College of EngineeringDepartment of Industrial and Systems EngineeringResearch

Research

Auburn University has three principal missions: instruction, research and outreach. The primary focus of our research is directed to the solution of problems and the development of knowledge and technology important to the state and nation and to the quality of life of Alabama citizens. Our research programs make important contributions to instructional programs through the involvement of graduate and undergraduate students and the renewal of the faculty. Outreach is the application of academic expertise beyond the traditional campus setting to the benefit of external constituents. Auburn’s outreach mission is defined by its historical designation as a land-grant university. Faculty engagement in outreach improves the quality of life in Alabama and beyond, and also provides them valuable experience and insights that can inform their teaching and research.

Here are some facts about our program:

- 20 highly talented faculty members

- $2.5 million in research expenditures

- 152 graduate students enrolled (73 in the doctoral program)

- 456 undergraduate students enrolled

Key Research Focus Areas:

  • Advanced manufacturing
  • Statistical quality control
  • Occupational safety and ergonomics
  • Warehouse optimization
  • Operations research
  • Engineering economics
  • Electric power modeling and economics

Grants which support our Research and Outreach:

Faculty research is supported by grants from the National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Defense, NIOSH, NASA, and other personal and private funding agencies, institutions, and for profit companies. Our faculty collaborates at Auburn and with domestic and international universities and industry leaders to accomplish their research initiatives.

Recent Research News


Emmanuel Winful, right, is the college's health and safety manager.
Auburn Engineering named Green Cross Award semifinalist
College recognized for advocating transformational research that doesn't push the boundaries of safety.
9/25/23 8:20 AM
The 11th annual Graduate Engineering Research Showcase offers $8,250 in prizes.
Almost 200 registered for annual Graduate Engineering Research Showcase
Students will exchange ideas, hypotheses and fresh concepts between one another and faculty judges on Thursday, October 12.
9/21/23 8:00 AM
Auburn Engineering professors Fa Foster Dai, J. David Irwin and Bruce Tatarchuk have been recognized as NAI fellows, while professor Jin Wang is an NAI senior member.
AU ranked by National Academy of Inventors among Top 100 U.S. universities granted utility patents
Auburn innovators earned 12 new patents in 2022
9/14/23 7:00 AM
Murray Gibson
#GINNing Podcast: Ergonomics, Eh?
Industrial and systems engineering doctoral student Murray Gibson sat down with the #GINNing gang to talk about the man in the mirror whose multi-task ergonomic analysis model is going international.
7/14/23 11:00 AM
Peter Liu, left, recently received an NSF CAREER award to support his research into deep learning's application in predicting fatigue performance in additive manufacturing.
ISE assistant professor earns NSF CAREER Award for AM deep learning
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is turning to assistant industrial and systems engineering professor Peter Liu in the form of a $500,000 CAREER Award meant to generate new insight into defect formation relevant to fatigue performance of parts manufactured through laser powder-bed fusion (LPBF) and uncover the synergistic impacts of multi-scale factors on fatigue fractures.
6/23/23 4:42 PM