ISyE - Interaction-Centered Design and Evaluation for Trustworthy Human-AI Work Systems
2026-02-02 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago) | 1163 Mechanical Engineering, 1513 Engineering Dr., Madison, WI, 53706, United States
As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly embedded in work systems, questions of trust extend beyond whether people accept or rely on algorithms to how humans and AI jointly perform, adapt, and sustain trustworthy decisions over time. In this talk, I present research that frames trustworthiness as a system-level property built through the iterative design, evaluation, and integration of human-AI interactions. I argue that interaction—not the human or the AI alone—is the fundamental unit for designing and evaluating trustworthy work systems. I illustrate this perspective through empirical studies of AI-enabled decision support in safety- and mission-critical domains, including identity verification and intelligence analysis. Across these studies, I show how human and AI strengths and weaknesses depend on interaction design; why explainable AI designs can produce mismatches between perceptual and performance measures of system trustworthiness; and how interaction-centered design can concurrently translate theoretical and operational trustworthiness models into experimentally testable systems. This work advances foundations for building human-AI systems that are effective, efficient, ethical, and capable of sustaining human judgment over time.

Bio: Myke C. Cohen is a final-year Ph.D. student in Human Systems Engineering at Arizona State University and an Associate Scientist at Aptima, Inc. His work sits at the intersection of human factors engineering, complex adaptive systems, and applied cognitive science, with a focus on the design and evaluation of AI-enabled decision systems in safety- and mission-critical environments. He has led and contributed to projects sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, DARPA, and the Department of Defense. Myke is a recipient of the HFES Student Member with Honors Award, and was named an Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering Dean’s Fellow and the inaugural CHART Scholar at Arizona State University. Prior to his doctoral studies, he served as an Instructor of Industrial Engineering at the University of the Philippines Diliman, where he earned his B.S. in Industrial Engineering.

NEEP Seminar Series: Carlo Fiorina, Texas A&M
2026-02-05 12:00 - 13:00 | WI
Thursday, February 512:00 – 1:00pm106 Engineering Research BuildingPlease contact office@neep.wisc.edu for assistance with remote participation.

Selected Examples of Recent Modeling and Simulation Work in Fission and Fusion SystemsThis seminar will review some recent projects involving the modeling and simulation of fission and fusion systems, with an emphasis on the practical approaches used and the insights gained during the work. One example is the development of a full‑resolution model of the Molten Salt Reactor Experiment (MSRE). This effort combines neutronics and thermal‑hydraulics to represent the experiment’s configuration in detail, providing a way to revisit historical data and gain additional understanding of MSRE behavior. A second example concerns inertial fusion energy (IFE), focusing on the response of the chamber to target pulses. The modeling examines gas dynamics, shock propagation, and interactions with chamber structures. The seminar will also touch on work related to heat‑pipe microreactors and nuclear thermal propulsion systems.

To conclude, the seminar will briefly introduce foamForNuclear, a fully open‑source multiphysics framework built on OpenFOAM that supports coupled simulations across multiple regions and physics models. The platform builds on developments such as GeN‑Foam and OFFBEAT to provide a modular structure that couples arbitrary physics across multiple regions and meshes without source code changes. It supports full‑core heterogeneous geometries, advanced thermal‑hydraulics, structural mechanics, neutronics, and materials behavior. The framework includes extensive documentation, several tutorials, and a comprehensive Python API. Through the Functional Mock‑up Interface (FMI), foamForNuclear connects with external tools for turbomachinery and control systems, enabling end‑to‑end simulation of nuclear reactors and fusion energy systems.

Carlo Fiorina is an Associate Professor at Texas A&M University. He received his BS, MS, and PhD degrees from Politecnico di Milano, Italy. Prior to joining TAMU, he was an R&D Program Manager at EPFL, Switzerland, and a postdoctoral researcher at the Paul Scherrer Institute, Switzerland. In his current position, he teaches Nuclear Reactor Theory and conducts research on the modeling, design, and analysis of advanced reactors and fusion energy systems. Since 2015, he has been actively supporting and promoting open-source software development and has played a key role in establishing the IAEA ONCORE initiative. He has been the lead developer of the GeN-Foam multiphysics solver since 2014 and a co-developer of the OFFBEAT fuel behavior solver since 2017.

MS&E Seminar Series: Dr. Sam Zelinka, Materials Research Engineer at the UW Forest Service Forest Product Laboratory
2026-02-05 13:00 - 14:00 | WI
UW-Madison Department of Materials Science and Engineering welcomes Dr. Sam Zelinka. His seminar, “More uncertain than you might think… What 24 laboratories from around the world got wrong (and right) measuring sorption isotherms in an interlaboratory study”, will take place on Thursday, February 5 from 1-2 p.m. in MS&E Room 265.

Samuel Zelinka, Supervisory Materials Engineer at the Forest Products Laboratory on February 5, 2025. USDA photo by Joshua Limbaugh.

Bio

For the past two decades, Dr. Sam Zelinka has worked at the US Forest Service Forest Products Laboratory where he has conducted research and led research teams that have explored how water and high temperatures (fire) modify the properties of wood, engineered wood composites and wood based materials. Dr. Zelinka’s work on the fire safety of wood buildings has been used to justify changes to the building code allowing the height and area limits of wood buildings in the United States to be increased from 6 stories to 18 stories. He also regularly partners with the wood industry in the United States to help new technologies meet fire safety requirements. Dr. Zelinka’s moisture research accomplishments have rewritten our understanding of many concepts in wood science including electrical conduction, diffusion through wood cell walls and the maximum amount of water that wood cell walls can hold (the “fiber saturation point”). In the past 10 years, Dr. Zelinka has shown that the previous sorption theories applied to wood were invalid and could not describe the physical changes the wood cell walls exhibit during absorption (often misunderstood as adsorption) of water vapor. He has further demonstrated that methods used to collection sorption data contain significant flaws and provided a new and robust framework to understand sorption kinetics. Dr. Zelinka is writing a book on wood moisture relations with an expected publication date of November, 2026 (Wood-Water Interactions, Elsevier).

