Dr. Jonathan Cagan

Professor

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Biography

Jonathan Cagan is a leading expert in product development design methods and early stage product development. His research focuses on design theory and methods, product development strategy, cognitive engineering design, and computational design tools applied across various industries. In addition to being a faculty member at the Integrated Innovation Institute, he serves as the Associate Dean for Graduate Faculty Affairs in the College of Engineering and holds the George Tallman & Florence Barrett Ladd Professorship in Mechanical Engineering. Cagan has co-authored several influential books on innovation and has consulted for a range of organizations, from small startups to large corporations, in areas such as product development, brand strategy, and strategic planning. His consulting includes executive training on new product development. Cagan has made significant contributions to the industry as a co-founder and Chief Technologist at DesignAdvance Systems, Inc., which specializes in CAD software for early synthesis processes. He has published over 250 peer-reviewed papers and holds 6 patents, with 2 pending. He has served as an associate editor for multiple journals and on editorial boards in the fields of design and engineering.

Research Interests

Awards

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Design Automation Award

2001-01-01
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Design Theory Methodology Award

2005-01-01
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Outstanding Research Award

2010-01-01

Requirements for Carnegie Mellon University

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3.5
GRE General
Verbal
Required:158
Quantitative
Required:149
Analytical Writing
Required:4
Overall
Required:4
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in Psychology or related field Research experience/publications
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Transcripts
  • GRE scores (optional but reported in profile)
  • English Proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo)
Specialization Notes

Admission is extremely competitive with no strict GPA cut-offs; holistic review is used.