Dr. Quinones
- Inspired Materials & Stem-Cell Based Tissue Engineering Laboratory (IMSTEL) - Dr. Joddar
- Structural and Functional Materials Research and Innovation – Dr. Misra
- Extractive Metallurgy and Electrochemistry Lab – Dr. Yue
We welcome visitors and encourage you to contact us to set up a tour of our department. Please email mmbme@utep.edu and let us know your interests!
Stella A. Quiñones
Chair
UTEP Distinguished Teaching Professor
Freeport-McMoRan Distinguished Chair in Metallurgical Engineering
UT Regents' Outstanding Teaching Awardee
