Author: Melanie Noble
Fostering Innovation at UConn: The Nursing and Engineering Innovation Center
The Nursing and Engineering Innovation Center at UConn Tech Park is spearheading transformative healthcare solutions through interdisciplinary collaboration. By uniting the expertise of the School of Nursing and the College of Engineering, the center aims to drive the creation and commercialization of evidence-based healthcare technologies.
One of the center’s notable initiatives was showcased during the Spring 2024 Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship (TIE) course, led by co-Director Dr. Leila Daneshmandi and Professor Sam Nanayakkara. For the first time, the TIE courses included nursing students, emphasizing the center’s mission to integrate diverse fields for innovative outcomes. This collaboration resulted in student venture presentations including Green Grid Farms, Puppy Palace, Transplant Rescue, KLAD, eKardia, and Alevia Pharma OraSpray.
The final pitch day on April 22 highlighted these projects, judged by a panel of faculty, staff, and students professionals, including Engineering Associate Dean Leslie Shor and Nursing Visiting Professor and Nursing & Engineering Innovation Center co-director Tiffany Kelley. Dr. Daneshmandi commended the students for their dedication in building technology-enabled ventures aimed at driving significant change.
The event also featured presentations from young inventors in the K-12 space, courtesy of the Connecticut Invention Convention, and showcased top student ventures like ParticleN, Genesist, and Toribio Labs Zemi Platforms. These presentations underscored the continuous impact of the TIE courses and the broader entrepreneurial initiatives at UConn.
The Nursing and Engineering Innovation Center aims to foster healthcare, workforce, and economic development through research, education, community engagement, and technology transfer. By combining clinical nursing knowledge with engineering expertise, the center is poised to create healthcare technologies that address clinical unmet needs and improve healthcare quality. The involvement of registered nurses, the largest group of healthcare professionals, is pivotal in developing and evaluating new technologies.
The Nursing and Engineering Innovation Center, led by Tiffany Kelley and Leila Daneshmandi, exemplifies UConn’s dedication to interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation. For more information about the center’s initiatives visit the Nursing and Engineering Innovation Center website. To learn more about the TIE courses, visit the Entrepreneurship Hub (eHUB) website.
Congratulations to Our Recent PhD Graduates!
We are delighted to celebrate the achievements of those who recently defended their dissertations based on research conducted at one of the Innovation Partnership Building research centers. Best wishes to them in their future professional endeavors.
Yishu Bai
Dissertation title: Steady State Performance Metrics Calculation and Operation Optimization of Complex Production Systems
Advisor: Liang Zhang
IPB Center: Southern New England Industrial Assessment Center
Yishu will join the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at UConn as a visiting assistant professor.
Justin Furuness
Dissertation title: Securing BGP ASAP: ASPA and other post-ROV policies
Advisor Amir: Herzberg
IPB Center: Connecticut Advanced Computing Center
Justin is completing work on other projects for his PhD and will start applying to jobs later this summer.
Rebecca Gentzel
Dissertation title: Haddock: A Language and Platform for MDD-Based Constraint Programming
Advisor Laurent: Michel
IPB Center: Connecticut Advanced Computing Center
Rebecca will join Carlow University as an Assistant Professor of Computer Science this fall.
Shaoyi Huang
Dissertation title: Towards High Performance Model Inference and Training: From Algorithm to Hardware
Advisors: Caiwen Ding, Omer Khan
IPB Center: Connecticut Advanced Computing Center
Shaoyi will join the department of Computer Science at Stevens Institute of Technology as a tenure track assistant professor this fall.
Hasan Iqbal
Dissertation title: High-Dimensional Quantum Key Distribution: New Protocols and Analysis
Advisor: Walter Krawec
IPB Center: Connecticut Advanced Computing Center
Rakesh Joshi
Dissertation title: Optical signal detection and image sensing in turbid medium using Integral Imaging and Deep neural networks
Advisor: Bahram Javidi
IPB Center: Connecticut Advanced Computing Center
Rakesh is joining the University of Houston College of Optometry as a postdoctoral research associate.
Mariam Khanam
Dissertation title: Non-Stationarity in Flood Risk: Quantifying the Impact of River Conveyance Changes and Extremes
Advisors: Emmanouil Anagnostou, Giulia Sofia
IPB Center: Eversource Energy Center
Mariam has joined Oak Ridge National Laboratory as a postdoctoral research associate in the Environmental Sciences Division’s Water Resource Science and Engineering Group.
