College of Engineering - University of Wisconsin-Madison

ECE RISE-AI and RISE-EARTH Seminar Series - Seah Kim
2025-02-20 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago) | 4610 Engineering Hall, 1415 Engineering Drive, Madison, 53711
4610 Engineering Hall

Scalable SoC Architectures for Domain-Specific Computing: From Algorithms to Silicon

Abstract:Modern software stacks contain concurrent and heterogeneous workloads with bespoke constraints. This is especially crucial for emerging edge applications, such as AR/VR, robotics, and autonomous vehicles. In response to these demands, hardware has shifted towards pervasive specialization, making development and cross-stack integration increasingly challenging. This shift raises the pressing question at the core of modern computing: How do we enable scalable specialization in modern SoCs? How do we design and integrate heterogeneous accelerators while ensuring performance scalability through efficient resource management and adaptability across system layers?In this talk, I will present my research addressing these interconnected challenges of scalable specialization through full-stack, system approaches. (1) First, I will introduce Gemmini, an award-winning, widely used DNN accelerator generator that enables agile, full-stack accelerator evaluation. Gemmini allows researchers to explore the specialized accelerator design space under a full SoC. (2) Next, I will present AuRORA, the award-winning, novel virtualized accelerator integration approach with dynamic resource allocation, paving the foundation for accelerator-rich SoCs. AuRORA redesigns a novel CPU-accelerator interface that enables fast and flexible resource repartitioning, along with a runtime system that abstracts physical accelerators into a unified virtualized resource pool. (3) ​​Then, I will introduce SuperNoVA, an algorithm-hardware co-design for real-time, dynamic workloads on resource-constrained platforms, using SLAM as a target workload. SuperNoVA tackles the challenge of balancing accuracy and real-time execution with an adaptive algorithm for large-scale SLAM. (4) Finally, I will showcase a silicon test chip I taped out that embodies my research by integrating these innovations. Silicon validation with real workloads successfully proves the feasibility of scalable specialization.By bridging hardware design, system software, application algorithms, and silicon validation, my research enables adaptive, accelerator-rich computing platforms for modern edge applications. I will revolutionize edge SoC design by combining design-time hardware-software co-optimization with runtime adaptive resource management, achieving the best of both static specialization and dynamic flexibility to address the evolving demands of future edge platforms.

Seah Kim

Bio:Seah Kim is a Ph.D. Candidate at UC Berkeley, specializing in Computer Architecture and VLSI. Her research spans the full computing stack, from chip design and hardware development to system software and application algorithms, with a focus on scalable domain-specific SoC design. She has been awarded the IEEE Micro Top Pick in Computer Architecture (MICRO 2023), the Best Paper Award (DAC 2021), and the Distinguished Artifact Award (ISCA 2023). Prior to UC Berkeley, she earned a B.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Seoul National University. Seah was selected as a 2024 Rising Star in EECS and a 2023 ML and Systems Rising Star.

ISyE Accounting Individual Cognition and Social Influence for Better Human-AI Collaboration
2025-02-20 12:00 - 13:00 | 2188 Mechanical Engineering Building, 1513 University Avenue, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are increasingly integrated into our lives, enabling a new paradigm of human-AI decision-making where AI provides recommendations, and humans make the final decision. However, such human-AI collaboration often yields mixed results in reality, highlighting the need to understand how humans engage with AI-based systems and optimize human-AI collaboration’s effectiveness. In this talk, I address this challenge from two perspectives. First, I explore how individual cognitive processes shape human-AI interactions and how these insights can be modeled and incorporated into the design of AI models optimized for human-AI teams. Second, I examine the role of social influence—information humans receive beyond AI recommendations—in decision-making and discuss how it can be strategically designed in AI-based systems to foster critical reflections of AI recommendations and enhance human-AI collaboration.

Bio: Zhuoran Lu is a Ph.D. candidate in Computer Science at Purdue University, advised by Prof. Ming Yin. His research lies at the intersection of human-computer interaction (HCI) and artificial intelligence (AI), with a focus on human-AI interaction, human-centered AI, and applied machine learning. His work has been published in top-tier venues across HCI (e.g., CHI, CSCW) and AI (e.g., AAAI, IJCAI), and was recognized with the Best Paper Award at CSCW 2022. His research has been supported by the Frederick N. Andrews Fellowship and the Bilsland Dissertation Fellowship from Purdue University.