Abstract

Over the past decade, we have shown that commonly used protocols for using automated sorption balances (often called dynamic vapor sorption or DVS analyzers) for collecting water vapor sorption isotherms in wood lead to unacceptably high errors and uncertainties in the data. However, our suggested protocols for acquiring high quality DVS data are still often not used because they require a long hold time at each relative humidity step. Our previous work has shown that a systematic correction factor can be applied to data collected with the commonly used short hold times to improve data quality, although this was only tested on a small amount of data from one laboratory. In 2021, we began a worldwide interlaboratory investigation on automated sorption measurements. The goal of this study was to gather data on matched wood samples from many different types of sorption balances and many different laboratories to develop a systematic correction factor that could be applied to sorption data collected with short hold times. However, along the way, we have learned many lessons about how these instruments are often used in practice raising further questions about the temperature, mass and relative humidity stability of these instruments in real-world applications (even with simple calibration weights). While this lecture focuses on lessons we learned about water absorption, these same lessons can be applied to many modern instruments commonly used for materials characterization.

ME 903 Graduate Seminar: Professor Marta Hatzell
2026-02-05 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 Marta Hatzell is a professor at Georgia Tech University.

Electrochemical Systems to Enable Circularity

Abstract: Electrochemical technologies are emerging as key enablers of circular chemical systems as electrochemical systems are modular and able to connect to stranded energy sources. In this context, I will highlight recent advances in electrochemical processes that address carbon capture and utilization, resource recovery from waste, and sustainable fertilizer production. Specifically, I will provide insights into how bipolar membrane (BPM) electrolysis could provide a promising avenue to integrate carbon capture systems with conversion systems. Second, I will examine how electrified separations processes may enable more effective nutrient management at agricultural and water treatment sites. Finally, I will discuss the prospects for fully decentralized fertilizer production and highlight the potential advantages and disadvantages of distributed chemical manufacturing.

Bio: Marta Hatzell the Woodruff Professor Mechanical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology, with a joint appointment in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. Her research group investigates sustainable catalysis and separations, with applications ranging from e-fuel production to resource recovery from waste. Dr. Hatzell’s honors include the NSF Early CAREER Award, ONR Young Investigator Award, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation Inventor Fellow, Sloan Fellow in Chemistry, and the ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering Lectureship Award. Dr. Hatzell also serves as a Senior Editor for the Journal ACS Energy Letters.

Mechanics Seminar: Professor D. Emma Fan
2026-02-06 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 D. Emma Fan is a professor at University of Texas – Austin.

Robotic Materials and Devices Across Scales for Biomedical Applications

Abstract: In this talk, I will discuss our recent work in materials fabrication, manipulation, assembly, and manufacturing tailored towards biomedical applications. The focus is on active materials and robotic devices enabled by materials control across a wide range of length scales. At the nanoscale, I will discuss 3D electrokinetic tweezers, an ultra-precision tool developed in my lab, which can be used to manipulate nanowires in room-temperature aqueous solutions. With this technique, designed nanoparticles are maneuvered as untethered robotic tools for probing single biological cells; the precision reaches 20 nm in position and 0.5° in orientation in solution under a standard microscope. At a slightly larger, chip-scale, I will describe a recent innovation that permits the light-controlled patterning of soft actuators made of microbubbles, which assemble large arrays of nanoparticles in parallel. The co-assembly of nanosensor-cell hybrids can be further achieved that detect metabolites of bacterial cells. Finally, I will present a rational scheme for developing large-scale, hierarchically porous superstructures for applications in monitoring human health and public-health relevant water treatment.

Bio: Dr. D. Emma Fan is Harry L. Kent, Jr. Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin, with affiliated appointments in Electrical and Computer Engineering, the Materials Science and Engineering Program, and the Texas Materials Institute.

Prof. Fan leads a research program focused on the fabrication, manipulation, and assembly of intelligent micro/nanoscale structures, 3D hierarchical porous materials, and stimulus-responsive systems.She is a recipient of two NSF awards: the NSF CAREER Award (2012) and the NSF Mid-Career Advancement Award (2022). She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (2021) and the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) (2024), where she was elected to the Board of Directors (2025) by a vote of over 2,000 Fellows. She was named a Senior Member of the National Academy of Inventors in 2025 and has served as an Official Nominator for the Japan Prize since 2017. Dr, Fan was selected as the 2022 Ilene Busch-Vishniac Lecturer at Johns Hopkins University—an honor that celebrates outstanding women in engineering and aims to inspire the next generation.

ECE Distinguished Speaker Seminar Series: Professor Shiwen Mao, Auburn University
2026-02-06 15:00 - 16:00 | 2305 Engineering Hall, 1415 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
2305 Engineering Hall

Diffusion-enabled 3D human pose tracking, data augmentation, completion, and acceleration

Abstract:In recent years, 3D human activity recognition and tracking has become an important topic in human-computer interaction. To preserve the privacy of users, there is considerable interest in techniques without using a video camera. In this talk, Mao first presents RFID-Pose, a vision-assisted 3D human pose estimation system based on deep learning (DL). The performance of DL models depends on the availability of sufficient high-quality radio frequency (RF) data, which is more difficult and expensive to collect than other types of data. To overcome this obstacle, in the second part of this talk, he presents generative AI approaches to generate labeled synthetic RF data for multiple wireless sensing platforms, such as WiFi, RFID, and mmWave radar, including a conditional Recurrent Generative Adversarial Network (R-GAN) approach and diffusion/latent diffusion based approaches. Next, he proposes a novel framework that leverages latent diffusion transformers to synthesize high quality RF data, as well as a latent diffusion transformer with cross-attention conditioning to accurately infer missing joints in skeletal poses, completing full 25-joint configurations from partial (i.e., 12-joint) inputs utilizing received RF sensory data. Finally, he presents recent work TF-Diff, a novel training-free diffusion framework for cross-domain radio frequency (RF)-based human activity recognition (HAR) system, which enables effective adaptation with minimal target-domain data.

Professor Shiwen Mao

Bio:Shiwen Mao is a Professor and Earle C. Williams Eminent Scholar and Director of the Wireless Engineering Research and Education Center at Auburn University. Dr. Mao’s research interest includes wireless networks, multimedia communications, RF sensing and IoT, smart health, and smart grid. He is the editor-in-chief of IEEE Transactions on Cognitive Communications and Networking, a member-at-large on the Board of Governors of IEEE Communications Society, and Vice President of Technical Activities of IEEE Council on Radio Frequency Identification (CRFID). He is a co-recipient of several technical and service awards from the IEEE. He is a Fellow of the IEEE.

