BME Seminar Series: Monica Ohnsorg, PhD
2025-01-30 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago) | 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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MS&E Seminar Series: Dr. Joseph Jakes
2025-01-30 13:00 - 14:00
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.

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.

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 Faculty Candidate Seminar
2025-02-03 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.

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.

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!

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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MS&E Seminar Series: Professor Maryam Ghazisaeidi
2025-02-06 13:00 - 14:00
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.

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 Faculty Search Presentation: Dr. Dylan M. Barber
2025-02-10 16:00 - 17:00
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.

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

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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MS&E Seminar Series: Assistant Professor Samuel Teitelbaum
2025-02-13 13:00 - 14:00
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.

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.

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!

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 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.

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.

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 Alumni Panel
2025-02-19 18:00 - 19:00
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

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.

ECE RISE-AI and RISE-EARTH Seminar Series - Seah Kim
2025-02-20 12:00 - 13:00 | 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.

NEEP Seminar: Tara Righetti, University of Wyoming
2025-02-20 12:00 - 13:30
Thursday, February 20 | 12:00pmEngineering Hall 1610

Speaker: Tara Righetti, University of Wyoming

Title: Climate, Clean Energy, and the Social Contract

Abstract: Advanced Nuclear and CCUS feature prominently in the U.S. plans for net-zero energy and industry and will become increasingly important with expanding energy demand. Despite their potential contributions to commercial scale decarbonization, however, they are each subject to extensive and time consuming federal regulatory programs which advocates of these technologies argue pose a major barrier to deployment. The rigor of these programs reflects the sentiment that the magnitude of potential societal and environmental harms–however however small the probability–outweigh the need for expediency in climate action. At the same time, the Trump Administration has called for emergency permitting authority for energy projects. With dueling calls for greater efficiency in permitting and communities fervently opposing strong-handed approaches to infrastructure development, clean-industry technologies are at a crossroads. Moving forward requires consideration about how we evaluate and allocate risk — questions that are central to the social contract between the people and places that produce energy and those that consume it. This talk contemplates these factors in light of the shifting energy policy priorities of the new administration.

Bio: Tara Righetti is the Occidental Chair of Energy and Environmental Policies at the University of Wyoming, the co-director of the Nuclear Energy Research Center, and the director of the Jurisprudence of Underground Law and Energy (JOULE) research group. Her research focuses on property and administrative law issues associated with decarbonization and development of the energy and industrial sectors.

This seminar is presented by the Nuclear Engineering & Engineering Physics Department and the University of Wisconsin Law School, in collaboration with the Clean Energy Community Initiative and the Grainger Institute for Engineering

Remote Participation is available through Zoom: https://uwmadison.zoom.us/j/99289578680?pwd=[REDACTED]

ME 903 Graduate Seminar: Professor Sastry Pamidi
2025-02-20 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.

ISyE - "IISE on ICE"
2025-02-21 16:45 - 21:00 | Memorial Union, 800 Langdon St, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706
Join IISE for an evening of ice skating at Memorial Union. Don’t have your own skates? Reserve ahead of time at: https://union.wisc.edu/events-and-activities/event-calendar/event/throwbackskatenight-2025-ouw-3/

BME Seminar Series: Mehmet Orman, PhD
2025-02-24 12:00 - 13:00 | 1003 (Tong Auditorium) Engineering Centers Building, 1550 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
Metabolic Adaptations of Drug-Tolerant Persister Cells

Mehmet A Orman, PhDAssociate ProfessorChemical and Biomolecular Engineering DepartmentUniversity of Houston

Abstract:My research focuses on understanding drug-tolerant phenotypes, particularly persister cells, in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems. Persister cells are temporarily tolerant to drugs and contribute significantly to disease recurrence. We investigate their molecular makeup, including metabolite profiles, RNA expression, protein composition, and regulatory networks, to identify key survival mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets. Our ongoing projects include investigating self-digestion-mediated tolerance in bacterial persisters, host-pathogen interactions in drug tolerance, metabolic and repair pathways in bacterial and cancer persisters, and the immunomodulatory potential of microbial cells to harness host-pathogen interactions for cancer therapy.

In this talk, I will highlight our strategies to study and target persister cell metabolism in bacteria and cancer. Contrary to the belief that persister cells in bacteria have suppressed metabolism, we show that their survival depends on energy metabolism, particularly oxidative phosphorylation. In bacteria, the cyclic-adenosine monophosphate and its receptor protein redirects metabolism from anabolism to oxidative phosphorylation, highlighting the importance of the tricarboxylic acid cycle, electron transport chain, and ATP synthase. Similarly, in melanoma persisters, chemotherapy-induced stress increases mitochondrial activity, revealing a dual role of treatment—inducing apoptosis in most cells while promoting a dormant, drug-tolerant subpopulation. Understanding these metabolic adaptations opens new avenues for therapeutic interventions, aiming to eradicate persister cells and prevent disease recurrence.

