College of Engineering - University of Wisconsin-Madison

ISyE - Poster Session
2025-04-25 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Chicago) | Mechanical Engineering Building – Atrium, 1415 Engineering Drive, Madison, 53711
Atrium- Mechanical Engineering

Learn more about the exciting research in the Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering!

Our graduate students will be hosting a poster session highlighting their recent research. This event is free and open to the public.

ISyE - Student/Alumni Lunch
2025-04-25 12:15 - 13:00 | 3121 Mechanical Engineering, 1513 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
The Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering is hosting a lunch for students and alumni. The alumni guests are members of the department’s Industrial Advisory Board. Learn more about our board members here.

Registration is requested:

Student/Alumni Lunch Registration

Mechanics Seminar: Professor Carlos Portela
2025-04-25 12:05 - 12:55 | 3M Auditorium, rm 1106 Mechanical Engineering Building, 1513 University Ave, Madison, 53711
The Mechanics Seminar Series is a weekly seminar given by campus and visiting speakers on topics across the spectrum of mechanics research (solids, fluids, and dynamics). Professor Carlos Portela is a professor at MIT.

BME Design Poster Session and Awards
2025-04-25 12:00 - 14:00 | Engineering Centers Building Atrium, 1550 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
The biomedical engineering department invites the public to a poster session presented by biomedical engineering undergraduates. Over 40 teams will be showcasing their solutions for design projects from clients in the medical school, life sciences, engineering, and the community. For a full list of the projects and presentation times, visit the UW BME Design page.

Informal poster viewing: 11 am – 12 pmFormal poster session: 12 – 2:15 pmAwards ceremony: 3 – 4 pm

Welcome Back, Badger - Jayeeta Lakhani
2025-04-25 09:55 - 10:45 | 1800 Engineering Hall, 1415 Engineering Drive, Madison, 53711
Please help us welcome back alumna Jayeeta Lakhani, General Manager of IoT at Amazon Web Services (AWS).

Jayeeta earned her Master’s in Industrial Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and holds certifications as a Six Sigma Black Belt and Lean Master. She sharpened her strategic foresight and leadership acumen at Harvard Business School’s prestigious Advanced Management Program. As an angel investor, she actively supports pioneering startups driving innovation in healthcare, AI, and DEI.

ISyE - Student info session with Promega
2025-04-24 18:00 - 19:00 | 1153 Mechanical Engineering, 1513 University Ave, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
Connect with IISE and Promega! Promega is a Madison, Wisconsin–based manufacturer of enzymes and biotechnology with a portfolio covering the fields of genomics and drug discovery. This is great for expanding your professional network and learning about potential career opportunities within Promega, especially if you are interested in how ISyE and life sciences overlap. Don’t miss out on this excellent opportunity!

ME 903 Graduate Seminar: Professor Ufuk Topcu
2025-04-24 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 Ufuk Topcu is a professor at the University of Texas Austin.

Inaugural ECE Undergraduate Research Symposium
2025-04-24 15:00 - 17:00 | Union South, 1308 W Dayton St., Madison, 53711
Union South

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering invites you to join us for the inaugural ECE Undergraduate Research Symposium. The symposium will be an exciting showcase of undergraduate research beyond the classroom. Selected students and teams will present their innovative work during a poster session where all are encouraged to talk with the undergraduate researchers about their discoveries. Over thirty research projects will be on display!

This event is open to the public—come support our students and explore their cutting-edge research!

Event schedule:3:00 – Poster session with light refreshments – Agriculture Room and Industry Room in Union South4:45 – Award presentations

Focus on Communications
2025-04-22 18:00 - 19:00 | 1413 Engineering Hall – Cheney Room, 1415 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI, 53711, United States
Join us as we welcome special guest speaker Dr. Mike Behan, an expert on technical communications skills. All engineering students are welcome – pizza will be served!

Dr. Behan is an Associate Professor in Winona State University’s Marketing Department, and Coach of the WSU Sales Team. He also served as the Director of the Strauss Center for Sales Excellence from 2022-2033. This is his second trip to our campus to talk to students about the building blocks of solid communications, especially for a technical audience.

This event is hosted by the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering.

Dr. Michael Behan shares tips on communication excellence to undergraduate students.