ISyE Alumni Panel
2025-02-19 18:00 - 19:00 | WI
All students are invited to join us as we welcome back these ISyE alumni. Representing a variety of industries and career paths, these alumni will briefly share their stories and field questions from students in a casual Q&A format.

Theron (TJ) Dodson

Maria Palma

Ed Kopetsky

TJ Dodson

Maria Palma

Ed Kopetsky

ECE Discovery Panel: Quantum, Optics & Photonics
2025-02-18 12:20 - 12:50 | 1413 Engineering Hall – Cheney Room, 1415 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI, 53711, United States
Engineering undergraduates! Join us in the Cheney Room (1413 Engineering Hall) as faculty members explore the technical area of Quantum, Optics & Photonics! All undergraduate students are welcome as Assistant Professor Jennifer Choy, Professor Mikhail Kats, and Assistant Professor Ying Wang 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 growing ECE field.

Come for the insights, stay for the pizza!

ISyE Foundations of Private Optimization for Modern Machine Learning
2025-02-18 12:00 - 13:00 | 2188 Mechanical Engineering Building, 1513 University Avenue, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
How can we develop optimization algorithms for training machine learning models that preserve the privacy of individuals’ training data? In this talk, I will present my work addressing this challenge through differential privacy (DP). Differential privacy offers a rigorous, quantifiable standard of privacy that limits potential leakage of training data. I will explore the fundamental limits of performance for differentially private optimization in modern machine learning, particularly within federated learning settings, and present scalable, efficient algorithms that achieve optimal accuracy under DP constraints. Additionally, these algorithms demonstrate strong empirical performance. Beyond privacy, I will also discuss some of my work in optimization for fair and robust machine learning, which has been deployed in industrial settings.

Bio: Dr. Andrew Lowy is a postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, advised by Stephen J. Wright. He received his PhD in Applied Mathematics from the University of Southern California under the supervision of Meisam Razaviyayn, where he was awarded the 2023 Center for Applied Mathematical Sciences (CAMS) Graduate Student Prize for outstanding research.

Dr. Lowy’s research focuses on optimization for private, fair, and robust machine learning, with an emphasis on understanding fundamental limits and developing scalable algorithms that achieve these limits. His work has been published in leading venues across optimization, machine learning, and privacy, including the SIAM Journal on Optimization, NeurIPS, ICML, ICLR, ALT, ACM CCS, and the Journal of Privacy and Confidentiality. His research has also had real-world impact, with some of his algorithms deployed in industry.

ISyE- IISE JEOPARDY game night
2025-02-17 18:00 - 19:00 | Location TBD (Check ME building for signage), 1415 Engineering Drive, Madison, 53711
Join UW-ISyE’s IISE student org forJeopardy night. Gift cards will be given to winning teams.

BME Seminar Series: Dhananjay Bhaskar, PhD
2025-02-17 12:00 - 13:00 | 1003 (Tong Auditorium) Engineering Centers Building, 1550 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
Harnessing Geometry and Topology in Machine Learning for Biomedical Discovery

Dhananjay Bhaskar, PhDPostdoctoral Researcher, Yale UniversityYale – Boehringer Ingelheim FellowKavli Institute for Neuroscience FellowVisiting Scholar in Engineering, Brown University

Abstract:Understanding the shape of data through geometry and topology offers a powerful perspective with the potential to drive breakthroughs in biomedical science and engineering. This talk explores how these mathematical frameworks, integrated with machine learning, can drive innovation in drug discovery, understanding cellular communication, and unraveling the dynamics of brain activity.

I will introduce learnable geometric scattering, a novel machine learning framework that overcomes the key limitations of conventional graph neural networks. By capturing nuanced structural features, this approach opens new frontiers in drug discovery and protein conformational analysis. Building on this, I will demonstrate how combining geometric scattering with topological data analysis uncovers hidden patterns in cell signaling and neural activity, shedding light on wound healing mechanisms and schizophrenia diagnosis. Finally, I will highlight how these tools can deepen our understanding of learning in artificial neural networks, paving the way for the development of biologically inspired, more expressive, and robust machine learning models.

This talk will emphasize the practical applications of these approaches and their transformative potential for addressing real-world challenges in health and medicine.

