<p>I'm currently a MECH major at a school that does not have an AE program. I would love to get a PhD in AE, possibly in a research area studying flow processes. My goal is to get into a top school.</p>
<p>I have some concerns though... I have research experience, but it is lacking in relevance to AE research areas. I currently work in an advanced materials lab that has composites as its main focus. I know composites are heavily used in aircrafts, but the materials we are studying are generally used in the automotive industry. </p>
<p>There are 2 professors in my department that does some AE related research in propulsion and Computational fluid dynamics, but they are not open to having undergrads working/volunteering in their lab. This is frustrating and out of my control. The ME program at my school has a high emphasis on energy and materials research, an area I have very little interest in. At least in the composites lab, I can use some of the things I learned and apply it to AE research areas, but it has very little to do with flow processes.</p>
<p>Do you guys think that a lack of "relevant" research experience will prevent me from top institutions? It seems that most graduate students have relevant undergrad research experience. I don't want to make excuses, but there is little I can do to change the situation. I hope it's not a significance downside.</p>
<p>I imagine it won’t be a big problem, though someone who has gone through grad school can correct me if I am wrong. I imagine your past research and references thanks to it will show the school whether you are cut out for research and I think that is what they care more about, not so much that you did research on a different subject than your current interest.</p>
<p>Heck, many people don’t realize what they want to focus on until they apply for grad school, so I can’t imagine it is common they did a bunch of research in the area they want to pursue. I think you will be fine!</p>
<p>This happens all the time. I got my BS in mechanical engineering and worked in a couple research positions that had little or nothing to do with aerospace but it didn’t matter. Like aerokid1491 said, I had research experience and recommendations that provided some insurance against me washing out right away from research, which is what graduate schools really want. I am now roughly 2/3 of the way finished with my PhD in aerospace engineering. There are many people that do this, not just me.</p>
<p>I am not really sure what you mean by “flow processes”, but I would suggest that if possible, you should absolutely take a compressible flow class while you are an undergrad and you also ought to consider taking a viscous flow class if your department offers one. You will have a much easier transition if you do that.</p>
<p>Not really knowledgeable about most of it, but I’ll tell you this: it’s not so much that you need research experience that is DIRECTLY relevant to your major, but just that you need research. Doing research proves competency as an independent researcher, which is far more important than having relevant experience.</p>
<p>Thank you guys for the replies. That’s good to hear.</p>
<p>By flow processes I mean fluid mechanics. They call the course “mechanics of flow processes.”</p>
<p>There aren’t any in depth courses dedicated to compressivle or viscous flows, or any in depth classes regarding any flow. There is a CFD and grad level fluid mechanics class I plan on taking though. Those are the only fluid mechanics classes ican think of.</p>
<p>Not my area but you can also apply to summer research positions outside of your school at different universities. </p>
<p>That way you can get direct aerospace research exposure (if you get accepted) before you graduate.</p>
<p>I have reviewed many graduate applications for the physics department at my university and I agree with everyone who says that it is not so much what kind of research you do as an undergraduate but that you have experience and know what it means to do research.</p>
<p>One of the best things you can do besides doing research at your school is to get into a summer REU program. That will give you an idea of what other universities are like and you might get experience in a field more closely aligned to your interests.</p>
<p>Thanks. Speaking of REUs, does the prestige of the host institution matter when you apply for grad school? Assuming you accomplish the same work and quality at each program. They’re competitive enough as it is. Every program seems to have similar acceptance rates.</p>
<p>Oops, double posted.</p>