Jennifer O'Neil

Dr. Jennifer O'Neil serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), within the College of Engineering Technology. She additionally holds Program Faculty status in the School of Mathematics and Statistics, demonstrating her interdisciplinary reach across engineering and quantitative disciplines. Her academic foundation includes a BS from RIT and PhD from Purdue University, positioning her at the intersection of theoretical rigor and practical application.

Her research pioneers the physics of non-Newtonian liquid sprays, advancing fundamental fluid dynamics understanding with direct applications in aerospace propulsion, automotive systems, alternative energy, and biomedical devices—particularly pediatric nebulizers for targeted drug delivery. Concurrently, she revolutionizes engineering education through problem-based learning frameworks that embed entrepreneurial mindset development into core curricula, transforming how students engage with thermodynamics and thermal-fluids concepts.

Analysis of her scholarly output reveals a strategic dual trajectory: fluid dynamics publications dissect spray formation mechanics across industrial sectors, while education-focused works systematically integrate entrepreneurial thinking into engineering pedagogy. This synergy between research depth and teaching innovation defines her academic signature.

Her exceptional contributions have earned prestigious recognition including the 2023 Richard and Virginia Eisenhart Provost’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and the 2022 KEEN Rising Star award, validating her transformative impact on engineering education.

Dr. O'Neil actively mentors students through foundational courses like MCET-101 Fundamentals of Engineering and specialized offerings including MCET-592/692 Spray Theory and Application, while supervising thesis research (RMET-788) and capstone projects (RMET-797). Her teaching philosophy centers on making complex concepts tangible through Marvel-themed thermodynamics analogies and real-world problem solving, directly addressing student perceptions of irrelevance in technical coursework.