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ISyE - IISE Pickleball Social
2025-02-16 10:00 - 11:00 | Bakke Recreation & Wellbeing Center, 1976 Observatory Dr, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706
Feeling ready for some friendly competition? Play Pickleball with IISE at the Bakke! Pickleball is a fun, quick-paced sport similar to tennis. All skill levels are welcome and equipment will be provided!If you are considering attending, you must use “IISE WELCOME PICKLEBALL EVENT” as the event title when you complete this waiver form to be able to participate. Please complete this waiver ASAP 🙂 and join us on courts 3 & 4!

ME 903 Graduate Seminar: Professor Kyoko Yoshida
2025-02-13 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 Kyoko Yoshida is a professor at the University of Minnesota.

MS&E Seminar Series: Assistant Professor Samuel Teitelbaum
2025-02-13 13:00 - 14:00 | WI
UW-Madison Department of Materials Science and Engineering welcomes Assistant Professor Samuel Teitelbaum. Their seminar on “Uncovering Real-time Structural Transformations with Femtosecond X-rays” will be on Thursday, Feb. 13 in MS&E 265 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Abstract

Material transformations (i.e. phase transitions) are foundational processes in technologies and natural phenomena from solid-state memory and piezoelectric motors to the composition of mountains. Despite their broad importance, experimentally observing the underlying atomic-scale dynamics in these transformations remains an open challenge. Addressing this challenge requires tracking phenomena over a broad range of time and length scales, ranging from the timescale of atomic vibrations (10-13 seconds) to domain percolation (103 seconds or longer), and length scales from atomic bonds (10-10 meters) to domain sizes (10-3 meters). Over the past decade, ultrashort x-ray sources such as x-ray free electron lasers (XFELs) enabled unique experimental methods that can probe this broad range of length and time scales. In this talk, I will show how XFELs can reveal key details about the multiscale dynamics of phase transitions. Using charge density waves (CDW) systems as a prototypical example, we show how ultrafast x-ray scattering reveals even ultrashort phase transitions to be intrinsically heterogeneous, and the role that topological defects play in coarsening dynamics on very short timescales.

Though XFELs offer a powerful probe into material dynamics, XFELs cost billions of dollars and can only run a limited number of experiments simultaneously. This creates a bottleneck for fully realizing the potential of these sources. In the second part of my talk, I will discuss our efforts to build more compact, lower-cost ultrafast x-ray sources. I will discuss the design and early commissioning results of two sources, the compact x-ray source (CXLS) and the compact XFEL (CXFEL). These sources have physical footprints and capital cost orders of magnitude smaller than a typical XFEL, fitting within a typical university building. Finally, I will give an outlook on these compact sources’ applications in condensed matter physics, AMO science, and biochemistry.

Bio

Samuel Teitelbaum grew up in the suburbs of Washington, DC, and obtained a BS in chemistry and physics at the University of Maryland, College Park. He attended MIT for graduate school, working on single-shot spectroscopy of light-driven phase transitions, and obtained a PhD in Physical Chemistry in 2016. His postdoctoral work at SLAC focused on using XFELs to understand optically driven states, including nonlinear x-ray optics, coherent x-ray scattering, and time-resolved x-ray scattering. He joined the faculty at Arizona State University as an assistant professor in 2020.

BME Seminar Series: Shailaja Seetharaman, PhD
2025-02-13 12:00 - 13:00 | 3210 Mechanical Engineering, 1513 University Ave., Madison, WI, 53706, United States
Vascular Dysfunction in Disease: Engineering Mechanobiology Holds the Solution

Shailaja Seetharaman, PhDPostdoctoral ResearcherJames Franck Institute and Department of PhysicsUniversity of Chicago

Abstract:Abnormalities in blood vessel and blood flow properties are key drivers of severe cardiovascular and cerebrovascular pathologies. The remarkable ability of the vasculature to sense and respond to mechanical and biochemical signals across multiple scales presents both a challenge for understanding disease progression and an opportunity for therapeutic intervention. In this talk, I will first present our recent findings on uncovering novel mechano-biochemical feedback loops that drive endothelial dysfunction in atherosclerosis. I will highlight how blood flow profiles trigger transcriptional control of force-sensitive proteins, which mediate cytoskeletal crosstalk and cellular adaptation during endothelial dysfunction. Second, building on these mechanistic insights into molecular feedback and cellular structural rearrangements, I will describe our development of one of the first ‘biologically-informed’ ML models for predicting tissue-scale function in health and disease. This work opens new avenues for decoding mechano-biochemical feedback across scales in cardio- and cerebrovascular diseases. Finally, I will outline how this integrated approach enables engineering of physiological vascular tissue function and AI-mediated discovery of disease drivers, with the ultimate goal of targeting vascular functions to reverse disease progression.