ISyE - Bridging Machine Learning and Optimization for Human-Centered AI
2026-02-09 12:00 - 13:00 | 1163 Mechanical Engineering, 1513 Engineering Dr., Madison, WI, 53706, United States
From healthcare delivery to resilient power grid management, predictive and prescriptive analytics tools have the potential to improve decision-making for some of today’s most pressing problems, yet their impact is often limited by the technical barriers required to access these tools and to interpret and trust their results. This talk will explore how the synthesis of machine learning and optimization can lower these barriers to advance human-centered artificial intelligence (AI). The first part of the talk will demonstrate how generative AI can broaden access to optimization tools through an interactive decision-support framework, developed in collaboration with Microsoft Outlook, that leverages large language models to translate natural-language user requests into underlying constraint programming models. The second part of the talk will focus on trust, showing how optimization can identify regions where machine learning models make fixed predictions that preclude individuals from changing their outcomes, such as a loan applicant who can never be approved regardless of their actions. We will conclude by outlining broader opportunities for integrating AI and optimization, moving toward a future in which advanced analytics tools are as accessible and trustworthy for managers at a local food bank as they are for applied scientists at Amazon.

Bio: Connor Lawless is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Stanford Institute for Human- Centered Artificial Intelligence advised by Ellen Vitercik and Madeleine Udell. His research blends tools from optimization, machine learning, and human-computer interaction to make advanced analytics tools more accessible and trustworthy. He received his PhD in Operations Research from Cornell University where he was advised by Oktay Gunluk, and previously spent time at Microsoft Research, IBM Research, and the Royal Bank of Canada.

ECE Discovery Panel: Quantum, Optics & Photonics
2026-02-10 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 Quantum, Optics & Photonics! All undergraduate students are welcome as Associate Professor Jennifer Choy, Professor Mikhail Kats, and Assistant Professor Ying Wang talk about application ideas, advanced course electives, and future job opportunities in this area. It’s a great place to ask your questions about classes and career paths in this growing ECE field.

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

Jennifer Choy

Mikhail Kats

Ying Wang

ISyE - Info session with industry guest Plexus
2026-02-11 18:00 - 19:00 | Mechanical Engineering Building, 1513 University Ave, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706, United States
1163 ME

Plexus is coming to UW-Madison! Learn more about their company and career opportunities and take part in a case study. This event is sponsored by the IISE student org.

ME 903 Graduate Seminar: Dr. Edward Cole
2026-02-12 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. Dr. Edward Cole is a Research Director at Norsk Hydro.

Bio: Edward Cole is a proud native of Nashville, TN and the fourth child of Lawrence & Delores Cole. Edward gained interest in engineering as a pre-teen while working in his father’s upholstery shop and by participating in a variety of home improvement projects. College prep courses and pivotal mentors led Edward to enroll as a Presidential Scholar at Tennessee State University (TSU) where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering (2006). During his years at TSU, Edward interned with notable companies such as Nissan, Honeywell, Hospital Corporations of America, and Y-12 National Security Complex. These valuable experiences showed Edward that he wanted more out of his education. So, the following year he enrolled as a Graduate Engineering Research Scholar (GERS) in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, with emphasis on manufacturing processes.

While in Madison, Edward participated in the Allied Community Outreach Group as well as the National Society of Black Engineers – Wisconsin Black Engineering Students Society (NSBE-WBESS). During the summer, you could often find Edward teaching engineering concepts to high school students through the PEOPLE program at UW-Madison or as a guest speaker to young students interested in STEM fields. In May 2009, Edward successfully defended his Master’s thesis entitled Investigation of Weld Material and Process Parameter Influence on Required Forge Force in Friction Stir Welding. Shortly after finishing the Master’s thesis, Edward was accepted as a PhD candidate in the Mechanical Engineering Department at UW-Madison. In December 2012 Edward defended his PhD dissertation entitled The Impact of Alloy and Tool Features on Friction Stir Welding Forces. The research focused on tool design, weld parameters and mechanical properties, all process characteristics to facilitate broader implementation of friction stir welding of aluminum.

Edward began his industrial career in 2013 as a Mechanical Engineer at Schlumberger in Houston, TX where he spent three years in downhole tool manufacturing. In 2016 Edward joined Sapa Extrusion in Troy, MI, responsible for process development and prototypes for a friction stir welded subframe for the Ford Edge. Success in welding and engineering projects led to a ~2yr expat opportunity in Finspång, Sweden. Edward returned to the US in 2019 as an R&D Manager with both personnel and strategy responsibility. Contributions continued and leadership competence grew. In 2025, Edward was named Director of Research, responsible for academic partnerships, prototype development, and intellectual property in North America.

Edward lives in Troy, MI with his wife Adrienne and two sons, Edward (6) and Ethan (3). He is an active member at Detroit Church and now has a special place in his heart for the Detroit Lions, Detroit Pistons and Detroit Redwings. Edward spends time in nature with golf clubs and enjoys vacations near water and mountains.

ISyE - Online Fault Detection for High-dimensional Data Streams under Resource Constraints
2026-02-13 12:00 - 13:00 | 1163 Mechanical Engineering, 1513 Engineering Dr., Madison, WI, 53706, United States
With the rapid advances in sensing and communication technologies, most complex systems are continuously monitored by sensors that provide a variety of streaming data with rich information about the system’s performance. Monitoring such high-dimensional streaming data in real-time is critical to detect anomalies and system failures. Nonetheless, resource constraints on sensing, computation, and communication make traditional monitoring and anomaly detection methods impractical. This talk introduces a family of adaptive and active learning strategies for online fault detection that explicitly account for the limitations associated with resource constraints. By dynamically selecting which data to sample, process, or transmit, these methods achieve efficient monitoring without sacrificing statistical reliability. I will discuss applications in networked and partially observed systems, real-time anomaly detection with mobile sensors, and online batch fault diagnosis. The unifying theme is the integration of statistical learning, sequential decision-making, and uncertainty quantification to enable scalable, data-efficient online monitoring under resource constraints.

Bio: Ana Maria Estrada Gomez is an assistant professor at the Edwardson School of Industrial Engineering at Purdue University. She received a B.Sc. in industrial engineering and a B.Sc. in mathematics from la Universidad de los Andes, Bogota, Colombia, in 2013 and 2015, respectively. She also holds a M.Sc. in industrial engineering from la Universidad de los Andes (2015), and a M.Sc. in statistics from Georgia Tech (2018). In 2021, she received her PhD in industrial engineering with a specialization in statistics from Georgia Tech. Her research interests lie in developing efficient methodologies and algorithms for modeling, monitoring, and diagnosing complex systems that collect high-dimensional data, using statistics and machine learning tools. She is the recipient of the SPES + Q&P Best Student Paper Award from ASA, the QSR Best Poster Award from INFORMS, and the IISE Doctoral Colloquium Best Poster Award. She has also been appointed as a Latina Trailblazer in Engineering Fellow by Purdue’s College of Engineering.

