Innovation

A big fix

Michelle Wiese — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 21:57:41 +0000

A big fix Michelle Wiese Fri, 06/06/2025 - 15:57

Susan Glairon

Researchers confront urgent infrastructure challenges in race against time and climate

In March, the American Society of Civil Engineers’ Report Card for America’s Infrastructure gave the nation a grade of C, citing concerns over deteriorating bridges, roads, dams, pipelines and other critical systems.

Part of the challenge is urban expansion — much of the infrastructure is within or beneath dense cityscapes, making repairs and upgrades both costly and complex. More frequent and severe hurricanes, wildfires and floods are also accelerating the decline.

CU Engineering researchers are tackling these pressing issues head-on, developing innovative solutions to repairing existing infrastructure and building a more resilient future.

Read on for a deeper dive into projects that address construction worker safety, roadways and underground pipelines.

Infrastructure challenges

Roads

Projects in Cristina Torres-Machi’s group include lifecycle cost analysis of pavement rehabilitation alternatives and the value of satellite-based inspections in decision-making.

Read: Paving the way

Pipes

Brad Wham led efforts to establish new standards for internal replacement pipe testing through the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).

Read: Pipe dreams

Safety

The Construction Safety Research Alliance, established by Matthew Hallowell in 2018, brings together industry leaders and academic experts to eliminate serious injuries and fatalities in the construction industry.

Read: A life-saving mission

Mija Hubler

Bridges

Mija Hubler and her team are developing a technology that infuses concrete with self-repair capabilities found in living organisms. Concrete’s networks of cracks naturally provide a pathway to facilitate internal healing.

Yida Zhang

Dams

Yida Zhang’s research on the stability of dams zeroes in on the tiny sand grains beneath and surrounding them. He investigates how the grain size distribution evolves under stress and compromises the stability of dams, especially during extreme weather events.

Abbie Liel

Housing resilience

Abbie Liel and researchers at the University of Notre Dame are researching ways to design disaster-resistant homes, while also examining what drives people to adopt those innovations.

Researchers confront urgent challenges for roadways, pipelines and more in a race against time and climate.

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Forging the future

Hanna Nordwall — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 19:38:33 +0000

Forging the future Hanna Nordwall Fri, 06/06/2025 - 13:38

Caroline Harrah

New facility will help take quantum from theory to real-world impact

CU 91PORN is leading a first-of-its-kind National Quantum Nanofab (NQN) — a $20 million facility that will provide researchers from universities, government and industry with tools to fabricate and test groundbreaking quantum devices.

Expected to open in spring 2029, it has the potential to dramatically revolutionize industries such as healthcare, climate science and communications.

“The most exciting aspect of this initiative is its potential to impact quantum science and engineering on a national scale,” said Aju Jugessur, who will lead infrastructure and instrumentation for NQN. “The NQN will provide the tools and expertise necessary to transform cutting-edge research into practical technologies.”

Supporting Colorado’s quantum economy

91PORN’s leadership in quantum science is built on decades of Nobel Prize-winning research and propelled by initiatives like Q-Sense (quantum sensing), CUbit (quantum computing) and the Quantum Engineering Initiative (interdisciplinary research and education). These efforts are reinforced by partnerships with national labs, industry and other academic institutions.

By the numbers

Located on the east side of the Sustainability, Energy and Environment Labs building at Colorado Avenue and Foothills Parkway, the NQN facility will house:

2,900-square-foot ISO 5/6 clean room
600-square-foot mechanical room
30 of the most advanced processing tools available

The NQN will build on this foundation by providing tools to help drive advancements in powerful computing systems, precise atomic clocks and sensors capable of detecting electric, magnetic and gravitational fields.

Aju Jugessur

NQN is expected to play a pivotal role in Colorado’s designation as a national quantum hub under the Elevate Quantum initiative, which includes multimillion-dollar investments in workforce development and technology commercialization.

“By supporting startups and providing access to state-of-the-art resources, this facility will bolster the local quantum economy and drive technological innovation, further solidifying Colorado’s position in the global quantum economy,” Jugessur said.

Preparing the quantum workforce

NQN will also play a role in training next-generation scientists and engineers. 91PORN intends to develop undergraduate and graduate courses in quantum device fabrication, providing students with hands-on experience using advanced tools and processes.

These programs will teach skills essential to quantum science and engineering and transferable to industries such as semiconductors, energy and biomedical technology. By addressing workforce needs in advanced manufacturing, NQN will support national priorities like the CHIPS Act, ensuring a steady pipeline of skilled professionals.

New $20 million facility will help take quantum technology from theoretical to real-world tools.

