ISyE - Coffee and donuts with HFES
2025-11-24 09:00 - 11:00 (America/Chicago) | 3210 Mechanical Engineering, 1513 University Avenue, Madison, 53706
Before heading off for Thanksgiving, swing by for some coffee & donuts with the students of HFES. All are welcome.

BME Seminar Series: Julien Berro, PhD
2025-11-24 12:00 - 13:00 | 1003 (Tong Auditorium) Engineering Centers Building, 1550 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
Fantastic forces and where to find them

Julien Berro, PhDAssociate Professor of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, and of Cell BiologySchool of MedicineYale University

Abstract:Mechanical forces are central to countless biological processes in health and disease. However, despite their ubiquity and importance in cellular processes, our understanding of biomechanical forces lags far behind our understanding of the underlying biochemistry. Studying forces within cells is difficult because tools and approaches to directly probe forces at the molecular level are scarce, difficult to use or have limited applications. In this seminar, I will present approaches based on quantitative microscopy, mathematical modeling and molecular force sensor engineering that my lab has developed to readily measure biophysical quantities so far impossible or difficult to measure in vivo. Using clathrin-mediated endocytosis as a model system, I will show how these methods have uncovered new molecular mechanisms of force production, force transmission and force sensing by the actin cytoskeleton.

Print PDF

BME Seminar Series: Anne Strainchamps and Steve Paulson
2025-12-01 12:00 - 13:00 | 1003 (Tong Auditorium) Engineering Centers Building, 1550 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
The Sound of Science: Engaging the Public with Big Ideas

Anne Strainchamps and Steve PaulsonCreators and Hosts of “To the Best of Our Knowledge”Wisconsin Public Radio

Abstract:Anne Strainchamps and Steve Paulson have spent decades fostering curiosity and conversation in a rapidly changing world. Currently, they are collaborating with the “Island of Knowledge” think tank in Tuscany to produce a series of interviews with leading international biologists, physicists and philosophers. Their recent radio shows have covered topics ranging from astrobiology and neuroplasticity to whale communication.

This talk offers a behind-the-scenes look at the art of using dialogue and the power of story to illuminate complex thinking across multiple scientific disciplines. Anne and Steve will discuss some of the methods they use to help scientists and engineers connect their work with broader audiences. They will also share some of the common traits and abilities they have discovered in scientists who are also prolific scientific communicators.

Print PDF

CBE Seminar Series: Julian Cooper
2025-12-02 16:00 - 17:00
Julian CooperDepartment of ChemistryUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison

“Straining” for New Function in Macromolecular Systems

In this seminar, I will show how molecular strain can be an enabling tool to access new macroscopic capabilities in materials. First, I will discuss how applied strain can address end-of-life management challenges of real-world thermosetting materials. Polydicyclopentadiene (pDCPD) based thermosets made by frontal ring-opening metathesis polymerization (FROMP) can be reprocessed and recycled repeatedly by leveraging both the embedded catalyst used to make this material and compressive strain applied to the material. The subsequent generations of pDCPD display near-identical properties compared to the original material, demonstrating successful circularization of the material lifecycle.

Next, I will showcase some of the enabling capabilities that can be attained with what we’ve learned from reprocessing polyolefin thermosets and highlight some of the exciting directions the Cooper group is heading. In connecting molecular features to macroscopic behavior, we aim to tackle pressing materials challenges and identify new areas of collaboration between CBE and Chemistry here at UW-Madison.

Grad School Virtual Info Session
2025-12-03 09:00 - 10:00
Join us to learn more about graduate school with the Department of Mechanical Engineering at UW-Madison! We will be hosting virtual sessions on the first Wednesday of every month from June through December from 9:00-10:00am CST. Please RSVP here.

Those who attend will learn more about:

Mechanical Engineering Department programs overview (including department research overview)

Research MS and PhD program information

Professional (course-only) based MS program information

Admissions Information

Faculty & Graduate Student Panel

Q&A

Much More!