ISyE - Game night!
2026-02-13 15:00 - 17:00 | 3127 Mechanical Engineering, Madison, 53717
3127 Mechanical Engineering

Join IISE for their first freshman event of the spring semester! This is a great opportunity to meet other freshmen in industrial engineering as well as IISE board members! They’ll have hot chocolate and games. We hope to see you there!!

BME Seminar Series: Wally Block, PhD
2026-02-16 12:00 - 13:00 | 1003 (Tong Auditorium) Engineering Centers Building, 1550 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
*Speaker Change

Gene Therapy for Rare Neurodegenerative Diseases: RARE will get us there

Wally Block, PhDProfessorDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringUW-Madison

Rare monogenic neurological diseases affect about 0.5% of Americans at birth and are estimated to account for up to 40% of the workload in hospital pediatric practice. Current drug delivery methods struggle to overcome the Blood Brain Barrier (BBB), with 98% of small molecule drugs and 99% of monoclonal antibody therapies failing to cross the BBB. This barrier, while protecting the brain, creates significant challenges for drug delivery and patient treatment.

Convection Enhanced Delivery (CED) is emerging as a promising solution, circumventing the BBB with direct, minimally invasive catheter-based infusion. Current CED surgical protocols distribute gene therapies are transforming the outlook for Huntington’s disease where only perhaps 1% of the brain needs to be altered genetically. In most rare neurodegenerative diseases however, much larger volumes of the brain require will require treatment.

New government initiatives like ARPA-H THRIVE are making a 9-figure investment in genetic correction, many of which will be focused on genetic correction for rare brain disorders. This talk will provide an overview of the biophysics technology being developed across a consortium centered at UW-Madison to get from 1% to 100% of brain coverage. The talk will present an argument why solving rare diseases will accelerate efforts to treat genetic approaches to much higher prevalence diseases such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimers.

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ISyE - An evening with industry
2026-02-18 18:00 - 19:00 | WI
Help us welcome three distinguished UW-ISyE alumni to our annual virtual panel. Atul Khosla, TJ Dodson, and Michelle Ranavat will join students for an informative, interactive hour to discuss their careers in the fields of professional sports management, manufacturing, and high-end beauty products. Don’t miss this special opportunity!

Pre-registration is not required, just join using the link below.

UW-ISyE Alumni Panel

Atul Khosla – COO/CCO, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

TJ Dodson – COO, Wiese USA

MIchelle Ranavat – CEO/Founder, RANAVAT

Ask an expert: Clean Energy
2026-02-19 12:00 - 13:00 | WI
Interested in a career in clean energy? Come learn about current clean energy initiatives and diverse career paths in the energy industry from our expert panel of College of Engineering alumni. In this hybrid panel, students will join in person at EH 1610, and our three alumni will join virtually. The panel will be moderated by ECE Professor Daniel Ludois, with time reserved at the end of the event for students to ask questions. Meet our panelists below!

Event DetailsThursday, February 19 @ 12:00pm1610 Engineering HallJimmy John’s sandwiches will be provided!

Suminder SinghBSEE ‘95Vice President, Bloom Energy

David BiermanBSME ‘12Co-Founder & Chief Commercial Officer, Antora Energy

Megan LloydMS/BSNE ‘08Project Manager, SHINE Technologies

NEEP Seminar Series: Allison Mahvi, University of Wisconsin–Madison
2026-02-19 12:00 - 13:00 | WI
Thursday, February 1912:00 – 1:00pm106 Engineering Research BuildingPlease contact office@neep.wisc.edu for assistance with remote participation.

Film Dryout in Annular FlowsAnnular flow boiling is a highly effective cooling strategy, with applications ranging from microelectronics to nuclear reactors. However, at sufficiently high heat fluxes, the thin liquid film characteristic of annular flows will rupture, exposing the heated surface to vapor. This phenomenon, known as dryout critical heat flux (CHF), causes a sudden drop in the heat transfer coefficient. To avoid equipment damage, is a strong incentive to delay dryout to higher heat fluxes and vapor qualities to improve system reliability and efficiency.

This presentation explores the mechanisms driving dryout CHF in low surface tension fluids and presents methods for predicting both intermittent and full dryout. We will begin by discussing our recent experimental observations, focusing on the behavior of disturbance waves in annular flows and their role in film rupture. We then will examine how flow obstructions alter film dynamics and heat transfer characteristics. Finally, we will discuss how these insights can be incorporated into four-field annular flow models to improve dryout CHF predictions across a broad range of operating conditions. Overall, this work aims to deepen our fundamental understanding of thin film flows and the influence of surface features on the limits of annular flow boiling.

Dr. Allison Mahvi is the Bluemke Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, where she leads the Laboratory for Energy Transport and Storage (LET+S). She earned her Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology in 2018 and her B.S. from the UW – Madison in 2012. Following her doctoral studies, Dr. Mahvi held postdoctoral research positions at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2018–2019) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (2019–2022). Her research focuses on two-phase flows, surface enhancements, advanced thermal energy systems, and thermal energy storage devices. Her work has resulted in 30 peer-reviewed journal publications. During her graduate studies, she was recognized with several awards, including the ASME Graduate Teaching Fellowship, the Sam Nunn Security Program Fellowship, the Woodruff Fellowship, and the ASHRAE Grant-in-Aid.

MS&E Seminar Series: Ann Bolcavage
2026-02-19 13:00 - 14:00 | WI
UW-Madison Department of Materials Science and Engineering welcomes Ann Bolcavage. Her seminar, “Environmental Barrier Coatings for Ceramic Matrix Composite Materials: Bridging the Gap from Laboratory to Engine”, will take place on Thursday, February 19, from 1-2 p.m. in MS&E 265.