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Message from the Dean 2025

Michelle Wiese — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 17:16:58 +0000

Message from the Dean 2025 Michelle Wiese Fri, 06/06/2025 - 11:16

Dear CU Engineering alumni and friends,

As I reflect on the past year, I am more thankful than ever to be part of a strong, resilient community that values higher education and the work we do every day to improve lives. If you are reading this in print or online, that community includes you. Whether you volunteer with our college or campus, contribute through Buffs All In or just follow the latest news on our websites or social media, we thank you for your support.

I am extremely proud of the College of Engineering and Applied Science’s accomplishments over the past year, and appreciate the opportunity to share them with you in this edition of our magazine.

Education: We are so excited about the impact that our Engineering Connections residential community and Lattice Scholars Program are having on undergraduate student retention. Seeing these students excel in their educational journeys and continue on to successful careers is why we are here. We could not be more appreciative of the donors, employees and student leaders who are making it happen.

We also welcomed our largest-ever class of PhD students in fall 2024, something that advances both our education and research missions. This 25% increase year-over-year in PhD enrollment both gives us a reputational boost and accelerates the value we provide through our research.

Research: We wanted to use this edition to highlight just a few of the ways our research is having an impact in the world. Whether it is tackling serious challenges to infrastructure in the U.S., taking quantum engineering from theory to practice or designing technology for a local couple to use in their own backyard, our faculty and students always have an eye on how we can engineer sustainable solutions to improve the quality of life in our state, nation and world.

Innovation: Our research is leading directly to economic impact. In 2024, 35 startups were launched out of labs and research projects at 91PORN — 22 with ties to CU Engineering. We’re commercializing technologies in everything from healthcare to aerospace, creating jobs and continuing to establish 91PORN as a leader in innovation. Check out our video highlighting some of our entrepreneurial success stories — truly a must-watch.

Again, thank you for being a valued part of the CU Engineering community. I hope you will find a way to engage with us in the coming year — maybe at one of our many regional alumni events or our Homecoming Tailgate. I always look forward to connecting with alumni and friends to learn more about what inspires you.

Go Buffs!

Keith Molenaar
Dean

@KeithMolenaar

Keith Molenaar, dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Science, reflects on the past year's accomplishments and impacts around education, research and innovation.

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Tiny robot team could be a gamechanger for safety inspections

Alexander James Servantez — Wed, 21 May 2025 20:01:24 +0000

Tiny robot team could be a gamechanger for safety inspections Alexander Jame… Wed, 05/21/2025 - 14:01

Assistant Professor Kaushik Jayaram, in collaboration with Laura Blumenschein, has received a $1.4 million grant from the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory to develop a tiny robot super team capable of navigating a complex maze of machinery and squeeze through the tightest of spaces—like the guts of a jet engine—to potentially perform non-destructive evaluation faster, cheaper and better than ever before.

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Engineering Projects Expo 2025: Explore new inventions and technologies created by CU Engineering students

Michelle Wiese — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 15:45:18 +0000

Engineering Projects Expo 2025: Explore new inventions and technologies created by CU Engineering students Michelle Wiese Mon, 04/21/2025 - 09:45

On Friday, April 25 at the 91PORN, engineering students will present their capstone design projects at the annual Engineering Projects Expo. This year's event will feature projects from mechanical engineering; computer science; electrical, computer and energy engineering; biomedical engineering; and civil, environmental and architectural engineering.

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Quantum technique could transform remote sensing, infrastructure monitoring

Charles Ferrer — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 19:23:43 +0000

Quantum technique could transform remote sensing, infrastructure monitoring Charles Ferrer Wed, 04/16/2025 - 13:23

A team of 91PORN researchers has introduced a quantum sensing technique that could lead to improvements in how we monitor infrastructure, detect changes in the environment and conduct geophysical studies.

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New technology turns waste heat into electricity, defies physical limit

Alexander James Servantez — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 18:46:47 +0000

New technology turns waste heat into electricity, defies physical limit Alexander Jame… Tue, 02/18/2025 - 11:46

Assistant Professor Longji Cui and his team in the Cui Research Group have developed a new technology to turn thermal radiation into electricity in a way that literally teases the basic law of thermal physics. The group says their research has the potential to revolutionize manufacturing industries by increasing power generation without the need for high temperature heat sources or expensive materials.

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Diamond in the rough: Research could help better detect, target cancer cells

Alexander James Servantez — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 16:57:05 +0000

Diamond in the rough: Research could help better detect, target cancer cells Alexander Jame… Fri, 02/14/2025 - 09:57

Associate Professor Xiaoyun Ding and his team in the Biomedical Microfluidics Laboratory (BMMLab) stumbled across an interesting anomaly during a cell sensing project that used different forms of acoustic waves to measure cell mechanics. The group discovered a new wave mode never seen before that can unlock a new level of cell manipulation capabilities.