Shida Ye
Dissertation title: Applications in Estimation, Tracking and Sensors: A Multi-Method Approach
Advisors: Yaakov Bar-Shalom, Peter Willett
IPB Center: National Institute for Undersea Vehicle Technology
UConn and Yale Drive Quantum Innovation with State Support
The Quantum Initiative at UConn, in partnership with Yale University, is a dynamic and collaborative effort dedicated to advancing quantum science through interdisciplinary collaboration. By fostering a community through joint seminars, workshops, and outreach events, QuantumCT is working towards establishing a premier quantum center in Connecticut.
Program Highlights and Recent Developments
QuantumCT has been making significant strides, particularly with the recent announcement from the Governor of Connecticut. In a bold move to position Connecticut as a leader in innovation, the Governor announced a $100 million investment aimed at bolstering research and development in cutting-edge technologies, including quantum science. This substantial investment underscores the state’s commitment to fostering advancements in this transformative field.
A key development for QuantumCT is the introduction of Quantum Seed Grants, which are funding innovative solutions to real-world problems. Nine Connecticut-based research groups have received one-year seed grants to tackle challenge problems issued by corporate partners. These projects aim to develop algorithms for simulating molecular drug actions, invent accurate sensors for extreme environments, and address other critical needs in industries like aerospace and biotech.
Yale brings world-renowned expertise in quantum science and technology to the table, complementing UConn’s strengths and facilitating a robust exchange of ideas and resources. This partnership is vital in addressing the complex challenges in quantum research and development. Yale’s Vice Provost for Research, Michael Crair, highlights the importance of these collaborations, stating, “These grants are fertilizing creative, potentially transformative projects in quantum science and technology across several key industries, all of which are central to Connecticut’s present and future economy.”
QuantumCT has been active in hosting events that bring together leading minds in quantum science. For instance, Josiah Sinclair from MIT-Harvard CUA presented a colloquium at UConn on a new platform for quantum science in early 2024, featuring programmable arrays of single atoms. Events like this highlight the initiative’s dedication to cutting-edge research and collaboration.
Looking ahead, QuantumCT aims to position Connecticut as a global hub for quantum education, job training, and research innovation. The collaborative efforts of UConn, Yale, and industry partners are paving the way for a faster pace of quantum innovation. Pamir Alpay, UConn’s Vice President for Research, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship, notes, “These seed grants will fuel not only quantum discovery but also career opportunities in a high-demand STEM field.”
With the recent $100 million investment from the state, QuantumCT is well on its way to driving forward the next wave of technological advancements, transforming industries, and creating new economic opportunities. For more information about upcoming events and the latest research from QuantumCT, visit QuantumCT.org.
UConn Secures $10.5 Million AFRL Contract to Propel High-Speed Aerospace Innovations
UConn has secured an additional $10.5 million contract from the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to support its aerospace manufacturing research, bringing total project funding close to $30 million. This partnership focuses on overcoming manufacturing challenges in aerial systems designed for high speeds and altitudes. Seven faculty members, along with graduate and post-graduate students, will tackle welding-related issues and develop advanced high-temperature materials. These interdisciplinary projects span material science, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, and chemistry.
Professor Rainer Hebert, the primary investigator and Director of the Pratt & Whitney Additive Manufacturing Center, emphasized the value of integrating government, industry, and academia in research. UConn’s collaboration with AFRL, which began in 2018, involves major industry partners like Raytheon, Pratt & Whitney, and Collins Aerospace. This partnership has sharpened UConn’s focus on application-relevant research, distinguishing their work from industry projects constrained by production schedules.
The new grant will fund a four-year research project combining experimental and theoretical approaches to advance materials for RTX, formerly Raytheon. Research will explore the behavior of non-metallic, high-temperature materials and additive manufacturing of refractory metals. Additionally, the project will investigate the design and processing of metamaterials capable of modifying heat and electromagnetic fields for improved thermal management.
This continued collaboration underscores UConn’s role as a valuable partner to AFRL and key industry players, driving advancements in aerospace technology and contributing to Connecticut’s economy. Faculty members who will work on projects covered through the $10.5 million contract include Mark Aindow, Pamir Alpay, Osama Bilal, Lesley Frame, Jeongho Kim, Rainer Hebert, and Steven Suib.
Click here for more information about the AFRL project funding.