Bio

Dr. Ann Bolcavage is the Engineering Fellow for Coatings at Rolls-Royce plc., a global manufacturer of propulsion solutions for civil aerospace, defense, and power systems markets. She is responsible for the strategic development of critical coating materials and manufacturing technologies for surface engineering to provide through-life support for all products. Over the course of her career, Ann has focused on developing metallic and ceramic coatings and thin films, and her expertise includes the measurement of process-structure-property relationships leading to optimized thermal spray, chemical vapor deposition, and physical vapor deposition processing methods for new and repaired aerospace and industrial gas turbine engine components.

Ann joined Rolls-Royce Corporation in 2006 as a Senior Engineering Specialist in Indianapolis, IN and subsequently held roles as Surface Engineering Manager (UK) and Chief of Materials Capability Acquisition before her appointment to the Rolls-Royce Engineering Fellowship in 2014. She was also the Corporate Technical Liaison for key research programs in surface engineering at the Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing (Disputanta, VA) and at the University of Virginia / Rolls-Royce UTC for Advanced Materials Systems. Prior to joining Rolls-Royce, Ann worked at Praxair Surface Technologies (now Linde AMT) in Indianapolis.

In recognition of her technical achievements and leadership, Ann was appointed Fellow of ASM International in 2011. She has been active in ASM for 40 years, including leadership positions in the Indianapolis Chapter, Board member of the Thermal Spray Society, and ASM International Board of Trustees member. Ann was also elected to the TSS Hall of Fame in 2025.

Ann received her B.S. with honors in Materials Science and Engineering from Lehigh University and her M.S and Ph.D. in Metallurgical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She has remained active in writing technical publications, giving conference and workshop presentations (9 invited), and has 23 patented inventions.

Abstract

Environmental barrier coatings (EBCs) with rare-earth silicate-based compositions have increasingly become a preferred solution for the protective system to prevent accelerated degradation of silicon carbide-matrix / silicon carbide fiber ceramic matrix composite (CMC) components. Within the harsh conditions of the gas turbine engine, an EBC system must maintain thermophysical and thermomechanical stability and withstand degradation from the high gas velocities, high temperatures, high pressures, and high-water vapor levels from combustion products. Increasingly, EBCs must also be resilient to the effects of ingested dust and siliceous debris (CMAS) from operation in arid, volcanic, or polluted regions. The overall effects of these conditions on the coating materials system life and degradation rate are complex, with multiple damage mechanisms in play over the course of the component lifecycle.

Laboratory / rig testing to assess EBC performance for any one property or damage mechanism is not wholly predictive and scalable to the likely performance of the coated component in the actual engine, due to the complex interactions between them. Often, environmental testing cannot simulate the low concentration of species over many cycles, specimen geometry is kept simple to facilitate rig design or simplify analysis, and the relative severity of multiple degradation mechanisms can’t be accurately replicated. As engine demonstration tests are extremely expensive, it is desired to gain important data and insights about EBC systems earlier in the development lifecycle while staying grounded as close to operational reality as possible. Examples and results are presented from laboratory and rig testing that demonstrate the materials and functional property gaps in understanding and what a recommended approach must incorporate to ensure robust learning is gained from concept to demonstration.

ISyE - Website Portfolio Design Seminar
2026-02-19 14:30 - 16:00 | 1270 Mechanical Engineering, 1513 University Ave, Madison, 53706
Join our HFES student org for this Website Portfolio Design Seminar. This is a hands-on workshop which will cover the basics of building a website using GitHub.

ME 150th Celebration: Distinguished Alumni, Chris Schyvinck
2026-02-19 16:00 - 17:00 | 3M Auditorium, rm 1106 Mechanical Engineering Building, 1513 University Ave, Madison, 53711
To celebrate 150 years of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, the Department of Mechanical Engineering will feature distinguished alumni in mechanical engineering and engineering mechanics who have made a lasting impact on the field. Chris Schyvinck, who received her bachelor’s (’89) in mechanical engineering, is the CEO and President of SHURE. She has played a big role in the microphones and audio electronics industry, which has led to exceptional results in product quality and corporate profitability. To learn more about Chris Schyvinck’s experience, please join us for this installment of our ME 903: Graduate Student Lecture series.

Presentation Abstract: This presentation reflects on Chris’ journey from mechanical engineer to CEO and the experiences, lessons, and mindset shifts that shaped her path along the way. Through three chapters—Engineering, Managing, and Leading—it highlights how curiosity, continuous learning, and strong partnerships helped guide her growth and leadership approach.

Bio: Christine Schyvinck is President, CEO, and Chairman of Shure Incorporated, a global leader in audio technology. Since joining Shure in 1989 as a Quality Engineer, she has held multiple leadership roles across engineering, operations, sales, and global marketing. Under her direction, Shure has expanded international operations, boosted sales, enhanced delivery performance, and strengthened inclusive leadership and sustainability efforts. Appointed CEO in 2016, Chris is only the fourth person to lead the Company. She holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from UW–Madison and a Master’s in Engineering Management from Northwestern. She serves on various advisory and nonprofit boards, including the Executives’ Club of Chicago and Blessings in a Backpack.

Lean Green Belt Training
2026-02-20 00:00 - 2026-02-22 23:59 | WI
On campus – location TBD

IISE is hosting in-person Lean Green Belt Training on campus! Open to ALL students, this is a fantastic opportunity to add an industry-recognized certification to your resume.This 3-day, live, in-person workshop is open to all students and focuses on practical, engineering-driven Lean tools, process improvement, and data-driven problem solving—skills employers actively look for in engineering, operations, supply chain, consulting, and analytics roles. Unlike many professional certifications, no prior industry experience is required. You’ll gain hands-on exposure to industry-standard methods, learn how to identify inefficiencies and improve processes, and leave with a credential you can immediately add to your resume and talk about in interviews. Early registration is encouraged for discounted pricing.

Don’t miss this opportunity to earn a professional certification while still a student!!

Information/Registration

Midwest Mechanics Seminar: Professor Bharath Ganapathisubramani
2026-02-20 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). This specific seminar is hosted in conjunction with the Midwest Mechanics Seminar Series. Professor Bharath Ganapathisubramani is a professor at University of South Hampton.

Presentation Title: Vortex Dominated Flows: Can’t live with them…Can’t live without them…

Abstract: Vortex-dominated flows are in abundance in engineering applications and natural environment. Vortical structures influence not only the flow field but also have major implications on forces and moments experienced by objects as well as noise generated by them. In this talk, I will present results from work carried out in my group across different projects. We will focus on at least two case studies. The first is aimed at understanding the fluid-structure interactions in flow past porous bluff bodies while the second will focus on swimming efficiency of marine reptiles in Mesozoic era. These case studies will show that the behaviour of vortex interactions have a profound impact well beyond their specific application and that understanding these interactions can spawn new applications in varied areas including flow manipulation and bio-inspired vehicle design.