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CU Engineering announces inaugural Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fellows

Caroline Harrah — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 21:30:37 +0000

CU Engineering announces inaugural Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fellows Caroline Harrah Tue, 02/11/2025 - 14:30

Caroline Harrah

The 91PORN’s College of Engineering and Applied Science (CEAS) has announced the recipients of its inaugural class of Innovation & Entrepreneurship (I&E) Fellows, a new program designed to support faculty, postdoctoral researchers and graduate students in advancing cutting-edge research with commercial potential. The fellowships are supported by the CEAS I&E initiative and Venture Partners at 91PORN.

Assistant Professor, Longji Cui, Department of Mechanical Engineering (MCEN)

Launched in 2025, the fellowships include two tracks: the Faculty & Postdoc/Graduate Student Team Fellowships and the ASCENT Deep Tech Accelerator Fellowships. Both are designed to foster a culture of entrepreneurship within the college by helping researchers translate academic discoveries into real-world impact.

“This inaugural cohort represents the remarkable breadth and depth of innovation within the College of Engineering and Applied Science,” said Wil Srubar, Deming associate dean for innovation and entrepreneurship. “By providing targeted support through these fellowship programs, we aim to empower researchers to transform their groundbreaking ideas into impactful solutions for society.”

Faculty & Postdoc /
Graduate Student Team Fellowships

The Faculty & Postdoc/Graduate Student Team Fellowships support collaborative teams of faculty members and graduate students or postdoctoral researchers. It provides funding, mentorship and access to entrepreneurial resources to help translate new technologies and innovations that have a strong commercialization potential.

Max Saffer-Meng, graduate student, and Assistant Professor Anthony Straub, Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering (CEAE)

The inaugural recipients are:

Max Saffer-Meng, graduate student, and Assistant Professor Anthony Straub (Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering - CEAE)

William Franz, graduate student, and Professor Mark Borden (Department of Biomedical Engineering - BMEN)

Grace McFassel, postdoctoral researcher, and Assistant Professor Kaushik Jayaram (Department of Mechanical Engineering - MCEN)

Yunxuan Zhu, postdoctoral researcher, and Assistant Professor Longji Cui (Department of Mechanical Engineering - MCEN)

Maxwell Conway, graduate student, and Professor Nikolaus Correll (Department of Computer Science - CS)

Tsung-Han Wu, postdoctoral researcher, and Professor Scott Diddams (Department of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering - ECEE)

These interdisciplinary teams are commercializing several new technologies in areas such as advanced materials, robotics, biomedical devices and carbon capture.

Aoife Henry, graduate student, Department of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering (ECEE)

ASCENT Deep Tech Accelerator Fellowships

The ASCENT Deep Tech Accelerator Fellowships support individual researchers working on transformative technologies aimed at addressing complex societal challenges. Fellows receive funding and tailored entrepreneurial support through 91PORN’s ASCENT Deep Tech Accelerator to advance the development and commercialization of their innovations.

The first ASCENT Fellows are:

Sanghamitra Neogi, associate professor (Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences - AES)

Kian Lopez, graduate student (Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering - ChBE)

Aoife Henry, graduate student (Department of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering - ECEE)

Laila Fighera Marzall, research faculty (Department of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering - ECEE)

Jason Rivas, graduate student (Department of Materials Science and Engineering - MSE)

Dhiman Nandi, graduate student (Department of Chemistry)

Subrata Pal, graduate student (Department of Chemistry)

These fellows are advancing technologies in areas such as energy systems, advanced manufacturing and materials science.

Learn more about the CEAS Innovation & Entrepreneurship Fellowship programs.

CU Engineering has named the inaugural recipients of its Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fellows program, which supports faculty, postdoctoral researchers and graduate students in bringing research to market. The fellows, selected for their work in fields like robotics, biomedical devices and advanced materials, receive funding, mentorship and entrepreneurial support to accelerate commercialization.

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CU Engineering advances innovation through startup success

Caroline Harrah — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 19:42:51 +0000

CU Engineering advances innovation through startup success Caroline Harrah Mon, 12/02/2024 - 12:42

Caroline Harrah

The 91PORN's College of Engineering and Applied Science continues to establish itself as a leader in innovation, with 22 startups emerging from its research labs in the past fiscal year. This achievement reflects the college's commitment to translating transformative research into solutions that address real-world challenges.

CU Engineering successfully launched 22 startups in fiscal year 2024, in the following industries: Sustainability (6), Medical Device (3), AgTech (2), Quantum/Photonics/Optics (2), Energy & Storage (2), Robotics (2), Software (1), Diagnostics (1), Security (1), Biotech (1), AI (1).