Questions? Email us at dept@me.engr.wisc.edu

NEEP Seminar Series: Saya Lee, Penn State
2025-12-04 12:00 - 13:00
Thursday, December 412:00 – 1:00pm106 Engineering Research BuildingPlease contact office@neep.wisc.edu for assistance with remote participation.

Experimental Nuclear Thermal Hydraulics: Experimental techniques and applications in advanced reactorsNuclear Engineering requires an understanding of fundamental thermal-fluid phenomena and the application of those phenomena to complex nuclear systems. In conventional light water reactors and water-cooled small modular reactors, two-phase boiling heat transfer has been one of the main research targets for both efficiency and safety. In non-water-cooled reactors such as gas-cooled reactors, liquid-metal reactors, and molten-salt reactors, the importance of turbulent flow needs to be emphasized as their primary system operates in a single-phase condition. Interestingly, heat-pipe microreactors use liquid metal phase change. This seminar will cover experimental techniques that Dr. Saya Lee has been working on to contribute to nuclear thermal hydraulics and their applications from fundamental phenomena to various reactor designs.

Dr. Saya Lee is an Assistant Professor at Pennsylvania State University, with a research focus on nuclear reactor thermal-hydraulics. He earned his Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering from Texas A&M University and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering and B.S. in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering with a minor in Computer Science from Handong University in South Korea. He has extensive experience in diverse nuclear thermal-fluid applications to maintain the safety and operability of the current LWR fleet and to support the design and development of advanced reactors, including a SMR heat exchanger, a VHTR upper plenum, a SFR wire-wrapped fuel rod bundle, and a pebble bed HTGR. Also, he has expertise in the development and use of advanced measurement techniques. Recently, Dr. Lee has been actively working on heat-pipe-cooled microreactors.

ME 903 Graduate Seminar: Professor Leora Dresslhaus-Marais
2025-12-04 16:00 - 17:00 | 3M Auditorium, rm 1106 Mechanical Engineering Building, 1513 University Ave, Madison, 53711
The ME 903: Graduate Student Lecture Series features campus and visiting speakers who present on a variety of research topics in the field of mechanical engineering. Professor Leora Dresslhaus-Marais is a professor at Stanford University.

BME Design Fall Poster Presentations
2025-12-05 12:00 - 14:15 | Engineering Centers Building Atrium, 1550 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
Join us for our annual fall design poster session. BME sophomores, juniors and seniors work in teams to design healthcare solutions for real-world clients. The public is welcome.

Mechanics Seminar: Professor Kenny Breuer
2025-12-05 12:05 - 12:55 | Engineering Hall, RM 1610, 1415 Engineering Drive, Madison, 53711
The Mechanics Seminar Series is a weekly seminar given by campus and visiting speakers on topics across the spectrum of mechanics research (solids, fluids, and dynamics). Professor Kenny Breuer is a professor at Brown University.

CBE Seminar Series: PPG Graduate Student Seminar
2025-12-09 16:00 - 17:00
Reception 5-6pm, Cheney Room (1413 Engineering Hall)

ISyE - Line Dancing!
2025-12-09 19:00 - 21:00 | Red Rock Saloon, 222 W Gorham St, Madison, 53703
Join fellow students for an evening of line dancing at the Red Rock Saloon. Anyone over the age of 18 is welcome to join. Hosted by IISE.

ECE Capstone Design Open House
2025-12-10 12:00 - 13:30 | Mechanical Engineering Building, 1513 University Avenue, Madison, WI, 53706-1539, United States
All are welcome to come view demonstrations of projects created by student teams in ECE capstone design courses! ECE alumni and course instructors will serve as judges as teams compete for Best Project awards. Past winning projects have included a Mario Kart-type simulator, a sign language recognition device, and an app for AI-automated time management and scheduling for students.