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ECE Virtual Alumni Town Hall
2025-02-13 12:00 - 13:00 | Via Zoom, WI
ECE Alumni-We hope you will join us for this one-hour event hosted by ECE Department Chair Susan Hagness. During the Town Hall, we will be exploring the very timely topic of energy systems related to the rapid growth of Artificial Intelligence (AI). ECE Associate Professor and Grainger Institute Fellow Line Roald will share her research on the energy use and associated carbon emissions of AI data centers. We will also be joined by ECE PhD students Asmita Pal, Elise Song, and Zhewen Pan who earned first place in the inaugural campus-wide, N+1 Institute Reverse Pitch Competition sponsored by Google. This competition challenged students to focus on the area of sustainability for AI data centers.

Afterward, there will be time for your questions. Zoom registration information was sent in late January via email to alumni, so check your Inbox!

Questions can be directed to: Office@ece.wisc.edu

Left to right, Assoc. Professor Roald, Asmita Pal, Elise Song, Zhewen Pan

MS&E Faculty Search Presentation: Dr. Dylan M. Barber
2025-02-10 16:00 - 17:00 | WI
UW-Madison Department of Materials Science and Engineering welcomes Dr. Dylan M. Barber. Their presentation on “AI-driven Computational Predictions for Polymeric Materials” will be on Monday, Feb. 10 in MS&E 265 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Abstract

Controlling structure and material properties across length scales could revolutionize fields ranging from energy storage to bioelectronics. In this talk, I will demonstrate structural control in three materials systems spanning the molecular, meso-, and macroscale. I will begin with small molecules and polymers by highlighting the rational design and synthesis of zwitterionic liquids that exhibit low viscosity and high dielectric permittivity, then describe an emerging class of polarizable elastomers. Next, inspired by natural hierarchical materials, I will move to larger length-scales, introducing a pathway to self-bundling mesoscale polymer filaments. Finally, I will describe a “print-and-plate” method for creating architected porous electrodes based on 3D periodic lattices for understanding electrochemical flow systems. Together, these foundational advances combine materials synthesis, quantitative characterization, and assembly of functional matter to unlock architectural control and new opportunities from molecules to the macroscale.

Bio

Dr. Barber is passionate about solving problems with better materials. He pursued this passion as an undergraduate at Williams College by earning a B.A. with honors in Chemistry, during which he synthesized antioxidant block copolymers for drug encapsulation and targeted delivery. Then, he earned a Ph.D. in Polymer Science and Engineering from the University of Massachusetts Amherst under the joint mentorship of Professors Todd Emrick and Alfred J. Crosby. During his Ph.D., fully funded by the NDSEG Fellowship, he developed methods to control the structure and assembly of mesoscale polymer filaments, mimicking the hierarchical assembly of natural materials like collagen and muscle. He is currently a postdoctoral Fellow working with Professor Jennifer A. Lewis at Harvard University, where he 3D-prints conductive lattice electrodes for electrochemical flow systems and develops soft materials with high permittivity.

High-resolution Tactile Sensing for Robotic Manipulation
2025-02-07 12:00 - 13:00 | 1163 Mechanical Engineering, 1513 Engineering Dr., Madison, WI, 53706, United States
In the quest to enable robots to perform everyday tasks in unstructured environments, tactile sensing plays a crucial role. Tasks that benefit from refined tactile perception include industrial manufacturing, domestic chores, and the care of elderly individuals. However, high fidelity tactile sensing remains a challenge within the community. Our lab has made strides in the high-resolution tactile sensors and perception algorithms respond to this challenge. This seminar will showcase several prototypes designed to improve robotic manipulation through advanced tactile feedback. We will introduce the GelSight Wedge, a compact tactile sensor optimized for grasping in cluttered spaces, and VisTac, a sensor that integrates visual and tactile inputs for precise object localization, grasping, and insertion. Additionally, we will present VibTac, a sensor combining acoustic and vision-based tactile sensing for processing audio and vibration signals. Build upon the rich feedback, we explore diverse robotic manipulation tasks such as robot cable manipulation and dexterous in-hand manipulation. Our work aims to equip robots with the autonomy to intelligently perform a wide range of tasks, moving us closer to a future where robots seamlessly integrate into daily life.

