June 30, 2026 Six ECE faculty appointed to named professorships Written By: Allyson Crowley Departments: Electrical & Computer Engineering|Mechanical Engineering Categories: Research The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) is pleased to recognize six faculty members who have been appointed to named professorships. These appointments recognize outstanding achievements in research, teaching, and service while honoring the individuals whose names these distinguished positions bear. Together, these faculty members are advancing discoveries in quantum technologies, semiconductor devices, electric machines, and other fields that are shaping the future of engineering. Jennifer Choy Jennifer Choy, Jay and Cynthia Ihlenfeld Associate Professor The Jay and Cynthia Ihlenfeld Professorship honors faculty excellence in education innovation. Jay and Cynthia both received their degrees from UW-Madison in Chemical and Biological Engineering and Finance, respectively. Choy’s research focuses on the development of quantum sensing platforms, including neutral atoms and color centers in diamond. This work spans a range of sensing modalities, such as magnetometry, thermometry, and inertial sensing, and leverages integrated and nanophotonics to make these sensors more compact, robust, and deployable. In addition, Choy’s contributions to the department’s educational and research training mission support comprehensive education in quantum science and technology for a diverse future workforce. Chirag Gupta Chirag Gupta, Dugald C. Jackson Assistant Professor This assistant professorship is named in honor of Dugald C. Jackson, the first professor of electrical engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, who joined the faculty in 1891 and helped establish the discipline on campus. Gupta works in the area of wide-band-gap (GaN) and ultra-wide-band-gap (AlGaN, AlN) semiconductor materials and devices and focuses on how they can be utilized to develop next-generation electronics and optoelectronics devices. His research involves semiconductor device physics and fabrication technology applied to develop novel device designs, fabrication techniques, electrical and material characterization, and data analysis. Robert Jacobberger Robert Jacobberger, Charles Ringrose Assistant Professor The Charles Ringrose Assistant Professorship, established by ECE alumnus Charles Ringrose (BSEE’63), is awarded to exceptionally meritorious faculty at the rank of assistant professor. Jacobberger’s research develops industry-compatible approaches to engineer 2D materials and devices with nearly atomic precision that advance next-gen electronic, optoelectronic and quantum technologies. His work helps bridge the gap between laboratory discoveries and scalable manufacturing processes, bringing emerging technologies closer to practical applications. Shubhra Pasayat Shubhra Pasayat, Dugald C. Jackson Assistant Professor Pasayat’s research focuses on the design and growth of gallium nitride and related wide- and ultra-wide-bandgap semiconductor materials. When fabricated into high-electron-mobility transistors, these materials can enable more efficient power conversion for electric vehicles, enhance high-frequency communications such as 5G and 6G, and support a range of other applications, specifically in optoelectronics in the form of LEDs and LASERs in displays, vehicle headlamps, Li-Fi, artificial horticulture, bio-photonics, and also in water/large-area sanitization. View more about Pasayat’s research. Bulent Sarlioglu Bulent Sarlioglu, Philip D. Reed Professor Named after ECE alum Philip D. Reed (BSEE-1921), who served as the president of General Electric (1937-1942, 1945-1958), this honor is awarded to exceptionally meritorious faculty at the rank of full professor. Sarlioglu’s research aims to advance the state of the art in electric machines, motor drives, and power electronics through innovative modeling, design, and optimization techniques that improve efficiency, power density, and system performance across electrified transportation, aerospace, and industrial applications. View more about Sarlioglu’s research. Eric Tervo Eric Tervo, Dugald C. Jackson Assistant Professor Tervo’s research develops semiconductor materials and devices that work at the intersection of heat, light, and electricity for power generation, thermal management, and sensing applications. By exploring how these forms of energy interact, his research aims to improve the performance and efficiency of next-generation electronic devices. Tervo also holds a joint appointment with the Department of Mechanical Engineering, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of his research. View more on Tervo’s research.