David and Susan Coulter Head of Mechanical Engineering
George Tallman and Florence Barrett Ladd Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Courtesy Appointment, School of Design
Associate Director, Human+AI Design Initiative
Jonathan Cagan is the David and Susan Coulter Head and George Tallman and Florence Barrett Ladd Professor of the Department of Mechanical Engineering. His career spans collaborative and innovative work in education, research, and industry.
Researching engineering design automation and methods, Cagan merges AI, machine learning, and optimization methods with cognitive science problem solving. One focal area is the cognitive basis and computational modeling of designer processes to improve the effectiveness of human designers, with a focus on hybrid human/AI teams. Another area includes computational methods for the design and diagnosis of biomechanical systems. An additional focus is in user-centered design and integrated product development practice. He exemplifies the college’s culture of advanced collaboration, having worked with engineers, psychologists, neuro-scientists, marketers, designers, computer scientists, and architects in his work.
At Carnegie Mellon, Cagan co-founded and co-directed the Integrated Innovation Institute and served as interim dean, and, prior, associate dean for graduate and faculty affairs and chief academic officer, of the College of Engineering. Cagan was recently honored with the Robert A. Doherty Award for Sustained Contributions to Excellence in Education. Active in professional societies and editorial boards, Cagan is a Fellow in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and was awarded with the ASME Design Theory and Methodology, Design Automation, and Ruth and Joel Spira Outstanding Design Educator Awards. He has authored several books, more than 300 publications, and is an inventor on multiple patents.
1990 Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley
1985 MS, Mechanical Engineering, University of Rochester
1983 BS, Mechanical Engineering, University of Rochester
Mechanical Engineering
New book by Jon Cagan and Peter Boatwright answers how to build and manage successful innovation teams, combining academic research with practical applications
CMU Engineering
The new Robotics Innovation Center (RIC) will serve as a home to well-established programs connecting CMU and the Hazelwood community.
CMU Engineering
New research from Carnegie Mellon University’s Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Human+AI Design Initiative underlines the adage “teamwork makes the dream work,” especially when it comes to human-AI collaboration.
CMU Engineering
Researchers develop AI-driven method to automate the discovery of brand related features in product design.
CMU Engineering
Jon Cagan participated in a congressional briefing on AI in the workforce, focusing on the future of AI-human teaming.
CMU Engineering
Carnegie Mellon’s entry into online education will provide working professionals flexible access to world class graduate-level training in emerging and evolving technologies.
CMU Engineering
Burcu Akinci, Jonathan Cagan, and Jeanne VanBriesen, senior faculty members in the College of Engineering, have been named 2022 AAAS Fellows.
CMU Engineering
Jon Cagan will be the new head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, effective November 1, 2022.
Design Conference 2022
MechE Interim Head Jonathan Cagan delivered a keynote speech at the Design Conference on AI-human hybrid teaming.
Wevolver
Featured on the podcast The Next Byte, new research by shows that AI may soon be taking over managerial positions and doing a better job at them.
CMU Engineering
A recent paper by a collaboration of CMU mechanical engineering and psychology researchers explored the use of artificial intelligence as a process manager for human design teams.
Congratulations to the 2021 CMU Engineering Faculty Awards winners.