Dr. Karen Thole

Professor

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Biography

Karen Thole is the Robert J. Vlasic Dean at the University of Michigan's College of Engineering. She is a professor of Mechanical Engineering and Aerospace Engineering with extensive experience in the field. Her research focuses on convective heat transfer, turbulent boundary layers, high freestream turbulence, and gas turbine heat transfer, contributing significantly to the areas of Energy, Fluids, and Thermal Science. She completed her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Illinois and earned her PhD from the University of Texas. Thole has received numerous accolades, including the University of Texas Distinguished Engineering Graduate award in 2024, the Outstanding Engineering Educator Award from the Engineers’ Council in 2023, and she is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society as of October 2023. Her publications include multiple papers presented at ASME conferences, and she has served as an influential mentor and educator throughout her career, receiving various awards for her contributions to engineering education.

Research Interests

Awards

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University of Texas Distinguished Engineering Graduate

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Outstanding Engineering Educator Award

2023-02-01
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Fellow

2023-10-01
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Gas Turbine Heat Transfer Paper

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Thermophysics Award

2022-07-01
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Heat Transfer Memorial Award

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Fellow

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Air Breathing Propulsion Award

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Claire L. Felbinger Award Diversity

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Edwin F. Church Medal

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College of Engineering’s Distinguished Service Alumni Award

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George Westinghouse Gold Medal

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Distinguished Service Award

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Howard B. Palmer Faculty Mentoring Award

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Distinguished Engineering Educator Award

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Distinguished Alumnae Mechanical Science Engineering Department

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Rosemary Schraer Mentoring Award

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U.S. White House “Champion Change”

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W. M. Rohsenow Presentation Gas Turbine Heat Transfer

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Fellow

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Mechanical Engineering Distinguished Alumnae

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Ingersoll-Rand Faculty Award

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National Science Foundation CAREER Award

Requirements for University of Michigan

Master Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3.5
TOEFL
Total
Required:84
GRE General
Verbal
Required:155
Verbal Percentile
Required:50
Quantitative
Required:168
Quantitative Percentile
Required:50
Analytical Writing
Required:3.6
Writing Percentile
Required:50
Prerequisites
Bachelor degree in engineering, physics, or mathematics Calculus Physics
Application Checklist
  • Rackham Graduate School Application
  • Official Transcripts
  • 3 Letters of Recommendation
  • Academic Statement of Purpose
  • Personal Statement
  • CV/Resume
Specialization Notes

Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science