Courses participating in the ECE Capstone Design Open House:ECE 453 – Embedded Microprocessor System Design taught by Teaching Faculty Joe KracheyECE 454 – Mobile Computing Laboratory taught by Associate Professor Bhuvana KrishnaswamyECE 455 – Capstone Design in Electrical and Computer Engineering taught by Associate Professor Tsung-Wei (TW) HuangECE 455 – Capstone Design in Electrical and Computer Engineering taught by Assistant Teaching Professor Nathan Strachen

ECE Alumni Judges:

Rick Abegglen (BS’82, MS’84, JD’99) – Casimir Jones, S.C. – ShareholderBill Barbiaux (BS’82) – GE Healthcare – Principal Engineer, RetiredBill Berg (BS’71, MS’72) – Dairyland Power Cooperative – Chief Executive Officer, RetiredCole Burek (BS’18) – Extreme Engineering Solutions – Embedded EngineerOlivia D’Souza (BS’24) – University of Wisconsin–Madison – PhD StudentJake Eichinger (BS’17) – Exact Sciences – Senior Systems Software EngineerJohn Hester (BS’91) – Techtricity Corporation – President, RetiredJosh Kagerbauer (BS’03, MS’06) – Rockwell Automation – Electrical Hardware Engineering ManagerRobert Lux (BS’78) – Department of Administration for the State of Wisconsin, Capital Projects Principle – Management of Facilities DevelopmentCory Mueller (MS’18) – American Transmission Co. – Senior Control EngineerNader Nasr (BS’91) – Oshkosh Corp. – Senior VP of EngineeringPhil Nwafor (BS’03) – Google – Director of Healthcare & Life Sciences Terry Sartori (BS’80) – GE Healthcare, Accuray – Engineering Project Manager, RetiredAlex Sharp (BS’24) – Extreme Engineering Solutions – Hardware Debug EngineerKhailanii Slaton (BS’24) – University of Wisconsin–Madison – PhD studentBob Wolf (BS’84) – IBM – Sales Executive, Retired

ECE Donuts & Degrees
2025-12-11 09:30 - 10:30 | 1413 Engineering Hall – Cheney Room, 1415 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI, 53711, United States
December ECE graduates! Please join us for a donut and coffee celebration in honor of your wonderful achievement. Stop in anytime between 9:30-10:30 for treats, fun, and a special graduation gift.

ISyE - Study Day
2025-12-11 11:00 - 15:30 | 311 Wendt Commons, Madison, 53706
311 Wendt Commons

Join the students of IISE for a study session. Come hang with members to chat and take your mind off of finals, or lock in! Food will be provided.

ISyE - Undergraduate 3 Minute Presentations
2025-12-12 09:30 - 11:30 | 3121 Mechanical Engineering, 1513 University Avenue, Madison, 53706
3121 Mechanical Engineering

The Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES) is inviting undergraduate presenters to participate in a 3-Minute Presentation Competition. Eligible topics include:

Class assignments or projects

Research studies

Practical applications

Case studies

Any other work/thoughts related to human factors

This is an excellent opportunity for undergraduates to present their own work and see the work of others in the field of human factors, while also developing their communications skills. Prizes will be awarded to the top presenters! Registration is required.

Register – Undergraduate 3-Minute Presentations

BME Winter 2025 Graduation Celebration
2025-12-13 15:00 - 17:00 | Engineering Centers Building Atrium, 1550 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
The Biomedical Engineering Department is hosting a graduation celebration for fall 2025 graduates and their guests.

Graduating students will receive an email with information about how to RSVP and about picking up your graduation gift.

CEE Graduation Breakfast
2025-12-14 08:00 - 09:30 | Union South, 1308 W Dayton St, Madison, Wisconsin, 53715
The Civil and Environmental Engineering Department is hosting celebratory breakfast at Union South for fall 2025 graduates and their guests on Sunday, December 14. Breakfast will be served buffet-style from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. before commencement at the Kohl Center, which begins at 10:00 a.m. This event is free for graduating students and their guests, and registration is required by Wednesday, November 26.

