Janet Y. Tsai is a researcher and instructor in the College of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Colorado Boulder. Her research focuses on ways to encourage more students, especially women and those from nontraditional demographic groups, to pursue interests in the field of engineering. Janet assists in recruitment and retention efforts locally, nationally, and internationally, hoping to broaden the image of engineering, science, and technology to include new forms of communication and problem solving for emerging grand challenges. A second vein of Janet's research seeks to identify the social and cultural impacts of technological choices made by engineers in the process of designing and creating new devices and systems. Her work considers the intentional and unintentional consequences of durable structures, products, architectures, and standards in engineering education, to pinpoint areas for transformative change.
keywords
qualitative data analysis, design thinking, inclusive design
COEN 1830 - Special Topics
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Fall 2023 / Fall 2024
Explores topics of interest in engineering. Content varies by instructor and semester. May be repeated up to 9 total credit hours.
GEEN 1400 - Engineering Projects
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Spring 2018 / Fall 2018
First-year students solve real engineering design problems in interdisciplinary teams. Design projects vary by section. Curriculum focuses on iterative design process, teamwork and team dynamics, supporting design with testing and analysis, and technical writing. Completed projects are exhibited at an end-of-semester design expo. Students are responsible for contributing towards their design project budget, workshop costs, and course arduino kit (approximately $125). Degree credit not granted for this course and ASTR 2500, ASEN 1400, ASEN 1403 and ECEN 1400.
GEEN 3830 - Special Topics
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Fall 2018 / Fall 2019
Explores topics of interest in engineering. Content varies by instructor and semester.
MCEN 3025 - Component Design
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Spring 2019
Application of mechanics and materials science to the detailed design of various machine elements including shafts, bearings, gears, brakes, springs, and fasteners. Emphasizes application and open-ended design problems.
MCEN 4026 - Manufacturing Processes and Systems
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Fall 2019 / Spring 2020 / Fall 2020 / Spring 2021 / Fall 2021 / Fall 2022 / Spring 2023 / Fall 2023 / Spring 2024 / Fall 2024
Examines manufacturing processes for metals and polymers, as well as manufacturing systems that integrate these processes. Lecture topics include shape forming, machining, joining, assembling, casting, process integration, statistical process control, total quality management, geometric dimensioning and tolerancing, and electronic packaging. Examines real-world manufacturing operations and applications through guest speakers and examples.
MCEN 4228 - Special Topics in Mechanical Engineering
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Spring 2021 / Spring 2022 / Spring 2023 / Spring 2024
Subject matter to be selected from topics of current interest. May be repeated up to 15 credit hours. Same as MCEN 5228.
MCEN 5055 - Advanced Product Design
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Fall 2020 / Fall 2021
Introduces engineering design and development of consumer products. Includes learning sketching, brainstorming, idea generation, design thinking, user-centered design, product requirements and specifications, product constraints, human factors, aesthetics, industrial design, intellectual property, concept prototyping, idea selection, tolerancing, cost estimating, design for assembly, and materials selection. Entails a semester-long team re-design of a consumer product.
MCEN 5228 - Special Topics in Mechanical Engineering
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Spring 2021 / Spring 2022 / Spring 2023 / Spring 2024
Subject matter to be selected from topics of current interest. May be repeated up to 30 credit hours.
MCEN 5930 - Professional Internship
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Spring 2023 / Summer 2023
This class provides a structure for Mechanical Engineering graduate students to receive academic credit for internships with industry partners that have an academic component to them suitable for graduate-level work. Participation in the program will consist of an internship agreement between a student and an industry partner who will employ the student in a role that supports the academic goals of the internship. Instructor participation will include facilitation of mid-term and final assessments of student performance as well as support for any academic-related issues that may arise during the internship period. May be taken during any term following initial enrollment and participation in ME graduate programs. Department permission required to enroll. May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours.