Bio: Dr. Yu She is an assistant professor at Purdue University Edwardson School of Industrial Engineering. Prior to that, he was a postdoctoral researcher in the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) at MIT from 2018 to 2021. He earned his PhD degree in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Ohio State University in 2018. His research is at the intersection of mechanism design, tactile sensing, intelligent control, and robot learning.

He is a recipient of the Showalter Early Investigator Award (2024) and the Google Research Scholar Award (2022) and multiple paper recognitions, including the Best Paper Award Finalist for the 2020 ASME Journal of Mechanisms and Robotics, the Best Paper Award Finalist at the 2020 Robotics: Science and Systems (RSS) Conference, the Best Paper Award at the 2018 ASME Dynamic Systems & Control Conference (DSCC), and the Best Paper Award Finalist at the 2013 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Biomimetics (ROBIO).

MS&E Seminar Series: Professor Maryam Ghazisaeidi
2025-02-06 13:00 - 14:00 | WI
UW-Madison Department of Materials Science and Engineering welcomes Professor Maryam Ghazisaeidi. Their seminar on “Stability and properties of BCC-B2 refractory ‘high entropy’ alloys” will be on Thursday, Feb. 6 in MS&E 265 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Abstract

Enhancing energy efficiency requires the development of new materials suitable for high-temperature environments. Refractory multicomponent alloys with a BCC/B2 microstructure hold promise, as this structure, similar to the well-known γ/γ′ in superalloys but composed of refractory elements, could result in alloys capable of maintaining high strength at extremely high temperatures. Given the vast range of potential compositions in these alloys, a critical initial question is whether the B2 phase can form within refractory metals.

In this talk, I will discuss how we address this question using our newly developed Multi-Cell Monte Carlo (MC)² method, which is well-suited for predicting phase stability in multicomponent systems. Using this method, we explored the broad compositional space of these alloys, refined the ordering trends, and identified the most promising combinations for detailed analysis. Our findings reveal that B2 phases form specifically with the inclusion of elements from groups VII and VIII, such as Re and Ru. We then linked the phase stability in the favorable combinations to the bonding characteristics between these elements. Lastly, I will present the experimental efforts undertaken to validate some of these predictions.

Bio

Maryam Ghazisaeidi is a Distinguished Professor of Engineering and Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at The Ohio State University. She received her Ph.D. in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and her B.S and M.S. degrees from Sharif University of Technology in Tehran, Iran. Her research interest is in the area of computational materials science at the atomic scale with an emphasis on understanding the structure and chemistry of defects to predict novel material behavior. She has received the NSF CAREER award in 2015 and the AFOSR Young Investigator Program (YIP) award in 2017 and Computational Materials Science Rising Star award in 2020. She is an associate editor for Acta Materialia and Scripta Materialia and serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Computational Materials Science and Journal of High Entropy Materials.

BME Seminar Series: Jonathan Soucy, PhD
2025-02-06 12:00 - 13:00 | 3210 Mechanical Engineering, 1513 University Ave., Madison, WI, 53706, United States
Engineering the retinal microenvironment to improve donor neuron integration post-transplantation

Jonathan Soucy, PhDPostdoctoral Research FellowOphthalmology Department at Harvard Medical SchoolSchepens Eye Research Institute of Mass. Eye and Ear

Abstract:Neuron transplantation is an exciting solution for replacing retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) lost in glaucoma and other optic neuropathies. However, one significant barrier to successful donor RGC integration is their migration into the ganglion cell layer (GCL). To address this, we developed an approach to control donor neurons in vivo by engineering their microenvironment post-transplantation.Using an in silico analysis of the developing human retina and a functional in vitro assay, we evaluated receptor-ligand candidates for their potential to control RGC migration. Among these, SDF1 emerged as our lead molecule. By establishing an SDF1 gradient in vivo, we increased donor RGC integration into the GCL nearly threefold. While this strategy has not yet restored vision, only donor RGCs that migrated into the GCL extended neurites toward the optic nerve head and expressed mature RGC markers.This work establishes a framework for controlling donor cell function through tissue microenvironment engineering, laying the foundation for future advancements in stem cell-based therapies for vision restoration.