BME Seminar Series: Alan Jassanof, PhD
2025-04-21 12:00 - 13:00 | 1003 (Tong Auditorium) Engineering Centers Building, 1550 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
Analyzing Brain-Wide Function Using New Molecular Imaging Tools

Alan Jasanoff, PhDProfessor of Biological Engineering and Brain and Cognitive SciencesMassachusetts Institute of Technology

Abstract:Behavior and cognition depend on the integrated action of neural structures and populations distributed throughout the brain. Deciphering mechanisms by which this takes this place is both a tremendous scientific problem and a major engineering challenge, because of the need to establish suitable measurement technologies. We are creating a set of molecular imaging tools that enable multiregional neural processing to be studied at a brain-wide scale in rodents and nonhuman primates. Here we will describe how a novel genetically encoded activity reporter we have engineered enables information flow in virally labeled neural circuitry to be monitored by fMRI. Using the reporter to perform functional imaging of synaptically defined cell populations in the rat somatosensory system, we show how activity is transformed within brain regions to yield characteristics specific to distinct output projections. We also show how this approach enables regional activity phenomena to be modeled in terms of inputs, in a paradigm that we are extending to address circuit-level origins of functional specialization in marmoset brains. In the second part of the talk, we will discuss how some of our MRI tools now enable the detection of optical reporters in deep neural tissue. We use novel imaging probes to detect luminescent proteins, yielding a hybrid optical/MRI noninvasive imaging modality that surpasses limitations of conventional methods. This work demonstrates the possibility of investigating diverse brain-wide processing phenomena using advanced molecular neuroimaging methods.

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Mechanics Seminar: Professor Somnath Ghosh
2025-04-18 12:05 - 12:55 | 3M Auditorium, rm 1106 Mechanical Engineering Building, 1513 University Ave, Madison, 53711
The Mechanics Seminar Series is a weekly seminar given by campus and visiting speakers on topics across the spectrum of mechanics research (solids, fluids, and dynamics). Professor Somnath Ghosh is a professor at Johns Hopkins University.

ISyE - Coffee and Pastries
2025-04-18 09:00 - 11:00 | 3121 Mechanical Engineering, 1513 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
Hosted by HFES, stop in for free coffee, pastries, and socializing.

ME 903 Graduate Seminar: Professor Sastry Pamidi
2025-04-17 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 Sastry Pamidi is a professor at Florida State University.

EP Alumni Career Trajectory Panel
2025-04-16 16:25 - 17:15
Join us for a panel discussion with industry experts as they share their career journeys, lessons learned, and tips for success. Don’t miss the chance to ask questions and gain valuable insights for your future career!

https://uwmadison.zoom.us/j/93176537489?pwd=[REDACTED] ID: 931 7653 7489Passcode: [REDACTED]

Speakers:Eric Breckenfeld, Director of Technology Policy, NVIDIAScott Grutzik, Principal R&D Mechanical Engineer, Sandia National LaboratoriesIan Olson, Product Lead, Epic

ISyE - Senior Shareout Night #2
2025-04-15 18:00 - 19:00 | 1153 Mechanical Engineering, 1513 University Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin, 53711
1153 ME

Our seniors share their stories and advice.

All undergraduates are encouraged to come and listen to our seniors as they reminisce about the last four years. Location TBD, please keep an eye on this site for updates.

NEEP Seminar: Kamal Abdulraheem, Michigan Institute for Data & AI in Society
2025-04-15 12:00 - 13:00
Tuesday, April 1512:00 – 1:00pmERB 106Remote Participation: Please contact office@ep.wisc.edu for the Zoom link.

Title: TBA

Abstract: TBA

Speaker: Kamal Abdulraheem, Michigan Institute for Data & AI in Society

Bio: Kamal Abdulraheem is a Schmidt AI in Science Fellow with the Michigan Institute for Data & AI in Society. His research focuses on the fusion of Artificial Intelligence and Control theory to design and develop autonomous control systems capable of decision-making, prognosis, diagnosis, adaptation, and control. The goal of this research is to enhance AI/ML capabilities for control theory with applications to complex engineering systems like nuclear power plants (NPPs). It concerns applying AI/ML practices, including Reinforcement Learning (RL) and Deep Neural Networks to numerically solve complex models in control theory, which are challenging using traditional methods.

