Program Name

Doctor of Philosophy Program in Mechanical Engineering (Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering)

About the Department

Established in 1992, the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering at Prince of Songkla University (PSU) represents over 33 years of leadership in engineering education and research in Southeast Asia. The department operates as a strategic research hub, bridging the gap between regional industrial requirements and global technological advancements

Our Research Strength: Solving National Problems, Leading Global Trends

The research ecosystem is designed as a "Double-Impact" platform, focusing on creating high-impact innovations and new knowledge.

• Pioneering Carbon Neutrality (Renewable Energy & Environment): Internationally recognized for research in Aerosol Science and PM2.5 monitoring, as well as groundbreaking work in Biofuel and Biomass conversion. Innovations such as "Hydrodynamic Cavitation" and "Microwave-assisted Distillation" have redefined sustainable energy approaches from tropical resources, driving the global transition toward renewable energy.
• Advanced Combustion & Burner Technology: Dedicated to energy security and efficiency, we specialize in the optimization of Combustion Processes and the development of high-efficiency Burner Systems. Our work aims to maximize thermal output while significantly reducing industrial emissions and fuel consumption in boilers and furnaces.
• Rubber Engineering & Material Innovation: Leveraging our strategic location in the world's heartland of natural rubber production, we lead in Natural Rubber (Para Rubber) Engineering. Our research focuses on high-performance rubber blends, smart polymer composites, and vibration-damping technologies for global automotive and industrial applications.
• Driving the EV Revolution: A key contributor to the global shift toward Electric Mobility, with expertise in Battery Management Systems (BMS), high-efficiency motor control, and autonomous vehicle dynamics, preparing graduates for the global automotive market.
• Intelligent Robotics & Medical Innovation: Expertise in Surgical Robotics and Industrial Automation (ROS), with research in mechatronics consistently cited globally, maintaining technological standards comparable to leading international laboratories.
• Advanced Thermo-Fluids & Heat Transfer Management: A global leader in high-performance thermal engineering, specializing in Electronic Cooling, thermal optimization for high-density Data Centers, and advanced Gas Turbine cooling technologies. Our research utilizes state-of-the-art Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and experimental heat transfer to drive efficiency in the world's most demanding infrastructure.

Distinguished Global Rankings

• Top 10 in Thailand: Consistently ranked among the nation's elite universities.
• QS World University Rankings: PSU is ranked in the Top 1000 globally and Top 200-250 in Asia.
• Subject Excellence: Engineering programs are recognized in the Top 600-800 globally by Times Higher Education (THE).

Vision

To be a leading national engineering faculty producing high-potential doctoral researchers and international-standard innovations for the development of Southern Thailand and the global community.

Mission

1. To produce doctoral graduates with a global research mindset and advanced technical mastery.
2. To create original knowledge that strengthens regional industries and connects to international innovation networks.
3. To provide high-level technical expertise for sustainable social and industrial growth.

Program Educational Objectives (PEOs)

• To produce Ph.D. graduates who are leaders in sustainable lifelong research.
• To equip graduates with the highest level of mechanical engineering expertise aligned with global mega-trends.
• To foster high academic ethics, research leadership, and economic efficiency in engineering solutions

Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)

• PLO 1: Demonstrate the highest level of academic integrity and professional ethics.
• PLO 2: Critically analyze and synthesize advanced mechanical engineering knowledge and digital technologies.
• PLO 3: Create original research or innovations that solve complex industrial/national problems with global impact.
• PLO 4: Demonstrate leadership and effective collaboration in multidisciplinary research teams.
• PLO 5: Disseminate high-impact research findings clearly in international academic English.

Catalog Description

The program is structured around five strategic pillars, integrating specialized regional expertise with global technological requirements:

Study Plan

The Ph.D. program is focused on high-level research mastery:

Plan 1.1 (Research Only): 48 Credits of Thesis work. This track is designed exclusively for Master’s degree holders who wish to pursue advanced research in a specialized area of mechanical engineering.

Faculty Members & Research Expertise

Our faculty members are leading experts in their fields, providing high-impact mentorship to our graduate students.