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MS&E Faculty Search Presentation: Dr. Jiale Shi
2025-02-24 16:00 - 17:00
UW-Madison Department of Materials Science and Engineering welcomes Dr. Jiale Shi. Their presentation on “AI-driven Computational Predictions for Polymeric Materials” will be on Monday, Feb. 24 in MS&E 265 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Abstract

Polymeric materials, an integral part of modern life, permeate various aspects of daily living, including clothing, food, transportation, construction, and healthcare, due to their versatile macroscopic properties. The macroscopic properties of polymers depend on their microscopic design, including chemical structure, composition, sequence, topology, chain length, and molecular mass distribution. However, due to the complex nature and gigantic design space of functional polymeric materials, many important quantitative structure-property relationships remain unknown. Artificial intelligence (AI) can not only efficiently explore the vast polymer design space but also provide data-driven solutions to uncover quantitative structure-property relationships that are difficult to identify through conventional computational methods. In this talk, I will present how we develop AI-driven computational methods for polymer property prediction and design. First, I will discuss the development of AI models for predicting polymer–surface adhesive free energy and guiding the optimal design of polymer sequences with a genetic algorithm, as well as the use of transfer learning techniques to improve AI model predictions when data is insufficient. Second, I will highlight the development of similarity-informed explainable AI for polymer search, embedding, and property prediction.

Bio

Dr. Jiale Shi is currently a postdoctoral associate in the Department of Chemical Engineering at MIT working with Prof. Bradley Olsen and Dr. Debra Audus (NIST). His postdoc research projects focus on developing similarity-informed explainable AI for polymer search, embedding and property predictions. He is a core member of the Community Resource for Innovation in Polymer Technology (CRIPT). He received his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering at the University of Notre Dame with Prof. Jonathan Whitmer. His Ph.D. research focused on facilitating optimal design of new soft materials via integrating AI, molecular simulations, and statistical physics. He was a graduate participant of the Midwest Integrated Center for Computational Materials (MICCoM), focusing on developing and applying advanced sampling methods for free energy calculations. He received his B.S. in Chemistry at Peking University. His future research program will focus on AI-driven computational design for functional polymeric materials. His research accomplishments have been recognized by awards and honors, including (1) ACS PMSE Future Faculty Scholar, (2) ACS POLY Big Data Award, (3) Outstanding Paper Award from Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at University of Notre Dame, (4) Best Poster Award at Notre Dame-Purdue Soft Matter & Polymers Symposium.

ISyE - Letters of Love Volunteering
2025-02-24 18:00 - 19:00 | 1610 Engineering Hall, 1415 Engineering Drive, Madison, 53706
Spend a night with the IISE student org volunteering for Letters of Love.

Letters of Love aims to provide emotional support to children in hospitals by sending them handwritten cards and letters. Use this hour to give back to your community, connect with other industrial engineers, and unleash your creativity. All supplies will be provided.

ECE RISE SEMINAR SERIES: AI for Next-Generation Electronics and Chip Design - Olivia Hsu
2025-02-25 12:00 - 13:00 | 1240 Computer Sciences, 1210 W. Dayton St., Madison, 53711
1240 Computer SciencesLIVE STREAM: https://uwmadison.zoom.us/j/93718552231?pwd=[REDACTED]

From Language to Silicon: Programming Systems for Sparse Accelerators

Abstract:In this era of specialization, modern hardware development focuses on domain-specific accelerator design due to the plateau in technology scaling combined with a continual need for performance. However, domain-specific programming systems for these accelerators require extreme engineering effort, and their complexity has largely caused them to lag behind. Fundamentally, the widespread usability, proliferation, and democratization of domain-specific accelerators hinge on their programming systems, especially when targeting new domains.This talk presents research on accelerator programming systems for the emerging domain of sparsity targeting emerging sparse accelerators. The first system, the Sparse Abstract Machine (SAM), introduces a unified abstract machine model and compiler abstraction for sparse dataflow accelerators. SAM defines a novel streaming representation and abstract dataflow interfaces that serve as an abstraction to decouple sparse accelerator implementations from their programs, similar to a stable ISA for dataflow. The second system, Mosaic, introduces modular and portable compilation solutions across different sparse accelerators and high-performance systems. These systems are a first step towards usable and programmable heterogeneous hardware acceleration for all. I will conclude by discussing the next steps to reach this goal, which include programming systems for accelerators in other domains and interoperation between accelerators across domains.

Olivia Hsu

Bio:Olivia Hsu is a final-year Computer Science PhD student at Stanford University, advised by Professors Kunle Olukotun and Fredrik Kjolstad. She received her BS in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) at UC Berkeley. Her broad research interests include computer architecture, computer and programming systems, compilers, programming languages, and digital circuits/VLSI. Olivia is a 2024 Rising Star in EECS and an NSF Graduate Research Fellow, and her research won a distinguished paper award at PLDI 2023. To learn more about her work, please visit her website at https://cs.stanford.edu/~owhsu.