This seminar is presented by the Institute for Nuclear Energy Systems and the Nuclear Engineering & Engineering Physics Department.

Invited Fluid Mechanics Seminar
2025-04-14 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 will take place on Mondays and Wednesdays of each week from 12-1pm in room 2188 ME Building.

ISyE - Outdoor Volleyball Social
2025-04-13 14:00 - 15:00 | Cole Recreation Area, 601 Elm Drive, Madison, 53706
Grab your ISyE friends and bump, spike, serve, and have a blast at their Volleyball Social! Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a beginner, this event is all about fun and getting outside. We hope to see you there!

25th Annual Construction Club Banquet
2025-04-11 17:00 - 21:00 | Union South, 1308 W Dayton St, Madison, Wisconsin, 53715
Join us for an evening of networking and community building with over 200 industry professionals to support the UW-Madison Construction Club and the Construction Engineering and Management Program!

Register online to secure your spot. Single ticket and table sponsorship options are available for industry professionals and companies. Current students are invited at no cost.

Event Agenda

5:00 pm – 6:00 pm Banquet reception & social hour6:00 pm – 6:30 pm Welcome & updates6:30 pm – 7:30 pm Dinner7:30 pm – 8:15 pm Keynote speaker8:15 pm – 9:00 pm Lifetime Achievement Awards presentation

For more information, visit the Construction Club’s website.

ISyE - Industry Info Session: Accenture
2025-04-11 14:00 - 15:00 | 312 Wendt Commons, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706
312 Wendt Commons

Connect with IISE and Accenture!

Accenture is a global multinational professional services company that specializes in information technology (IT) services and management consulting. This is your chance to connect with industry experts, expand your professional network, and learn about potential career opportunities within Accenture. Don’t miss out!

From Data to Decision Making in Health and Humanitarian Logistics: Insights and Challenges
2025-04-11 12:00 - 13:00 | 1163 Mechanical Engineering, 1513 Engineering Dr., Madison, WI, 53706, United States
Decision making to satisfy the basic human needs of health, food, and education is complex. We present an overview of two illustrative studies using data to inform decision making in health care delivery associated with sepsis and hunger relief.

In the first study, we integrate electronic health record (EHR) data with clinical expertise to develop a continuous-time Markov decision process model of the natural history of sepsis. We formulate this as a stopping problem to find the optimal first intervention to minimize expected mortality and morbidity. We explore the effect of the complex trade-offs associated with the intervention costs and patient disposition costs which are subjective and difficult to estimate. This framework provides key insights into sepsis patients’ stochastic trajectories and informs clinical decision making associated with caring for these patients as their health dynamically evolves.

In the second study, we develop a single-period, weighted multi-criteria optimization model that provides the decision-maker the flexibility to capture their preferences over the three criteria of equity, effectiveness, and efficiency, and explore the resulting trade-offs. We introduce a novel algorithm to elicit the inherent preference of a food bank by analyzing its actions within a single-period. The non-interactive nature of this algorithm is especially significant for humanitarian organizations such as food banks which lack the resources to interact with modelers on a regular basis. We explore the implications of different decision-maker preferences for the criteria on distribution policies.

Bio: Julie Simmons Ivy, Ph.D., is the Vivian L. Carpenter Collegiate Professor and Chair of the Department of Industrial and Operations Engineering (IOE) at the University of Michigan. Dr. Ivy is also the Edgar S. Woolard Professor Emerita of the Edward P. Fitts Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at North Carolina State University. Dr. Ivy received her B.S. and Ph.D. from Michigan IOE and her M.S. in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Georgia Tech. Dr. Ivy’s research seeks to model complex interactions and quantitatively capture the impact of different factors, objectives, system dynamics, intervention options and policies on outcomes to address complex societal issues in healthcare and hunger relief. Dr. Ivy is an Institute of Operations Research and Management Science (INFORMS) Fellow and an Institute of Industrial & Systems Engineers (IISE) Fellow. Dr. Ivy serves on the National Academies Board on Mathematical Sciences and Analytics (BMSA). Dr. Ivy has focused on empowering women of color and underrepresented minorities in IE, OR, and STEM over the past 25+ years. She was selected as an INFORMS 2021 Minority Issues Forum (MIF) Fellow and received the INFORMS 2020 WORMS Award for the Advancement of Women in OR/MS.