Bio: Bharath Ganapathisubramani is a Professor of Experimental Fluid Mechanics in the Department of Aeronautics & Astronautics at the University of Southampton. He completed his Masters and PhD in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Minnesota and an undergraduate degree in Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras. He was an Assistant Professor at Imperial College London and moved to Southampton as an Associate Professor. He currently serves as an Associate Editor for Experiments in Fluids and Flow. He is a Fellow of Royal Aeronautical Society and the American Physical Society as well as an Associate Fellow of AIAA.

BME Seminar Series: Shawn M. Gomez, EngScD
2026-02-23 12:00 - 13:00 | 1003 (Tong Auditorium) Engineering Centers Building, 1550 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
From Cellular Networks to Therapeutic Predictions: A Data-Driven Approach to Precision Medicine

Shawn M. Gomez, EngScDProfessor and Associate Chair for ResearchCo-Executive Director, FastTaCS, NC TraCS InstituteLampe Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering at UNC-Chapel Hill and NC State University

Abstract:Precision medicine aims to tailor prevention, diagnosis, and therapy to individual patients’ biological states. We pursue this as a multiscale problem, combining molecular and systems biology approaches with translational AI methods to improve clinical decision-making. In this talk, I focus on our systems-level efforts to predict targeted therapeutic responses in cancer. This challenge is particularly acute because despite extensive molecular profiling capabilities, predicting how therapies affect cellular phenotypes remains a critical barrier to precision oncology. Targeted therapies produce highly variable outcomes due to the adaptive, networked nature of cellular signaling. Comprising over 500 kinases, the protein kinome forms the backbone of these networks and represents a central therapeutic target space. However, predicting how kinome perturbations propagate through cellular systems to shape phenotypic outcomes is a major challenge. My research program addresses this by developing data-driven approaches that link kinase inhibition states to downstream cellular responses, enabling the rational design of single-agent and combination therapeutic strategies. I will discuss our work building predictive models that forecast cellular responses to kinase-targeted therapies, validated experimentally across breast and pancreatic cancer cell lines and patient-derived xenograft models. These models integrate large-scale proteomic and multi-omic data within machine learning frameworks to identify key kinases and network features driving therapeutic outcomes. This work illustrates how systems-level modeling translates molecular data into actionable insights for precision medicine. I’ll conclude by highlighting opportunities for research, educational, and translational innovation in BME at UW-Madison.

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ISyE - Information session with United Airlines
2026-02-23 18:00 - 19:00 | WI
1106 Mechanical Engineering

United Airlines is coming to UW-Madison! Learn more about their company first-hand. This event is hosted by the IISE student organization.

ECE RISE-AI Seminar Series: Eshaan Nichani, Princeton University
2026-02-24 11:30 - 12:30 | Discovery Building, 330 N. Orchard St., Madison, Wisconsin, 53715
Foundations of language models: scaling and reasoning

Eshaan Nichani

Abstract: Modern deep learning methods, most prominently language models, have achieved tremendous empirical success, yet a theoretical understanding of how neural networks learn from data remains incomplete. While reasoning directly about these approaches is often intractable, formalizing core empirical phenomena through minimal “sandbox” tasks offers a promising path toward principled theory. In this talk, Nichani will demonstrate how proving end-to-end learning guarantees for such tasks yields a practical understanding of how the network architecture, optimization algorithm, and data distribution jointly give rise to key behaviors. First, they will show how neural scaling laws arise from the dynamics of stochastic gradient descent in shallow neural networks. Next, they will study how and under what conditions transformers trained via gradient descent can learn different reasoning behaviors, including in-context learning and multi-step reasoning. Altogether, this approach builds theories that provide concrete insight into the behavior of modern AI systems.

Bio:Eshaan Nichani is a final-year Ph.D. student in the Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) department at Princeton University, jointly advised by Jason D. Lee and Yuxin Chen. His research focuses on the theory of deep learning, ranging from characterizing the fundamental limits of shallow neural networks to understanding how LLM phenomena emerge during training. He is a recipient of the IBM PhD Fellowship and the NDSEG Fellowship, and was selected as a 2025 Rising Star in Data Science.

Location details: Discovery Building – Research’s Link, 2nd floor of Discovery Building (access through glass doors behind information desk)

ECE Discovery Panel: Communications and Networks
2026-02-24 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 Communications and Networks! All undergraduate students are welcome as Associate Professor Bhuvana Krishnaswamy, Assistant Teaching Professor Nathan Strachen, and Professor Daniel van der Weide talk about application ideas, advanced course electives, and future job opportunities in this area. 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!

Bhuvana Krishnaswamy

Nathan Strachen

Daniel van der Weide

Introduce the Future to Engineering Day
2026-02-26 10:00 - 15:00 | WI
The Department of Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics welcomes you to celebrate Introduce the Future to Engineering Day with us! This event gathers high school students from across Wisconsin for a full day of learning about nuclear engineering. Attendees will hear from influential women in the field during a panel discussion, connect with nuclear engineering students at UW–Madison, engage with industry professionals, and tour our experimental research facilities.

Interest in nuclear is growing in Wisconsin, across the country, and around the world—making this an exciting time to enter the field. As a nuclear engineer, you could help expand access to clean energy, diagnose and cure diseases, design future power plants, or harness the power of fusion energy. Come discover what nuclear engineering is all about!

LocationThe event will be hosted at the UW–Madison campus in Varsity Hall on the 2nd floor of Union South.

Varsity Hall, Union South1308 W Dayton St, Madison, WI 53715

Event OverviewProgramming will take place on Thursday, February 26, 2026 from 10:00am – 3:00pm.

10:00 AM Check-In10:30 AM Panel 11:30 AM Lunch & Group Discussion12:30 PM Interactive Expo1:30 PM Research Lab Tours

The panel will feature influential women in the industry, representing a diverse sample of nuclear career paths. This page will be updated with speaker bios soon. Following the panel, a lunch buffet will be provided. NEEP students, faculty members, and the guest speakers will be seated at tables with the students to facilitate discussion regarding the panel and nuclear engineering in general.

After lunch, the industry expo will begin. Students will have the opportunity to meet with industry professionals to learn about careers in nuclear engineering. There will also be several science demonstrations from our student organizations.