UConn Takes Major Step Towards Carbon Neutrality with New Fuel Cell Partnership at the Innovation Partnership Building
“Utilizing clean and sustainable energy sources to power our campuses … is one of the great challenges of our lifetimes“
The University of Connecticut is set to power its Tech Park exclusively with clean energy through a new partnership with FuelCell Energy. The Innovation Partnership Building (IPB) will soon host four 250-kilowatt solid oxide fuel cells, totaling 1 megawatt of power. This initiative aligns with UConn’s sustainability goals and commitment to carbon neutrality.
UConn President Radenka Maric, a renowned clean energy expert, emphasized the dual benefits of this partnership: “Utilizing clean and sustainable energy sources to power our campuses as we work toward our carbon neutrality goals, while at the same time providing research and learning opportunities for members of our campus community, is one of the great challenges of our lifetimes.”
The fuel cells will generate energy without combustion, providing a cleaner alternative to carbon-based sources. They will power all of Tech Park’s advanced technology laboratories, centers, and institutes. Pamir Alpay, UConn’s Vice President for Research, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship, stated, “The addition of these fuel cell units will sufficiently power the entire Tech Park, moving us closer to our goal of carbon neutrality without compromising the needs of our partners and centers that call the Tech Park home.”
The project will be completed in two phases by FuelCell Energy. Once integrated into a building microgrid, any unused power will be exported to the Eversource power grid. The units will also operate in a combined heat and power mode, allowing for thermal energy recovery.
FuelCell Energy’s President and CEO, Jason Few, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration: “We are excited to work with UConn to support its Innovation Partnership Building and 2030 carbon-neutral goal.”
UConn has pledged to become carbon neutral by 2030 and net carbon zero by 2040, transforming the university’s infrastructure and research opportunities. The addition of new fuel cells supports these goals and complements UConn’s recently adopted Strategic Plan.
To learn more about the fuel cell upgrade, click here.
Save the Date
Co-Hosts University of Connecticut and Eversource are partnering again to continue the dialogue on pressing equitable clean energy issues in the second Sustainable Clean Energy Summit on Monday, September 23, 2024, at the UConn Storrs campus. Last year’s turnout of 400+ students, faculty and energy professionals highlighted the need for continued collaboration and exploration of the shifting energy landscape. The summit will feature the second cohort of students participating in the Eversource-sponsored Clean Energy and Sustainability Innovation Program (CESIP). As part of this program, students are researching viable solutions (technical, social, and political) to address different aspects of the grand challenge of decarbonization and economic development in meeting ambitious climate goals.
UConn is proud and eager to announce that keynote speaker Gene Rodrigues, Assistant Secretary for Electricity, U.S. Department of Energy will kick off this year’s summit. Mr. Rodrigues brings both a technical expertise to creating a reliable and affordable power grid and serves as DOE’s senior official on the federal interagency working group for the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. Panels with leaders from industry, government, and community organizations will follow and we will finish with a Clean Energy Fair (again!).
Please mark September 23 on your calendar. Registration information will be sent in late July. We hope to see you there!
Questions: contact University Events and Conference Services, conferences@uconn.edu.
Junbo Zhao: Pioneering Reliable Energy Through Scholarship, Collaboration, and Mentorship
Nanoparticle-Stabilized Emulsions and Foams
PUBLICATION
Shing-Yun Chang, Sahil R. Vora, Charles D. Young, Abhishek Shetty & Anson W. K. Ma. Viscoelasticity of a carbon nanotube-laden air–water interface. Eur. Phys. J. E 47, 18 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/s10189-024-00411-0
Emulsions and foams are ubiquitously found in pharmaceutical, agricultural, personal care, and food products. Although it has been known for more than a century that small, nanoscale particles may be added to stabilize these products and increase their shelf-life, accurately capturing the behavior of these particles remains extremely challenging. In this article, UConn researchers critically compare two state-of-the-art experimental methods for studying particles at an interface, laying the foundation for predicting and improving the stability and performance of a wide range of commercial products.
Click here to read the full article.
Predicting Tool Wear in Precision Machining through Unsupervised Machine Learning
PUBLICATION
Debasish Mishra, Utsav Awasthi, Krishna R. Pattipati & George M. Bollas. Tool wear classification in precision machining using distance metrics and unsupervised machine learning. J Intell Manuf (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10845-023-02239-5
In this article, Debasish Mishra, PostDoc (UConn ‘23) and coauthors introduce a novel approach that applies unsupervised Machine Learning to predict tool wear in precision machining accurately. Tested across multiple machines, workpieces, toolings, and cutting settings, the research offers a promising new methodology for improving efficiency and reliability in machining operations by predicting tool replacement decisions.
This research was supported by the Air Force Research Laboratory, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate [FA8650-20-C-5206].