ISyE - Student Game Night!
2025-04-10 16:00 - 17:30 | 3127 Mechanical Engineering, Madison, 53717
Take a break from your work to join your fellow students, faculty and staff for a good old-fashioned game night.

The department will provide games, drinks, and pizza. You just need to show up ready to play. See you there!

ME 903 Graduate Seminar: Professor Junsoo Kim
2025-04-10 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 Junsoo Kim is a professor at Northwestern University.

NEEP Seminar: Londrea Garrett, University of Michigan
2025-04-10 12:00 - 13:00
Thursday, April 1012:00 – 1:00pmERB 106Remote Participation: Please contact office@ep.wisc.edu for the Zoom link.

Title: Short Pulses for Lasting Impacts: Using Laser Spectroscopy to Address Challenges in a Changing Nuclear Landscape

Abstract: The push towards carbon-free energy production has sparked the intent to increase global nuclear energy production. However, the success of these endeavors will partially rely on the development of diagnostic instrumentation compatible with the harsh environments associated with nuclear facilities. Numerous studies have demonstrated the feasibility of using laser-based spectroscopy methods for instrumentation needs throughout the nuclear fuel cycle. This presentation describes a set of such experiments that use laser spectroscopy methods to characterize nuclear material, improve safeguards monitoring, and provide a path towards in-situ monitoring of advanced reactor systems. The first section of this talk details previous research that uses variations of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy to develop compact systems for rapid chemical analyses of enrichment plants and Gen IV reactors. The second section explores ideas for future research directions that include taking advantage of ultrafast laser technologies for beam manipulation and the generation of short-pulse duration x-rays.

Speaker: Londrea Garrett, University of Michigan

Bio: Londrea Garrett received her Ph.D. from the University of Michigan in the Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences Department. She completed her bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering at the University of Rochester, where she was a member of the Optical Materials Group at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics. She is a recipient of the Nuclear Nonproliferation and International Safeguards and GEM Fellowships and has been a contributing author on seven peer-reviewed publications. Her research focuses on how laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy and related optical spectroscopy techniques can be used for novel nuclear diagnostics, particularly for safeguards and advanced reactor applications. She was recently selected as a recipient of the Hoffman Postdoctoral Fellowship at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

This seminar is presented by the Institute for Nuclear Energy Systems and the Nuclear Engineering & Engineering Physics Department.

ISyE - Senior Shareout Night #1
2025-04-09 18:00 - 19:00 | 1610 Engineering Hall, 1415 Engineering Drive, Madison, 53711
Our seniors share their stories and advice.

All undergraduates are encouraged to come and listen to IISE senior leaders talk about their time at UW-Madison.

Welcome Back, Badger - Jodi Glunz
2025-04-09 09:55 - 10:45 | 1800 Engineering Hall, 1415 Engineering Drive, Madison, 53711
All students are invited to join us as we welcome alumna Jodi Glunz to our spring speaker series!

After earning her BS in Industrial Engineering at UW-Madison, Jodi joined Rockwell Automation, where she began to develop her expertise in the area of ergonomics. Today, she is a self-employed consultant, providing ergonomics expertise to, and developing training programs for, her clients.

NEEP Seminar: Haori Yang, Oregon State University
2025-04-08 12:00 - 13:00
Tuesday, April 812:00 – 1:00pmERB 106Remote Participation: Please contact office@ep.wisc.edu for the Zoom link.

Title: Advancing Radiation Detection for Nuclear Safety, Security and Safeguards

Abstract: This seminar presents an overview of research conducted by the Radiation Detection Technologies and Applications Group (RadTag) at Oregon State University, focused on advancing radiation detection and sensing technologies to support nuclear safety, security, and safeguards. The presentation will highlight the development of innovative sensing materials, non-destructive assay techniques, and broad-area sensor networks—ranging from laboratory-scale investigations to large-scale field deployments. Emphasis will be placed on interdisciplinary approaches that explore advanced detector materials, laser spectroscopy, robotics, and AI to address real-world challenges.