Details on how to register will be shared with students via email in November. The menu includes scrambled eggs, bagels, roasted baby potatoes, fresh fruit, coffee, tea, and juice.

Please contact Amanda Thuss (athuss@wisc.edu) with any questions.

Chemical Engineering 2025 Winter Commencement Banquet
2025-12-14 12:00 - 15:00 | Union South – Varsity Hall, 1308 W Dayton St, Madison, Wisconsin, 53715
Congratulations to our graduating class of 2025. After years of hard work, the students and faculty are putting on the 2025 Winter Banquet for Chemical Engineering.

The banquet is in Varsity Hall at Union South on the second floor. The banquet is directly after the graduation ceremony at the Kohl Center. It involves lunch, a toast, and a gift for students. Information about RSVP and guests is available in the email invitation to students.

ISyE - Choice-based Operations At Scale: Complementarity and Dynamic Decisions
2026-01-12 12:00 - 13:00 | 1163 Mechanical Engineering, 1513 Engineering Dr., Madison, WI, 53706, United States
Assortment and inventory decisions lie at the core of supply chain and retail operations. In practice, these decisions face two fundamental challenges arising from complex customer choice behavior. First, customers often purchase complementary products across categories, which makes category-level decisions interdependent. Second, inventory is limited and customers arrive over time, so product availability changes dynamically as items stock out. Most work in choice-based operations has focused on single-category and static settings, while research addressing these two challenges remains relatively limited. Existing approaches often either oversimplify customer preferences in choice modeling or rely on algorithms that are not tractable in large-scale settings. In this talk, I will present two projects that address these challenges. The first proposes a Markovian framework to model cross-category complementarity, supporting scalable estimation and joint assortment optimization. The second introduces a unified algorithmic framework for dynamic assortment and inventory optimization under MNL choice, with provable guarantees in both personalized and non-personalized settings. Together, these works offer scalable tools for decision-making in complex, data-driven supply chain environments.

Bio: Shuo Sun is a PhD candidate in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research at the University of California, Berkeley. Her research focuses on modeling and algorithm design for supply chain and revenue management using optimization and machine learning. Her work has received several recognitions, including the INFORMS Daniel H. Wagner Prize and a finalist distinction in the INFORMS RMP Jeff McGill Best Student Paper Award. She has publications in leading conferences and papers published or under revision at leading operations and analytics journals, as well as industry experience at Amazon and JD.com on retail operations problems.

ISyE - Auto-Conditioned First-Order and Stochastic Optimization Methods
2026-01-15 12:00 - 13:00 | 1163 Mechanical Engineering, 1513 Engineering Dr., Madison, WI, 53706, United States
First-order methods are widely used to tackle data science and machine learning problems with complex structures, such as nonconvexity, nonsmoothness, and stochasticity. However, in many real-world scenarios, the problem structure and parameters can be unknown or ambiguous, creating significant challenges for algorithm design and stepsize selection.

In this talk, I will present a novel class of first-order methods, termed auto-conditioned methods, that are universal for solving various classes of optimization problems without requiring prior knowledge of problem parameters or resorting to any line search or backtracking procedures. In the first part of the talk, we focus on convex optimization and propose a uniformly optimal method for smooth, weakly smooth, and nonsmooth problems. In the second part of the talk, we consider smooth but possibly nonconvex optimization, and propose a novel parameter-free projected gradient method with the best-known unified complexity for convex and nonconvex problems. We then generalize the method to the stochastic setting, achieving new universal complexity bounds that are nearly optimal for both convex and nonconvex problems. The advantages of the proposed methods are demonstrated by encouraging numerical results.