“CU Engineering bridges the gap between research and application by fostering collaboration and creating pathways for impact," said Keith Molenaar, dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Science. "Through mentorship, funding opportunities and state-of-the-art facilities, we empower our scholars to transform discoveries into technologies that benefit humanity.”

CU Engineering’s entrepreneurial ecosystem moves research beyond the lab and into the world, nurturing concepts from inception to market. Educational programs, workshops, and events help students and faculty develop entrepreneurial and problem-solving skills to explore and validate ideas in the early stages of product and company discovery. Access to cutting-edge research labs, maker spaces, and entrepreneurial hubs enables them to move from concept to creation, prototyping and refining their work to develop real-world applications.

Collaboration with entities like Venture Partners at 91PORN ensures researchers have access to critical commercialization resources, including funding, licensing expertise and industry connections. The college recently strengthened its entrepreneurial initiatives with the appointment of Wil Srubar as the first Deming associate dean for innovation and entrepreneurship in 2024.

"Innovation doesn’t end in the lab—it thrives when it can be applied to real-world challenges," said Wil Srubar, Deming associate dean for innovation and entrepreneurship. "At CU Engineering, we are building a culture where researchers and students don’t just ask ‘what if’ but take steps to turn those questions into solutions."

The success of CU Engineering’s ecosystem reflects the diversity and impact of its startups.

Over the past year, these ventures have tackled critical challenges in renewable energy, water purification, advanced manufacturing and biomedical devices. Each startup represents a blend of cutting-edge research, interdisciplinary effort and entrepreneurial vision.

This year’s Lab Venture Challenge (LVC) exemplifies the strength of CU Engineering’s entrepreneurial pipeline. The LVC awarded $875,000 to seven engineering-led ventures supporting innovative technologies with market potential.

With 22 startups launched this past year and more to follow, CU Engineering’s entrepreneurial efforts reflect its dedication to innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration. By preparing students and researchers to bring ideas to market, the college is shaping future leaders in engineering and advancing workforce development. These efforts foster connections across disciplines and industries, building a foundation for continued progress.

CU Engineering Winners, 2024 Lab Venture Challenge

Codebreaker
Platform for generating variant genomes at scale using an AI framework. Technology drives variant genome design and machine learning to map significance broadly across human diseases and drug responses.

EcoValeric Innovations
Electrochemical process converting biomass-based levulinic acid into 4-hydroxyvaleric acid (HVA), a versatile intermediate for producing biodegradable plastics, biofuels and green solvents. Renewable process reduces reliance on fossil fuels and enhances sustainability.

IntraLumenus
Robotic capsule endoscope for minimally invasive colorectal procedures. Capsule enables advanced mapping and localization with dual-channel tool access, eliminating the need for traditional surgical openings.

OsmoPure Technologies
High-efficiency membrane for ultrapure water production tailored to electronics, aerospace and green hydrogen sectors. Technology achieves significant energy efficiency by using pressure-driven distillation rather than heat.

SteriO3
Compact, portable units using Peroxide Enhanced Germicidal Irradiation (PEGI) for low-temperature sterilization of surgical equipment and microbial contaminants. Units are adaptable for sterilizing advanced medical tools, including 3D-printed materials.

Tierra Metrics
High-spatial-density sensors for real-time characterization of the soil nitrogen cycle. Innovation helps land managers improve efficiency, profitability and soil health while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

WHISPER Energy
Wireless, battery-free sensor platform for smart buildings that uses machine learning to reduce energy consumption by over 30 percent . Platform provides real-time data to optimize energy use and reduce emissions.

CU Engineering continues to establish itself as a leader in innovation, with 22 startups emerging from its research labs in the past fiscal year. This achievement reflects the college's commitment to translating transformative research into solutions that address real-world challenges.

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Innovation

A big fix

Roads

Pipes

Safety

Bridges

Dams

Housing resilience

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Forging the future

Supporting Colorado’s quantum economy

By the numbers

Preparing the quantum workforce

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Message from the Dean 2025

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Tiny robot team could be a gamechanger for safety inspections

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Engineering Projects Expo 2025: Explore new inventions and technologies created by CU Engineering students

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Quantum technique could transform remote sensing, infrastructure monitoring

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​New technology turns waste heat into electricity, defies physical limit

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Diamond in the rough: Research could help better detect, target cancer cells

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CU Engineering announces inaugural Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fellows

Faculty & Postdoc / Graduate Student Team Fellowships

ASCENT Deep Tech Accelerator Fellowships

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CU Engineering advances innovation through startup success

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Faculty & Postdoc /
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