Wisconsin Electric Machines and Power Electronics Consortium
Prof. Chirag Gupta is using a five-year National Science Foundation CAREER award to study transistors made from ultra-wide bandgap semiconductors.
On April 17, 2025, a crowd of several hundred students, staff, faculty, university leaders, alumni and dignitaries kicked off construction of the University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Engineering’s new building at a ceremonial groundbreaking event.
Devesh Ranjan, a mechanical engineer and a leader at one of the country’s largest and highest-ranked engineering programs, will be the tenth dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Eight students competed in UW–Madison’s 2024-25 Three Minute Thesis final competition on February 14. The judges selected three winners based on the content, comprehension, and audience engagement they demonstrated through their research talks.
Mechatronics—integrating mechanical systems with electronics and software—is essential to a growing number of products and systems, including cellphones, vehicles and robots. “There is a significant demand for engineers with mechatronics training and experience in embedded systems across various industries,” says Steve Nackers, a director of design engineering at Sub-Zero Group, Inc. and Department of Mechanical Engineering industrial advisory board member. “Mechatronics engineers are increasingly sought after in sectors such as manufacturing, automotive, aerospace and healthcare, where they play a crucial role in developing and maintaining advanced automation systems, robotics and smart technologies.”
A historic $75 million gift will fuel construction of a much-needed new engineering building at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. With their lead gift—the largest single gift in college history—brothers and UW-Madison alumni Marvin and Jeffrey Levy are honoring the memory of their brother, Phil, who passed away in 2021. A passionate and accomplished professional interior designer, Phil earned an English degree from the university in 1964.
Four ECE faculty in the energy systems area (Mahima Gupta, Jinia Roy, Dominic Gross, and Giri Venkataramanan) were named as finalists for the 2024 WARF Innovation Award for WARF’s top disclosure.
Wind, solar and hydropower are a good start when it comes to renewable energy, but the real prize is lurking just off the coast: There’s enough energy produced by ocean waves and tides around the world to exceed all human energy needs—if we can unlock it. A unique type of electric machine might hold the key.
Professor Emeritus Fernando Alvarado spent 30 years in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, studying renewable energy, power systems pricing and computer applications in power systems. In retirement, he wanted to give back to the department—not just financially, but through a program that would directly serve students and the power engineering industry, while also advancing sustainability in the energy industry.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Engineering is partnering on a grant of up to $50 million to bring smart grid technology to rural and underserved communities throughout Wisconsin.