A $27 million investment from the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) will accelerate four University of Wisconsin-Madison high-impact transdisciplinary research initiatives—two of which are led or co-led by College of Engineering researchers.
Building on existing strengths in quantum technologies, brain health, fusion energy and national security, the initiatives touch the work of faculty, staff and students across the College of Engineering.
“Federal and industry investment in national security focused technologies, particularly those that have dual civilian use, is accelerating,” says Erik Iverson, WARF CEO. “Universities that move decisively to conduct such research will shape these fields for decades. WARF’s role is to fuel that momentum, so our world-class university can continue to lead in conducting cutting-edge research and developing highly impactful new technologies. … This is the WARF model: invest where discovery and impact intersect.”
Strengthening Wisconsin’s leadership in fusion energy
The funding will support a major effort to develop materials and manufacturing technologies needed for future fusion power plants.
Fusion energy, which seeks to replicate the same reactions that power the sun, has long been viewed as a potentially transformative source of clean, abundant energy. However, one major challenge is developing materials capable of withstanding the extreme temperatures and conditions inside fusion reactors.
UW-Madison researchers plan to establish new capabilities in AI-enabled materials discovery, 3D laser printing, automated alloy generation and cold-spray coating technologies to address that challenge.
The gift also will create a new institute as a one-stop entry point for industry, policy, legislative and economic partners and the public. A key goal of this institute is to ensure that research efforts are aligned with the practical requirements of future fusion systems and commercial deployment. “WARF’s investment will enable us to grow dedicated materials discovery efforts for fusion and unique real-world testing capacity, including integration tests into magnetic confinement concepts that we continuously advance on this campus based on our leadership in plasma science,” says Oliver Schmitz, College of Engineering associate dean for corporate engagement and entrepreneurship.
The initiative also will deepen ties with Wisconsin-based companies and support growth of the Great Lakes Fusion Energy Alliance.
The quantum and fusion initiatives support the Engineering Moonshots—transdisciplinary efforts that concentrate UW-Madison strengths on the challenges engineering and other disciplines can tackle together to deliver meaningful societal impact. “Engineering Moonshots represent not just ambition, but direction,” says Devesh Ranjan, Grainger Dean of the College of Engineering. “Not just ideas, but a commitment to act together to help address significant, complex challenges of particular importance to Wisconsin and the world.”
Former graduate students Evan Willing (left) and Tyler Dabney work in Professor Kumar Sridharan’s Cold Spray Laboratory, which works on materials that could be used in fusion reactors. Photo: Joel Hallberg
Creating a front door for national security research
The gift also supports the Wisconsin Initiative on National Security (WINS).
“We are already doing a lot of this work in the domains that the Department of Defense cares about,” says Dave Schroeder, UW-Madison director of national security initiatives and WINS co-lead. “What we have been missing is that central coordinating function that helps us find and win new opportunities.”
Co-led by David Rothamer, associate dean for research in the College of Engineering, WINS is a hub that connects faculty, industry partners and federal agencies as the university pursues an expanded portfolio of research with both civilian and national security applications. These include AI, autonomous systems, advanced manufacturing, biosecurity, medical technologies, materials engineering and aerospace engineering, among others.
“National security is no longer just about defense—it’s about leadership in technology, talent, and innovation,” says Ranjan. “And that leadership begins with discovery. Through advancing research, educating exceptional thought leaders, and building strong partnerships, the Wisconsin Institute for National Security will help strengthen our nation’s security, resilience and future.”
With the WARF funding, WINS will launch a new institute to grow UW-Madison’s efforts to secure more dual-use research funding, provide more career development opportunities for students and strengthen relationships with industry.
Quantum technology at a critical moment
With the WARF investment, the Wisconsin Quantum Institute (WQI) at UW-Madison will launch three new centers—Quantum Innovation Center, Quantum Sensing Center, and Quantum Applications Center—designed to accelerate transition of quantum technologies from the laboratory to real-world applications in areas such as computing, communications, medical imaging and navigation.
UW-Madison researchers already hold leadership positions in several national quantum research centers. They’ve launched venture-backed startup companies based on quantum technologies, and the university itself is home to the nation’s first master’s degree program in quantum science.
Now the next phase of quantum development requires new capabilities. “The day when quantum computers can perform specific, practical tasks better than classical machines is on the horizon,” says Mark Eriksson, a professor of physics who’s affiliated with the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. “Quantum sensors are already in prototype deployment. Governments around the world are positioning themselves for the accelerating race to lead the commercialization of these disruptive technologies.”
Led by Eriksson and WQI Executive Director Ona Ambrozaite, the three new centers will create a pipeline of new inventions, startups and industry partnerships while advancing technologies with applications across healthcare, agriculture, manufacturing, logistics and other sectors.
“Quantum technology is becoming a defining field of the 21st century,” Eriksson says.
Assistant Professor Jennifer Choy’s research focuses on the development of quantum sensing platforms. Photo: Althea Dotzour
Advancing the future of brain health
Another initiative seeks to position UW-Madison as a leader in the development and clinical application of psychoactive medicines for mental health disorders.
UW-Madison researchers are investigating compounds such as psilocybin and related therapies as promising candidates for mental health treatment, yet they need significant additional infrastructure and research capabilities to secure major federal investments and accelerate translation into clinical practice. The initiative brings together expertise in neuroscience, psychiatry, pharmacy, sleep medicine, neurophysiology and clinical research. “With this combination, we have an opportunity to generate entirely new insights into brain plasticity,” says Anjon Audhya, vice dean for research in the School of Medicine and Public Health and professor of biomolecular chemistry who’s leading the effort with colleagues from departments and schools across UW-Madison. “Those discoveries could ultimately lead to new therapies, new intellectual property and new avenues for improving patient care.”
The initiative is particularly relevant to growing concerns about post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, substance-use disorders and other conditions affecting military personnel, veterans and civilians.
The gift comes at a pivotal moment as federal agencies and industry partners increase investments in these strategically important fields. The WARF special investment will strengthen UW-Madison’s position as it diversifies its research funding portfolio in response to this rapidly changing funding landscape.
“These initiatives build on areas where UW-Madison already has exceptional expertise and momentum,” says Dorota Brzezińska, UW-Madison vice chancellor for research. “With WARF’s support, we can accelerate discovery, strengthen our leadership, attract new partnerships and expand the impact of UW-Madison research for Wisconsin and beyond by unlocking new opportunities to translate research discoveries into intellectual property, startup companies and economic impact.”
PhD student Chengyu Fang, shown working in a clean room, was part of a UW-Madison team that developed a simplified method for trapping atoms of different species to make quantum bits (qubits). Photo: Joel Hallberg