Bio: Tianjiao Li is a postdoctoral associate at the MIT Sloan School of Management and Operations Research Center. He received his Ph.D. in Operations Research from the H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering at Georgia Tech, where he was advised by Prof. George Lan and Prof. Ashwin Pananjady. His research interests lie in the theory and methodology of nonlinear optimization, stochastic optimization, and reinforcement learning, with a central focus on bridging rigorous theoretical development with practical relevance, especially in data science and artificial intelligence. His work has been recognized as an honorable mention in the INFORMS George Nicholson Student Paper Competition and as second place in the INFORMS Optimization Society Student Paper Award.

BME Bay Area Meetup
2026-01-15 17:00 - 19:00 | Steins Beer Garden & Restaurant, 895 Villa St, Mountain View, California, 94041, United States
We’re headed to the California Bay Area to kick off a new year of innovation. You and your guests are invited to join fellow Wisconsin BME alumni and friends for an alumni reception at Steins Beer Garden in Mountain View, CA.

RSVP

ECE Virtual Alumni Town Hall
2026-01-21 12:00 - 13:00
ECE alumni, we hope you will join us for this one-hour virtual event hosted by ECE Department Chair Susan Hagness. Our guest for this event will be College of Engineering Dean Devesh Ranjan. Hear Ranjan’s impressions of his first year as Dean, his vision for the college going forward, and other timely topics such as federal funding impacts. We welcome your questions for our panelists.

Alumni, please check your email for your invitation in January.

Susan Hagness

Devesh Ranjan

ISyE - GPU-Accelerated Linear Programming and Beyond
2026-01-21 12:00 - 13:00 | 1163 Mechanical Engineering, 1513 Engineering Dr., Madison, WI, 53706, United States
The rapid progress in GPU computing has revolutionized many fields, yet its potential in mathematical programming, such as linear programming (LP), has only recently begun to be realized. This talk aims to provide an overview of recent advancements in GPU-based first-order methods for LP, with a particular focus on the design and development of cuPDLPx. The extensions to GPU-based optimization beyond LP, including convex quadratic programming and semidefinite programming, will also be discussed.

Bio: Jinwen Yang is a final-year Ph.D. student at the University of Chicago, advised by Professor Haihao Lu. His research interests are in optimization, with a particular focus on optimization algorithms tailored to modern hardware (like GPUs) and intended for practical applications. He obtained B.S. in Mathematics and Applied Mathematics from Fudan University.

ME 903 Graduate Seminar: Professor Jeff Tithof
2026-01-22 16:00 - 17:00 | 3M Auditorium, rm 1106 Mechanical Engineering Building, 1513 University Ave, Madison, 53711
The ME 903: Graduate Student Lecture Series features campus and visiting speakers who present on a variety of research topics in the field of mechanical engineering. Professor Jeff Tithof is a professor at the University of Minnesota.

Title: Coupled Blood–CSF Flow Dynamics Driving Waste Clearance in the Brain

Abstract: The last decade has seen a tremendous increase in research probing the role of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) circulation through the brain in health and disease. This circulation, known as the “glymphatic” (glial-lymphatic) system, is a novel transport pathway first described in 2012 which plays an important role in removing protein waste from the brain. Amyloid-beta is one such protein waste that is known to accumulate over decades, contributing to the development of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s. I will first give a brief history of this field, then discuss several important open questions, including what propels CSF circulation and why it decreases with aging. I will present recent numerical modeling from my research team that suggests CSF and blood flow work synergistically to amplify brain waste clearance. I will also show that by carefully calibrating our model against published in vivo measurements of amyloid-beta, we obtained critical waste production and clearance parameters not yet measured in experiments. In the last portion of the seminar, I will present preliminary results from in vivo mouse experiments demonstrating how neuromodulation (electrical stimulation of nerves) can be leveraged to enhance glymphatic transport in the brain, potentially leading to therapeutic approaches to prevent or slow progression of Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.