The day will conclude with tours of our experimental research facilities including:

UW Nuclear Reactor: a 1 MW TRIGA teaching and research reactor

Pegasus-III Experiment: a spherical tokamak that supports fusion energy research

Ion Beam Laboratory: a particle accelerator used to study the effects of radiation damage on potential reactor materials

Helically Symmetric eXperiment: a stellarator with unique symmetry that supports fusion energy research

RegistrationTo register your group, please contact Lili Sarajian at lsarajian@wisc.edu by January 16, 2026.

Transportation & ParkingNEEP may be able to provide support for transportation costs. Please reach out to Lili Sarajian at lsarajian@wisc.edu for more information. If you plan to park one or more vehicles on campus for the day, NEEP can provide daily permits for a parking garage in the vicinity.

CostBesides parking, there are no additional costs associated with this event.

SponsorshipsIf you or your company is interested in supporting this event through a sponsorship, please visit this link to submit your gift or contact Lili Sarajian at lsarajian@wisc.edu. All sponsors are invited to host a table during the expo portion of the event to engage with high school students and share about careers in the nuclear industry. Other sponsorship benefits are detailed below:

$500 | General Sponsor

Support general event costs (e.g., space rental and supplies)

Includes:

Logo on event promotional materials

Expo table (If you are interested in sponsoring the event, we will follow up with more details about the expo and a signup form. You may opt out of the expo if you are unable to attend.)

$1,000 | Premium Sponsor

Support transportation costs for high school groups traveling from across southern Wisconsin

Includes:

Logo on event promotional materials

Expo table (If you are interested in sponsoring the event, we will follow up with more details about the expo and a signup form. You may opt out of the expo if you are unable to attend.)

A social media shoutout

$2,000 | Elite Sponsor

Support meal costs and help us feed some hungry high schoolers!

Includes:

Logo on event promotional materials

Expo table (If you are interested in sponsoring the event, we will follow up with more details about the expo and a signup form. You may opt out of the expo if you are unable to attend.)

A social media shoutout

A company profile in the digital resource guide

Thank you to our sponsors!

ME 903 Graduate Seminar: Professor Evangelos Theodorou
2026-02-26 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 Evangelos Theodorou is a professor at Georgia Tech University.

Presentation Title: Optimization for Decision-Making in the Era of Artificial Intelligence.

Abstract: Optimization-based decision-making is at the core of autonomy and planning systems with applications in various domains of science and engineering from aerospace systems and robotics to networked and large-scale control. In this talk, I will give an overview of algorithms for decision-making and discuss use-cases and relevant applications. The topics include stochastic optimization algorithms such as Model Predictive Path Integral Control and its variations with applications to single agent system control, Distributed Optimization Architectures for multi-agent swarm control in the presence of uncertainty, and Deep-Learning Aided optimization algorithms for fast and scalable distributed optimization problems. If time permits, I will also cover stochastic optimal control algorithms with applications in the areas of Generative Artificial Intelligence and diffusions models on graphs.

Bio: Evangelos A. Theodorou is an Associate Professor with the Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology. He is also the director of the Autonomous Control and Decision Systems Laboratory and an Amazon Scholar. Dr. Theodorou is affiliated with the Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Machines and the Center for Machine Learning Research at Georgia Institute of Technology. He holds a BS in Electrical Engineering, from the Technical University of Crete (TUC), Greece in 2001 and three MSc degrees in Production Engineering from TUC in 2003, Computer Science and Engineering from University of Minnesota in 2007, and Electrical Engineering from the University of Southern California (USC) in 2010. In 2011, he graduated with his PhD in Computer Science from USC. From 2011 to 2013, he was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow with the department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Washington. Dr. Theodorou is the recipient of the King-Sun Fu best paper award of the IEEE Transactions on Robotics in 2012 and recipient of several best paper awards and nominations in machine learning and robotics conferences. His research spans the areas of stochastic optimal control theory, machine learning, dynamic and distributed optimization with applications to robotics, autonomy, and large-scale systems.

ECE Semiconductor Materials Seminar Series: Dr. Kuangye Lu
2026-02-26 16:00 - 17:00 | 4610 Engineering Hall, 1415 Engineering Drive, Madison, 53711
Seamless Monolithic 3D Heterogeneous Integration Enabled by Advanced Epitaxy

Abstract: Three-dimensional heterogeneous integration (3D heterointegration) is emerging as the leading approach to enhancing performance in the field of microelectronics. However, this method often relies on complex wafer-to-wafer bonding processes, which introduce alignment challenges and interfacial defects. Alternatively, heteroepitaxy offers another route for implementing 3D heterointegration but suffers from material degradation due to defects and strain caused by lattice and thermal mismatches.In this talk, I will introduce three new epitaxy paradigms designed to address the key limitations of current 3D heterointegration processes. First, I will discuss Remote Epitaxy, which enables wafer-scale exfoliation of ultra-thin membranes across a broad range of materials. By leveraging a 2D interlayer, these membranes can be transferred and monolithically 3D (M3D) integrated onto arbitrary substrates with ultra-high throughput and low cost, effectively addressing the challenges associated with wafer-to-wafer bonding. I will then present 2D-Assisted Heteroepitaxy, a technique that significantly reduces and, in some cases, eliminates defects in heteroepitaxy through strain relaxation mechanism at the 2D/3D interface. This advancement enhances materials quality and device performance over conventional heteroepitaxy, broadening opportunities for M3D heterointegration. Lastly, I will introduce single-crystal materials growth on amorphous substrates, which is made possible with a bold substrate design and carefully engineered materials growth conditions, offering an entirely new scheme of M3D heterointegration.Building on these epitaxy paradigms, I will demonstrate various novel (opto)electronic devices as examples of their applications, including fabrication of world’s smallest micro-LED pixels (based on Remote Epitaxy), defect-free direct growth of III-V on silicon for next-generation optoelectronic applications (based on 2D-Assisted Heteroepitaxy), and advanced 3D stacking of 2D transistors (based on single-crystal materials growth on amorphous substrates). I will conclude the talk with a perspective on future materials development that could enable innovations across advanced 3D logic/memory, XR, energy, and quantum information, driven by new devices built upon advances in M3D heterointegration.