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ECE Discovery Panel: Energy Systems
2025-02-04 12:20 - 12:50 | 1413 Engineering Hall – Cheney Room, 1415 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI, 53711, United States
Engineering undergraduates! Join us in the Cheney Room (1413 Engineering Hall) as faculty members explore the technical area of Energy Systems! All undergraduate students are welcome as Assistant Professor Mahima Gupta, Assistant Professor Jinia Roy, 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 pizza!

ME Faculty Candidate Seminar
2025-02-04 12:00 - 13:00 | 2188 Mechanical Engineering Building, 1513 University Avenue, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
Join the Department of Mechanical Engineering for Faculty Candidate Seminars during the Spring 2025 semester.

These typically take place on Mondays and Wednesdays of each week from 12-1pm in room 2188 ME Building, with an exception on Tuesday, February 4.

ME Faculty Candidate Seminar
2025-02-03 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-01-29 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-01-27 12:00 - 13:00 | Mechanical Engineering Building, 1513 University Avenue, Madison, WI, 53706-1539, United States
Join the Department of Mechanical Engineering for Faculty Candidate Seminars during the Spring 2025 semester.

These will take place on Mondays and Wednesdays of each week from 12-1pm in room 2188 ME Building.

BME Seminar Series: Yichun He
2025-02-03 12:00 - 13:00 | 1003 (Tong Auditorium) Engineering Centers Building, 1550 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
Bridging Molecular and Functional Understandings of Cells with Artificial Intelligence

Yichun HePhD Candidate, Harvard UniversitySchool of Engineering and Applied SciencesThe Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard

Abstract:The mammalian brain exhibits complex functions and behaviors, driven by diverse cell types distributed throughout its tissue. However, understanding the heterogeneity of cell types and neuronal functions across the entire brain remains a significant challenge. In this talk, I will present the development of one of the first spatial cell atlases of the entire mouse brain, providing a comprehensive map of molecularly defined cell types and tissue regions. Specifically, I will discuss the challenges of large-scale cell segmentation in situ and introduce my approach for scalable and accurate cell segmentation. Next, I will explore single-neuron dynamics using in vivo electrophysiology by developing a deep learning model for spike sorting over time, highlighting how this approach enables the decoding of neural population dynamics during motor task learning. Finally, I will outline my roadmap for bridging molecular and functional understandings of cells across modalities and conditions, with the ultimate goal of uncovering fundamental brain mechanisms and informing targeted therapeutics for neurological diseases.

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ME 903 Graduate Seminar: Rachel Gehlhar Humann
2025-01-30 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 Rachel Gehlhar Humann is a professor at the University of Minnesota.

MS&E Seminar Series: Dr. Joseph Jakes
2025-01-30 13:00 - 14:00 | WI
UW-Madison Department of Materials Science and Engineering welcomes Dr. Joseph Jakes. Their seminar on “Multimodal Study Reveals Diffusion Mechanism through Wood Cell Walls” will be on Thursday, Jan. 30 in MS&E 265 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Abstract

The diffusion of chemicals and inorganic ions through wood cell walls is a critical process in nearly all woody biomass applications, including biorefineries, wood-based building materials, green electronics, and even as bioinspiration for new multifunctional smart materials. Wood cell walls are hygroscopic polymeric materials consisting of nanoscale cellulose fibrils embedded in a matrix of hemicelluloses and lignin. Despite the near ubiquitous importance of intra-cell wall diffusion, the diffusion mechanisms and the effects of moisture sorption were poorly understood. In this work, we employ a multimodal approach to study intra-cell wall diffusion. Experimental techniques developed and employed include synchrotron-based micro-X-ray fluorescence microscopy to study moisture-dependent diffusion at sub micrometer length scales in wood cell walls, nanoindentation-based dynamic mechanical analysis to quantify the moisture dependence of molecular-scale relaxations in wood cell walls, and small angle neutron scattering to study nanoscale swelling in wood cell walls. The study revealed that intra-cell wall diffusion of larger diffusants like inorganic ions occurs via interconnecting pathways of rubbery amorphous polysaccharides, which supplants the nearly century-old assumption of intra-cell wall transport occurring through interconnecting water pathways. With these new insights, researchers can now utilize polymer science approaches to engineer the molecular architecture of lignocellulosic biomass to optimize properties for specific end uses.