Bio: Dr. Jeff Tithof is a Benjamin Mayhugh Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities. He received his Ph.D. in Physics from Georgia Tech in 2016 and his B.S. in Physics and Mathematics from University of Tennessee in 2010. From 2016 to 2020, Jeff was a postdoc then an Assistant Research Professor at University of Rochester. His research focuses on biological fluid dynamics, often involving complementary utilization of in vivo experiments and numerical simulations. Jeff has coauthored 35 peer-reviewed publications, including 20 involving brain mass transport. Jeff received the University of Minnesota Mechanical Engineering “Nugent Family Faculty Teaching Award” in 2025 and a “Career Award at the Scientific Interface” from Burroughs Wellcome Fund in 2019.

Mechanics Seminar: Professor Melissa Brindise
2026-01-23 12:00 - 13:00 | 1227 Engineering Hall, 1415 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
The Mechanics Seminar Series is a weekly seminar given by campus and visiting speakers on topics across the spectrum of mechanics research (solids, fluids, and dynamics). Professor Melissa Brindise is a professor at Penn State University.

Title: Uncovering mechanical drivers of cerebral aneurysm growth and rupture

Abstract: Clinical evaluation of cerebral aneurysms requires a difficult decision of whether to treat or monitor the aneurysm. While hemodynamics and other objective physics-based factors are known to influence an aneurysm’s risk of growth and rupture, no robust and mechanics-based method currently exists to accurately assess an aneurysm’s risk. As a result, aneurysm treatment decisions are most often made using subjective evaluations by physicians.

In this talk, I will discuss my lab’s work towards addressing this issue. Specifically, I will detail our multi-modality investigations which aim to uncover how physiological conditions, vascular morphology, and flow instabilities, including turbulent features, shape aneurysmal hemodynamics, impose mechanical consequences, and individually and collectively influence aneurysm growth and rupture.

Aneurysm rupture ultimately is the result of mechanical failure of the aneurysm tissue wall. However, direct, non-invasive assessment of aneurysm tissue strength remains beyond current clinical capabilities. I will therefore also discuss our ongoing work to develop clinical tools for inferring aneurysm wall properties from standard clinical imaging. In the long-term, such a tool represents a critical step towards objective-physics-based aneurysm risk assessments and treatment decisions

Bio: Dr. Melissa Brindise is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Penn State University. She received her B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering (2013) and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering (2019) both from Purdue University. Prior to joining Penn State in 2021, she was a post-doctoral research associate at Purdue as part of the Eli Lilly-Purdue partnership. Her research combines experimental flow physics with image and signal processing to improve analysis methods and current clinical understanding of neuro- and cardiovascular disease, injury, function, and treatment. Broadly, her lab focuses on 1) advancing our understanding of the role of hemodynamics and vascular changes in the onset, progression, and efficacy of treatment of diseases and 2) developing objective, evidence-based methods to transform how we interpret patient data. Her current research interests include the application areas of cerebral aneurysms, Moyamoya disease, cognitive function, heart disease and arrhythmias, and transition to turbulence in unsteady flows.

ISyE - Game night!
2026-01-23 15:00 - 17:00 | 3127 Mechanical Engineering, Madison, 53717
3127 ME

The students of IISE are welcoming everyone new to our department to join them for a game night. Celebrate the first week of classes and meet your fellow students – and fight the cold with some hot chocolate! Everyone is welcome.

ECE Research Seminar Series: Dr. Jan Jeske, Quantum Sensing Group at Fraunhofer IAF
2026-01-26 11:00 - 12:00 | 2321 Engineering Hall, 1415 Engineering Drive, Madison, 53711
Laser-enhanced magnetometry (and other quantum sensing) with nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centres in diamond

Abstract: By integrating NV centres into a laser cavity and combining it with a second gain medium, we have achieved 100% contrast and 16mW of signal power in optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) read out via a laser signal instead of fluorescence. This leads to an advantage in shot-noise-limited sensitivity and/or dynamic range (set by the ODMR linewidth) of a factor of 780 compared to the average of existing NV and vapour-cell sensors.