Speaker: Haori Yang, Oregon State University

Bio: Dr. Haori Yang is an Associate Professor at Oregon State University. He earned his Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences from the University of Michigan. Before joining Oregon State, Dr. Yang was a faculty member at the University of Utah and a Research Scientist at Canberra Industries. He also served as the Technical Coordinator for the IAEA Safeguards Traineeship Programme, supporting global nuclear safeguards initiatives. His contributions have been recognized with prestigious awards, including the DARPA Young Faculty Award, DARPA Director’s Fellowship, and the IAEA Department of Safeguards Recognition of Outstanding Contribution Award. Outside of work, Dr. Yang enjoys exploring the outdoors and photography.

This seminar is presented by the Institute for Nuclear Energy Systems and the Nuclear Engineering & Engineering Physics Department.

Ask an expert: Aerospace
2025-04-08 12:00 - 12:50 | 1610 Engineering Hall, 1415 Engineering Drive, Madison, 53706
1610 Engineering Hall

All students, staff and faculty are invited as the Departments of Mechanical Engineering (ME), and Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE) welcome three alumni experts in the aerospace industry. This virtual panel, with technical and leadership experience from Space Architectures, SpaceX, and Anduril Industries, will be moderated by ECE Professor Nader Behdad. Join us to learn more about the field of engineering within the aerospace industry and what the future may hold in this dynamic area. Plus, hear from these Badgers about why they chose their career paths and what they learned along the way.

Jimmy John’s sandwiches will be provided! No registration required.

Meet our panelists:

Dawn Harms BSEE’84Principal,Space Architectures, LLC

Tyler Rowe PhDEE’17 Manager, Antenna Engineering SpaceX

Jack Tamar BSME’20Manager, Manufacturing Engineering Anduril Industries

Professor Nader BehdadPanel ModeratorElectrical & Computer Engineering

Biomechanics Faculty Candidate Seminar: Binbin Ying
2025-04-07 12:00 - 13:00 | 2188 Mechanical Engineering Building, 1513 University Avenue, Madison, WI, 53706, United States

BME Seminar Series: Daniel Gallego-Perez, PhD
2025-04-07 12:00 - 13:00 | 1003 (Tong Auditorium) Engineering Centers Building, 1550 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
Nanotransfection-driven gene and cell therapies

Daniel Gallego-Perez, PhDEdgar C. Hendrickson Chair in Biomedical EngineeringProfessor, Surgery GeneralThe Ohio State University

Abstract:Gene and engineered cell therapies hold transformative potential for treating a wide range of conditions. However, current approaches face significant practical and translational challenges, including a heavy reliance on viral vectors and high variability, which often result in inefficient or unpredictable outcomes. To address these limitations, we developed a novel nanotechnology-based approach that enables deterministic cell (in vitro) or tissue nano-transfection (TNT) (in vivo) without the need for viral vectors. These platform technologies offer a minimally disruptive and non-viral solution, making them particularly suited for complex disease systems such as neurodegenerative conditions and metabolic disorders. Nano-transfection chips were manufactured from silicon or polymeric track etched membranes using cleanroom-based approaches, as described previously. These chips were then used to nanotransfect skin cells, in vitro or in vivo, with pro-vasculogenic or pro-adipogenic gene cocktails, which were then evaluated (for their therapeutic potential) in different murine models of neurodegenerative conditions, including ischemic stroke, and Alzheimer’s disease (AD), as well as models of metabolic dysfunction. Different molecular, histological, and functional outcomes studies were conducted to assess the extent to which these therapies mitigated disease burden in each model. In murine models of ischemic stroke, nanotransfected fibroblasts improved brain vascularization, perfusion, as well as neuroprotection and neuroregeneration in the motor cortex, which led to improved motor function. In murine models of AD, nanotransfected fibroblasts led to improved brain vascularization, perfusion, and reduced amyloid beta load. This also correlated with improved memory and cognitive function. Finally, in murine models of metabolic dysfunction, TNT-treated skin cells were successfully coopted to partially fulfill brown adipogenic functions, which led to improved weight control and cardiometabolic function. Overall, these findings highlight the potential of cell and tissue nano-transfection to drive therapeutic processes for restoring damaged or diseased tissue structure and function, paving the way for innovative treatments across diverse pathological conditions.

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