Bio

Since 2010, Joseph Jakes has been a Research Materials Engineer in the Forest Biopolymer Science and Engineering group at the USDA Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory in Madison, WI, USA. He received a BS in Chemical and Biological Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2005 and a PhD from the Materials Science Program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2010. His current research interests include developing fundamental wood cell wall processing-structure-property-performance relationships with an emphasis on mechanical behavior, moisture sorption, and diffusion. This research has required the development of advanced material characterization techniques to probe structures and properties at micrometer length scales and below in wood and forest products, which has led to the development of innovative nanoindentation, X-ray, and neutron characterization techniques. Joseph has authored over 105 research papers and his work has been recognized through numerous invited talks, an invitation to spend two years as a visiting scientist at the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory (2013-2015), and several awards including the 2012 Presidential Award for Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), 2018 TMS Young Leaders Award, and 2024 Forest Products Society Fred W. Gottschalk Memorial Award.

BME Seminar Series: Monica Ohnsorg, PhD
2025-01-30 12:00 - 13:00 | 2180 Mechanical Engineering, 1513 University Ave, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
Using Bottlebrush Polymers to Tackle Challenges in Drug Delivery and Tissue Engineering

Monica Ohnsorg, PhDPostdoctoral FellowDepartment of Chemical and Biological EngineeringBioFrontiers InstituteUniversity of Colorado Boulder

Abstract:Macromolecular design can be a powerful tool to improve the efficacy of clinical therapeutics and develop biomaterials to support in vitro human cell-based models. In this talk, I will discuss two vignettes describing how bottlebrush polymers, macromolecular architectures which are composed of polymer chains covalently bound at one end to a linear polymer backbone, can be used to both improve oral drug delivery and study how cells respond to strain-stiffening microenvironments. First, I will introduce how bottlebrush copolymers can be used to non-covalently sequester and solubilize small molecule therapeutics. Specifically, by modulating bottlebrush polymer hydrophilicity using post-polymerization end-group modification techniques, the small molecule anti-seizure medication, phenytoin, was effectively solubilized at higher drug loadings with the bottlebrush polymer carrier compared to current industry standard excipients. Second, I will address how nonlinear elasticity, an understudied property of natural extracellular matrix, can be recapitulated using synthetic materials that support 3D cell culture. Bottlebrush polymer-based hydrogels can be used to decouple strain-stiffening biomechanical cues from stress-relaxation and observe how engineered strain-stiffening microenvironments regulate the initiation of cellular protrusion formation. Building upon these findings, I will discuss how bottlebrush polymer-based hydrogels can be used to mimic the biomechanical properties of non-mineralized, collagen type-1 rich bone osteoid to develop models of human osteocyte dendritic network formation and function. Together, these applications demonstrate how bottlebrush polymer-based materials hold great potential to recapitulate biologically relevant biomechanical and biochemical signals for in vitro cell culture, for tissue and disease modeling, and as therapeutic delivery vehicles in the future.

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Discover ISyE
2025-01-29 16:00 - 18:00 | Mechanical Engineering Building – Atrium, 1415 Engineering Drive, Madison, 53711
Come and learn all about industrial and systems engineering in a casual, open-house environment. Alumni of all ages, from a variety of industries, will be available to speak with prospective students about the career possibilities with a degree from our department. We’ll also have upperclassmen, advisors, and faculty on hand to answer questions. Light snacks will be served.

2024 SQUAR_ISyE_Discovery_Day (Instagram Post (Square)) – 1

This event is a registered part of the College of Engineering’s BE Engaged program supporting first-year students.

Alumni guests will include:

Jake Birrenkott, Sr. Development Engineer, Isthmus Engineering & Manufacturing

Jodi Glunz, Ergonomics Consultant,

Rachel Kayman, Operations Management Leadership Program, GE Healthcare

Dan Lawton, Category Lead for Supplier Contracting, TruStage

Paul Meyer, Chief Operating Officer, The Alliance (ret)

Zak Rottier, Enterprise Data Science Director, American Family Insurance

Jeff Roznowski, Corporate Executive, Ameritech Cellular and Adjunct Professor, MSOE (ret)

