BME Winter 2024 Graduation Celebration
2024-12-14 15:00 - 17:00 (America/Chicago) | Engineering Centers Building Atrium, 1550 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
The Biomedical Engineering Department is hosting a graduation celebration for fall 2024 graduates and their guests.

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

Chemical Engineering 2024 Winter Commencement Banquet
2024-12-15 12:00 - 15:00 | Union South – Varsity Hall, 1308 W Dayton St, Madison, Wisconsin, 53715
Congratulations to our graduating class of 2024. After years of hard work, the students and faculty are putting on the 2024 Winter Banquet for Chemical Engineering.

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

The Algorithmic Abyss: Exploring Autonomy without AI Horror
2024-12-16 12:00 - 13:00 | 1153 Mechanical Engineering, 1513 University Ave, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
AI can already solve sophisticated problems ranging from playing games, autonomous driving, and music generation—given enough observational data for training. The core of such success resides in efficient algorithms, compliant hardware and robust computing, all implemented using carefully curated data collected before the training phase. Thus, machines learn in a “sterile” domain, under clean, controlled and to some extent supervised environments. As the target domain changes, however, moving to more quotidian scenarios, machines struggle to perform well. It is hard to think of an autonomous car trained in Silicon Valley being able to successfully navigate the crowded streets of New Delhi. – this is the “algorithm abyss”. Ideally, we would like to robots adapt to challenging settings while immersed in mundane settings, and learn from humans. To address this hurdle, my work in the area of robotics and autonomous systems focuses on transferring skills and knowledge from controlled settings to the wild to create “shared intelligence” (SI). In this talk, I emphasize strategies and techniques to address fundamental challenges in emergent, high-risk, high-stakes scenarios to deliver SI. Specifically, I will discuss work related to telesurgery, skill augmentation and training. While healthcare is one of the research domains discussed, the outcomes and findings are applicable to the range field of autonomous robotics. Progress in these directions will contribute to the public purpose of creating the knowledge for developing robots that are more accessible, effective and sensitive to social needs.

Bio: Dr. Juan Wachs is a Professor and University Faculty Scholar in the Industrial Engineering School at Purdue University, Professor of Biomedical Engineering (by courtesy), an Adjunct Associate Professor of Surgery at IU School of Medicine, and Adjunct Professor at Johns Hopkins University. He recently served at NSF as a Program Director for Robotics and AI programs at CISE. He is also the director of the Intelligent Systems and Assistive Technologies (ISAT) Lab at Purdue, and he is affiliated with the Regenstrief Center for Healthcare Engineering. He completed postdoctoral training at the Naval Postgraduate School’s MOVES Institute under a National Research Council Fellowship from the National Academies of Sciences. Dr. Wachs received his B.Ed.Tech in Electrical Education in ORT Academic College, at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem campus. His M.Sc and Ph.D in Industrial Engineering and Management from the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel. He is the recipient of the 2013 Air Force Young Investigator Award, and the 2015 Helmsley Senior Scientist Fellow, and 2016 Fulbright U.S. Scholar, the James A. and Sharon M. Tompkins Rising Star Associate Professor, 2017, and the ACM Distinguished Speaker 2018. Since 2020 he has been elected University Faculty Scholar. He is also the Associate Editor of IEEE Transactions in Human-Machine Systems, Frontiers in Robotics and AI.

BME Seminar Series: Chima V. Maduka, DVM, PhD
2025-01-16 12:00 - 13:00 | 2188 Mechanical Engineering Building, 1513 University Avenue, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
Harnessing the Power of Immunometabolism to Engineer the Future of Medicine

Chima V. Maduka, DVM, PhDAHA Postdoctoral FellowBurdick Biomaterials and Biofabrication LaboratoryUniversity of Colorado

Abstract:The metabolic underpinnings of immune cells in various inflamed tissues, such as the implant microenvironment or the diseased heart, are poorly understood. For instance, polylactide (PLA) is the most widely used biopolymer in medicine. Yet, for decades, PLA had been thought to activate immune cells by reducing surrounding pH because PLA biodegrades into monomers and oligomers of lactic acid. During my talk, I will discuss an alternative paradigm underscoring immune cell metabolism (immunometabolism) as the pivotal determinant of the proinflammatory versus pro-regenerative tissue microenvironment with biodegradable and non-biodegradable biomaterial examples. Further related to tissue engineering, I will present on reversing established cardiac dysfunction and fibrosis in heart failure (following myocardial infarction) via targeted and enzyme-responsive nanomaterials. Finally, I will unveil my vision to revolutionize therapeutic strategies for the various phenotypes of heart failure by leveraging the metabolic underpinnings of immune and stromal cell populations, thereby engineering next-generation clinical interventions that shape the future of medicine.