Dr. Kuangye Lu

Bio: Dr. Kuangye Lu is currently a Postdoctoral Associate at the Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from MIT in 2023 under the supervision of Prof. Jeehwan Kim, and earned a B.S. with honors in Physics from Zhejiang University (ZJU) in 2018.His research focuses on the invention and development of advanced epitaxy techniques for compound semiconductors and 2D materials, as well as their heterointegration for device fabrication and applications. These efforts include the monolithic 3D integration of high-quality III-V optoelectronic devices on silicon, reconfigurable AI chips, and transistors engineered for next-generation advanced nodes.Dr. Lu has authored peer-reviewed articles in high-impact journals, including Nature, Nature Nanotechnology, and Nature Electronics. He is the recipient of the Chu Ko-Chen Scholarship, the highest honor for graduates of ZJU, and the MIT Shangzhi Wu Fellowship. Additionally, Dr. Lu has served as a conference organizer of Advanced Epitaxy of Freestanding Membranes and 2D Materials (AEFM) Conference and a Review Editor for Frontiers in Energy Research. He also serves as a reviewer for journals including Nature Chemical Engineering, Science Advances, and Nano Letters.

Mechanics Seminar: Professor Wonmo Kang
2026-02-27 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 Wonmo Kang is a professor at Arizona State University.

Presentation Title: Mechanisms Behind Enhanced Electrical and Mechanical Properties in Graphene–Metal Composites

Abstract: Graphene–metal composites are widely regarded as promising candidates for high-performance electrical conductors as well as advanced structural and functional applications, owing to graphene’s exceptional electron mobility, mechanical strength, and thermal conductivity. To leverage these attractive properties, small graphene flakes are often dispersed within a macroscopic metal matrix to form bulk composites. However, this approach intrinsically introduces discontinuous interfaces between the nanoscale carbon reinforcements and the much larger metal matrix, which hinder efficient load transfer and limit performance gains. In this regard, this talk investigates how both graphene continuity and quality influence the electrical and mechanical performance of graphene–metal composites. Using axially bi-continuous graphene–copper wires, we achieve a 41% reduction in electrical resistivity and a 450% increase in current-carrying capacity compared to pure copper. We further show that this architecture enables enhanced mechanical, thermal, and anti-oxidation performance. Notably, axially bi-continuous graphene–nickel wires break the traditional strength–ductility trade-off, achieving an exceptional combination of both. Finally, I will discuss our ongoing efforts toward high-throughput, cost-effective manufacturing of macroscopic graphene–metal composites with continuous graphene networks.

Bio: Wonmo Kang is an associate professor in the School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy at Arizona State University (ASU). He received his Ph.D. in 2012 with the Outstanding Mechanical Engineering PhD Award from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Before joining ASU, he was a research scientist at the US Naval Research Laboratory. His current research includes graphene-metal composites for multifunctional applications, in situ material characterization, nano/bio-mechanics, and NEMS/MEMS/bioMEMS. Dr. Kang has published his work in leading scientific journals including Advanced Materials, Advanced Functional Materials, Small, Nano Letters, and Acta Biomaterialia. Dr. Kang is the recipient of several awards/fellowships including the National Science Foundation CAREER Award, the ASME Rising Stars of Mechanical Engineering Award, the postdoctoral fellowship from the American Society for Engineering Education, and the Leidos technical publication awards.

ISyE - Cognitive engineering for higher education – A view from both sides of design
2026-02-27 12:00 - 13:00 | 1163 Mechanical Engineering, 1513 Engineering Dr., Madison, WI, 53706, United States
Photographer: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki

UW-ISyE looks forward to welcoming Ann Bisantz, a SUNY Distinguished Professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering at the University at Buffalo, where she also serves as Vice Provost and Dean for Undergraduate Education.

US institutions of higher education are large, complex systems affected by both internal and external factors, answering to multiple stakeholders with often conflicting goals; which must be managed in the face of short-and long-term uncertainties and limited resources; and where there is substantial risk – both for individuals impacted by the system (i.e., students) and arguably for society writ large, if they fail in their missions. They are examples of “intentional” systems – where constraints and priorities are drawn from human-created structures rather than physical laws. Increasingly, these systems are managed, at least in part, through data reporting and analyses which bring together variables of interest across functions and at multiple scales. Creating meaningful reports and visualizations of these complex data sets in support of decision-makers is a critical function of a modern university.

Methods of cognitive engineering have been used across a variety of complex, high risk systems to support design of automation, information displays, and decision-support tools. Frameworks such as cognitive work analysis provide models to reveal both the demands stemming from the work domain, as well as the knowledge, skills and strategies that experts bring to bear on those demands. Typically, these methods are used prospectively, are inputs to a larger system design process.

This presentation combines expertise in higher education administration with a cognitive engineering research perspective to inform a work domain model of one significant university sub-system, undergraduate education administration, drawing parallels with a well-studied health care system. It proposes a process of visualization co-creation as an alternative work-centered approach to successful design of decision-support tools, and concludes with shared lessons learned from a comparison of this just-in-time approach to design based in prospective analysis and modelling.

Bio: Dr. Bisantz is a SUNY Distinguished Professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering at the University at Buffalo, which she also serves as Vice Provost and Dean for Undergraduate Education. Her contributions to the field of human factors engineering include investigating new techniques for displaying complex and uncertain information to decision makers; supporting the transition in complex work domains from legacy and manual information systems to more integrated, supportive IT systems; modeling human judgment and decision making; extending cognitive engineering methods which can be used to model complex human-technology work domains; and understanding aspects of human trust in automated systems. This research has been conducted in a number of complex work environments, including health care, military systems, emergency management, and transportation; and has included interdisciplinary collaborations with researchers in health care and information fusion. She has been PI or CoI on over 15M in funded research projects from agencies including the National Science Foundation, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and numerous defense agencies. Bisantz is the past recipient of an NSF CAREER award, was recognized with a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Research and Creative Activity, and is a Fellow of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES). She has served as an Associate Editor or on the Editorial Board of a number of journals and has served HFES as a member-at-large of the Executive Council. She is the recipient of the HFES Fitts’ Education award for her contributions to human factors education and was the 2020 HFES WOMAN Mentor of the year. She is past chair of the UB ISE department and since 2018 has served the UB as Vice Provost and Dean, where she is responsible for university-wide leadership for undergraduate education, including curriculum, policy, student success, advising coordination, general education, undergraduate research, and the UB Honors College. In 2024 Bisantz was appointed to the National Academy of Engineering Board on Human-System Integration. Her PhD is from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