Sam Smith, Operations Management Leadership Program, GE Healthcare

MS&E Faculty Search Presentation: Dr. Shu Wang
2025-01-27 16:00 - 17:00 | WI
UW-Madison Department of Materials Science and Engineering welcomes Dr. Shu Wang. Their presentation on “Bridging Molecular Mechanochemistry and Network Fracture Mechanics” will be on Monday, Jan. 27 in MS&E 265 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Abstract

Polymer networks, spanning applications from automobile tires to hydrogels, are ubiquitous in daily life and are designed to endure significant loads and deformations. However, repeated stresses over time can lead to crack formation, potentially resulting in catastrophic failure under substantial loads and ultimately limiting their lifespan. Understanding the mechanisms that govern fracture in polymer networks is therefore critical for improving their durability. While fracture is often perceived as a macroscopic mechanical problem, the advancement of a crack in a polymer network requires breaking polymer chains and chemical bonds—a process intrinsically tied to their chemistry. The extent to which the molecular details of covalent polymer networks dictate their macroscopic mechanical properties remains an open question. In this talk, I will begin with a brief historical perspective on the fracture of polymer networks and introduce a molecular view that ties network fracture to polymer chain scission, supported by experimental evidence. I will then present a semi-quantitative model linking chain scission reactivity and network topology to intrinsic fracture energy. Beyond polymer chains, I will highlight the critical role of crosslinker chemistry, demonstrating how the same mechanochemical reactions can either weaken or strengthen the network depending on their placement. These findings provide a framework for designing covalent polymer networks with tailored mechanical properties.

Bio

Shu received his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Duke University in 2022 under the guidance of Prof. Stephen L. Craig and Prof. Michael Rubinstein. During his graduate studies, Shu developed a keen interest in rupturing large molecules—not merely for the fun of it, although he found it immensely satisfying, but to understand how the scission of chemical bonds impacts the tear resistance of the polymeric materials they compose. Building on his growing expertise in polymer chemistry and physics, Shu is currently exploring polymer mechanics as a postdoctoral associate with Prof. Xuanhe Zhao at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His research accomplishments have been recognized with several awards, including the Henkel Award, the Shaffer Hunnicutt Fellowship, and the Charles Bradsher Fellowship from Duke University.

BME Seminar Series: Chu Ma, PhD
2025-01-27 12:00 - 13:00 | 1003 (Tong Auditorium) Engineering Centers Building, 1550 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
Blind-Label Subwavelength Ultrasound Imaging

Chu Ma, PhDDugald C. Jackson Assistant ProfessorAcoustic Sensing and Functional Materials (ASFM) LabDepartment of Electrical and Computer EngineeringUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison

Abstract:Ultrasound allows non-invasive, non-radiative imaging with sub-millimeter resolution, with broad applications in sensing, communication, biomedical diagnosis and non-destructive testing. In this talk, I will present our work on combining acoustic random scattering and computational imaging for improving the resolution of ultrasound imaging. Similar to all the other wave-based imaging modalities, ultrasound imaging suffers from diffraction limit, which is a trade-off between imaging resolution and wave penetration depth. Most existing acoustic subwavelength imaging technologies addressing this limit require controlled “labels,” i.e., metamaterials or contrast agents, to be deposited close to the objects and to either remain static or be tracked precisely during imaging, restricting their practical applications. We propose a “blind-label” approach. The blind labels are randomly distributed subwavelength microstructures or microparticles. The originally evanescent components in the scattered waves from the object are first converted to propagating components and then extracted by computational algorithms. Compared to conventional ultrasound imaging systems, our approach achieves an order of magnitude improvement in the imaging resolution without sacrificing the wave penetration depth. Our “blind-label” approach relaxes the restrictions of existing acoustic subwavelength imaging technologies that rely on controlled labels, thereby substantially enhancing the practicality of acoustic subwavelength imaging in real-world applications.

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Faculty Panel Discussion
2025-01-27 12:00 - 13:00 | 3210 Mechanical Engineering Building, 1415 Engineering Drive, Madison, 53711
Have a real talk about the academic job search and work-life balance with College of Engineering faculty members! Lunch is provided; RSVP requested:

This event is hosted by Engineering Career Services and the Graduate Students Advisory Council and will be of interest to any student- undergraduate or graduate-considering a career in academia.

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BME Bay Area Meetup
2025-01-23 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 celebrate the department’s 25th anniversary. 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.

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