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College of Engineering news

Patterns in the tiny amounts of light emitted by these neural stem cells helped researchers determine whether they were active or dormant without destructive testing.
March 28, 2024

New tool provides researchers with improved understanding of stem cell aging in the brain

Researchers can use the light naturally thrown off by biological specimens to better study the different states of stem cells in the nervous system, thanks to a tool developed by…

Network of neurons
March 11, 2024

Reverse engineering the brain’s connections from fuzzy data

By better understanding the connections among different parts of the brain—from individual neurons all the way up to whole regions—neuroscientists could glean insights about how the brain works and what…

Southwest view of the outside of the new UW-Madison College of Engineering building
March 6, 2024

Wisconsin approves new UW-Madison engineering building

On March 6, 2024, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers gave final approval to fund a new College of Engineering building at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “The approval of a new building…

Scientist at imaging instrument
February 27, 2024

Bartels aims to shatter ‘ballistic barrier’ in imaging

Most imaging scientists will tell you that scattered light — rays of light that get rerouted when ping-ponging between obstacles in a frame — is the sworn enemy of clear,…

Krishanu Saha
February 7, 2024

Ask an expert: Saha explains CRISPR

Krishanu Saha is an associate professor of biomedical engineering. In his research, Saha uses genetic tools like CRISPR—sometimes referred to as a “molecular scissors”—to study and create personalized medicines and…

UW Crest with engineering background
January 29, 2024

With collaboration, college and Midwest Tribes will accelerate community-led clean energy solutions

A new partnership between the University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Engineering and the Midwest Tribal Energy Resources Association will help individual communities identify and implement clean energy projects that align…

Randolph Ashton
December 20, 2023

Stem cell technology developed at UW-Madison leads to new understanding of autism risks

Technology developed at the University of Wisconsin–Madison to grow “rosettes” of brain and spinal tissue gives scientists new ways to study the growing human brain, including a recent study of…

Professor William Murphy and PhD student Joshua Choe use a microscope
December 8, 2023

Mineral coatings could enable shelf-stable mRNA therapies

The rapid development of mRNA-based vaccines against COVID-19 was a gamechanger in the global pandemic. The vaccines employ messenger RNA to direct cells to produce a protein from the surface…

Aviad Hai and Ilhan Bok
November 6, 2023

Tiny particles, big impact: UW-Madison neuroengineers prove longstanding MRI theory

It started out as a side project, a repurposing of the nanopatterning techniques that Ilhan Bok has fashioned in Assistant Professor Aviad Hai’s neuroengineering lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison….

PhD student Zack Harmer
August 29, 2023

New technique fast-tracks optogenetics work

By shining the right wavelength of light on cells outfitted with specific, light-sensitive proteins, scientists can turn cellular processes on and off—and in doing so, drive production of chemicals that…