Name & Title	Expertise / Research Areas
Prof. Dr. Perapong Tekasakul	Aerosol Science, Air Pollution (PM2.5), Biomass Aerosols
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Wiriya Thongruang	Materials Science, Natural Rubber Blends, Biomechanics
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Charoenyutr Dechwayukul	CAE, Vehicle Dynamics, Systems Modeling
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Krit Somnuk	Biofuels, Hydrodynamic Cavitation, Pyrolysis Oil
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Theerayut Leevijit	Energy Technology, Engine Diagnostics, Palm Oil Biofuels
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Passakorn Vessakosol	Numerical Methods, Heat Conduction Analysis
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chayut Nuntadusit	Flow & Heat Transfer, CFD, Cardiovascular Hemodynamics
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pruittikorn Smithmaitrie	Robotics, Biologically Inspired Systems, Mechatronics
Asst. Prof. Dr. Makatar Wae-hayee	Combustion, Gasification, Thermal Engineering
Asst. Prof. Dr. Juntakan Taweekun	Energy Management, Wind Energy, Building Efficiency
Asst. Prof. Dr. Jutamanee Auysakul	Soft Robotics, Actuators, Wireless Tracking
Asst. Prof. Dr. Natthaporn Kaewchoothong	Computational Fluid Dynamics, Heat Transfer
Dr. Kittinan Maliwan	Fluid Mechanics, Energetics, Biomass Producer Gas
Dr. Thanansak Theppaya	Wind Resource Assessment, Energy Technology
Dr. Somchai Sae-ung	Wind Energy Potential, Mechanics and Energetics
Dr. Satta Srewaradachpisal	Biomechanics, FEA, Plantar Pressure Reduction
Dr. Ni-Asri Cheputeh	Rail Systems, Finite Element Analysis (FEA), Structural Mechanics

Potential Ph.D. Thesis Topics

• Original modeling of high-density Data Center thermal resilience.
• Novel Burner designs for hydrogen-blend industrial combustion.
• Advanced smart-rubber damping systems for seismic protection.
• Autonomous deep-learning control for surgical robotic precision.
• Multi-scale simulation of PM2.5 dispersion in complex urban environments.

Student Admissions (Ph.D. Level)

• Degree Requirement: Must hold a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering field.
• Academic Record: Demonstrated strong research potential and a good academic record during Master's studies.
• English Proficiency: Mandatory requirements (TOEFL ≥ 500, IELTS ≥ 5.5, or equivalent).

Graduation Criteria

• Qualifying Examination (QE): Must pass the QE to proceed with doctoral research.
• English Proficiency: Must pass English requirements as specified by the Graduate School.
• Thesis Publication: At least two high-quality international journal publications (Scopus Q1/Q2) indexed in Scopus or Web of Science.

Fee and Scholarship

• 30,000 THB (Thai Student)
• 60,000 THB (International Student)

Financial supports are available for both Thai and International students. Please contact the program chair for more details.

Program Accreditation

• Accredited by the Ministry of Higher Education, Thailand.
• Aligned with AUN-QA (ASEAN University Network Quality Assurance)

Contact Person

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chayut Nuntadusit (Program Chair)

Email: chayut.n@psu.ac.th Tel: +66 74 287 201

Alumni & Career Matrix: Research Leadership

Ph.D. graduates are prepared for high-level leadership roles:

• Senior Research Scientists: Leading R&D teams in global multinational corporations.
• University Professors: Shaping the next generation of engineers globally.
• National Policy Advisors: Specialists in Carbon Neutrality and Energy Security.
• Consultants: High-level advisors for Data Center and Gas Turbine industries.

Registration

• Applications: June (Sem 1) & November (Sem 2). 
• Apply Online: https://grad.psu.ac.th/en/

Curriculum & Thesis Focus

(Focused on Intensive Original Research)

• Plan 1.1 (48 Credits):
  • Research Methodology & Ethics: Mandatory (Non-credit audit).
  • Ph.D. Seminars: Regularly scheduled presentations of research progress.
  • Doctoral Thesis: 48 Credits of systematic, original research contributing to new engineering knowledge.

More Information

• Website: https://www.eng.psu.ac.th/me 
• Facebook: Mechanical Engineering PSU