The Design Lab at Rensselaer provides clinical real-world experiences for students that build confidence and teaches integration of discipline-specific knowledge with engineering practice on challenging multidisciplinary design projects.
The Manufacturing Network at Rensselaer offers class and project support for students, faculty, and industrial sponsored class projects using a variety of fabrication and production services and expertise. The Network is part of a larger Manufacturing@Rensselaer effort supporting manufacturing research including the MA-X Robotics, Automation, Manufacturing; and the Multimedia Services Research Machine Shop.
The Forge is a student-run makerspace at Rensselaer. The Forge is open to all members of the club, faculty, and staff to create projects for classes, clubs, personal use, or research. The Forge is supported by the School of Engineering (SoE), the Student Union, and the SoE Manufacturing Innovation Learning Lab (MILL).
Visit the Forge website for additional information regarding services and resources.
Through a three-course sequence, the MANE.Innovation Spine, offered by the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Nuclear Engineering, provides an end-to-end process combining creativity (critical thinking, collaboration, and communication), invention, design, and implementation. Students who have taken a course in the Inventor’s Studio sequence are eligible to apply for the annual Innovator and Startup Founder Awards.
Focused on educating the next generation of manufacturing leaders and innovators, the MILL is a forward-looking manufacturing learning environment. Leveraging instructor expertise and industry-grade equipment. Students taking Manufacturing Processes and Systems I and II can practice and master manufacturing processes. In these classes, students undergo the same design, process engineering, technical documentation, and rapid prototyping used in industrial environments and development teams.
The Mercer XLab is all about empowering students to create, collaborate, and innovate. Work on real-world projects, build solutions with cutting-edge tools, and connect with peers and industry partners. This is a space to explore ideas, gain skills, and make an impact—on campus and beyond.
The student research opportunities at RPI set us apart from other schools, both for the breadth and depth of the work available, and for the attention and care that faculty advisers provide. Our culture of collaboration prepares students to pursue their passions with rigor, confidence, and openness.