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ME Faculty Candidate Seminar
2025-01-21 11:30 - 12:30 | 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, with the exception of January 20th. The January 20th seminar will take place on January 21st instead, from 11:30-12:30pm.

BME Seminar Series: Jingwen Yan, PhD
2025-01-21 12:00 - 13:00 | 2180 Mechanical Engineering, 1513 University Ave, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
Integrative -omics for improved understanding and detection of Alzheimer’s disease

Jingwen Yan, PhDAssociate Professor and Director of BioinformaticsLuddy School of Informatics, Computing and EngineeringIndiana University Indianapolis

Abstract:Integrative -omics is an emerging research field that aims to extract the knowledge from the broad multi-omic data landscape. While multiple domains included, such as brain imaging, genetics, transcriptomics and proteomics, it offers great promise to illuminate the causal pathway from genotype to phenotype and to provide optimal molecular phenotypes for early therapeutic intervention. Building on the extensive mult-omics and brain imaging datasets, we focus on the development and application of AI models and bioinformatics approaches aimed at 1) exploring the functional mechanisms linked to Alzheimer risk variants (i.e., functional genomics) and 2) modeling disease progression to improve early detection and risk assessment. In this talk, I will introduce some of our recent work on exploration of AD molecular mechanisms and early detection with integrative -omics approaches.

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ME 903 Graduate Seminar: Professor Tao Sun
2025-01-23 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 Tao Sun is a professor at Northwestern University.

Unveiling Metal 3D Printing with X-Ray Insight

Abstract: Metal additive manufacturing (AM) refers to a group of disruptive technologies that build metallic three-dimensional objects by adding feedstock materials layer-by-layer based on computer models. AM not only offers engineers the freedom to design geometrically complex parts but also presents material scientists with opportunities to synthesize and process novel materials with far-from-equilibrium phases and microstructures. While AM holds the promise of revolutionizing the manufacturing industry, building defect-free metal products with precise control of material microstructures and part performance remains challenging. Indeed, substantial fundamental issues exist in metal AM that must be addressed before the technology can reach its full potential.

My team has been applying operando high-speed X-ray imaging and diffraction techniques to investigate various metal AM processes. The superior penetration power of high-energy X-rays and the extremely high fluxes provided by the synchrotron facility enable the characterization of dynamic structural evolution in bulk metallic materials with unprecedented spatial and temporal resolutions. Many highly transient phenomena involved in metal AM processes and their complex interplays were investigated, particularly the mechanisms responsible for different types of structure defects and build anomalies.

In this presentation, I will first give a brief overview of the operando synchrotron experiments on various metal AM processes conducted by our team in recent years and highlight the key insights gained from these studies. Specifically, I will explain how measurements of structural dynamics enabled by cutting-edge X-ray techniques have advanced the development of numerical models, improved our understanding of defect formation, and facilitated the benchmarking of process sensors. Finally, I will discuss the unresolved scientific questions that could be explored in the next phase of synchrotron research, with a focus on the new opportunities offered by 4th-generation facilities, such as the recently upgraded APS.

Bio: Dr. Tao Sun is an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Northwestern University. He obtained his BS and MS in Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) from Tsinghua University and his PhD in MSE from Northwestern University. After PhD study, Dr. Sun conducted postdoctoral research at Argonne National Laboratory, where he was later promoted to Assistant Physicist and then Physicist. In 2019, he began his academic career as Associate Professor at the University of Virginia and later joined Northwestern in 2023. Dr. Sun’s research focuses on addressing fundamental challenges in advanced manufacturing using cutting-edge in situ and ex situ characterization techniques. His work emphasizes the in-depth understanding of energy-matter interactions, mass and heat flow, defect generation, and material structure evaluation involved in various additive manufacturing processes. Dr. Sun was the recipient of TMS Young Innovator Award in the Materials Science of Additive Manufacturing and was recently recognized as a Highly Cited Researcher by Clarivate.

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.

RSVP

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.

Register Here

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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ME Faculty Candidate Seminar
2025-01-27 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-01-29 12:00 - 13:00, 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.

MS&E Faculty Search Presentation: Dr. Shu Wang
2025-01-27 16:00 - 17:00 | Wisconsin
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.

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

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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MS&E Seminar Series: Dr. Joseph Jakes
2025-01-30 13:00 - 14:00 | Wisconsin
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
2025-02-04 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 | Wisconsin
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 | Wisconsin
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 | Wisconsin
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!