Dr. Jan Jeske

At Fraunhofer IAF in Germany we furthermore perform imaging magnetometry with a NV widefield magnetometry setup (microscale) and a single NV in the tip of an AFM (nanoscale) and apply this to materials research and fatigue, electronics and biosamples.

Bio: Dr. Jan Jeske has led the Quantum Sensing Group at Fraunhofer IAF in Freiburg Germany since 2018. Previously, he spent 4 years of postdoc in the group of Prof Andrew Greentree, where the idea of laser threshold magnetometry was developed theoretically. Jeske obtained his PhD at the RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia in the group of Prof. Jared Cole. He obtained a master’s in physics from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany.

Dr. Jeske’s seminar is hosted by ECE Associate Professor Jennifer Choy.

ISyE - From Dyads to Teams: Modeling Human Trust Dynamics and Behaviors in Human-Autonomy Interactions
2026-01-26 12:00 - 13:00 | 1163 Mechanical Engineering, 1513 Engineering Dr., Madison, WI, 53706, United States
Technology is evolving rapidly, and human interaction with autonomous technologies is no longer confined to one-to-one decision-support settings. Intelligent agents are increasingly working alongside groups of people in diverse contexts such as defense, transportation, and manufacturing. Consequently, there is a growing need to design trust- and behavior-aware adaptive agents that allow humans and autonomous systems to leverage their complementary strengths, while promoting values unique to human society. To this end, our research focuses on modeling human trust and behavioral dynamics over time across various teaming scenarios. In this seminar, I will first introduce our work on classifying and predicting trust dynamics profiles using individuals’ personal characteristics, uncovering who exhibits which trust trajectory and why. I will then present a study examining individual variability in trust bias (contrast versus assimilation) and its effects on coordination and decision-making when humans collaborate with multiple autonomous agents simultaneously. This work further extends to understanding distinct perceptions and teamwork strategies in hierarchical mixed human-agent teams. Time permitting, I will also discuss our research on the design of AI-supported emergency navigation systems that promote human altruism and trust.

Bio: Hyesun Chung is a final-year Ph.D. candidate in Industrial and Operations Engineering at the University of Michigan. She was recently named a Barbour Fellow and received the Student Member with Honors Award from the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES). Prior to joining the University of Michigan as a doctoral student, she earned three bachelor’s degrees in Industrial Engineering, Business, and Industrial Design, as well as an M.S. in Industrial Engineering, all from Seoul National University in South Korea. Building on her interdisciplinary background, she is a human factors engineer and human-computer interaction researcher who integrates computational and statistical methods with psychological theory to better understand and design human-AI interaction and teaming.

BME Seminar Series: Lennon Rogers, PhD
2026-01-26 12:00 - 13:00 | 1003 (Tong Auditorium) Engineering Centers Building, 1550 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
Prototyping with Purpose

Lennon Rodgers, PhDDirector, Grainger Engineering Design Innovation LabCollege of EngineeringUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison

Abstract:What do high-speed motorcycles, zoo animal feeders, spacecraft and medical supplies have in common? They are all challenges I’ve tackled using rapid prototyping as my primary engine for design and innovation. In this talk, I’ll take you behind the scenes of these diverse projects to show how I use prototyping tools to explore, learn, iterate, and ultimately deliver field-tested solutions.

Print PDF

ECE Discovery Panel: Energy Systems
2026-01-27 12:20 - 12:50 | 1610 Engineering Hall, 1415 Engineering Drive, Madison, 53706
Engineering undergraduates! Join us in 1610 Engineering Hall as faculty members explore the technical area of Energy Systems! All undergraduate students are welcome as Assistant Professor Mahima Gupta, Assistant Professor Manish Singh, and Professor Giri Venkataramanan talk about application ideas, advanced course electives in this area, and future job opportunities. It’s a great place to ask your questions about classes and career paths in this exciting ECE field.

Come for the insights, stay for the Jimmy John’s sandwiches!

Mahima Gupta

Manish Singh

Giri Venkataramanan
