Penn Engineering

Introducing Penn Engineering's Class of 2026 doctoral graduates. Representing six engineering departments, these new Ph.D. holders are prepared to make an impact across industries and the world. Congratulations to all the graduates! #PennEngineeringProud #PennGrad

Penn Engineering recently hosted “Beyond the Benchtop,” a workshop focused on reimagining graduate education in energy and sustainability. The workshop brought together attendees from a broad range of interdisciplinary backgrounds and roles for discussions and active learning sessions on community engagement, real-world impact, and the evolving role of graduate education in addressing energy and climate challenges. Lorena Grundy, @CBE_Penn professor and event organizer, says, "I’m confident that the collaborations we’re building here will ripple into incredible opportunities for our future students, and I’m excited that Penn Engineering is a national leader in innovative climate education."

Read more: scientificamerican.com/article/mollus…

The future of stronger, more sustainable materials may lie inside the mollusk shell. @ShuYangPenn, Joseph Bordogna Professor in @MSEatPenn, is taking inspiration from nacre, the iridescent lining inside mollusk shells, to rethink how ceramics are made. Unlike traditional ceramics, which are strong but brittle and energy-intensive to manufacture, nacre’s layered structure combines calcium carbonate with flexible organic proteins, creating a material that is more durable. Taking inspiration from this process, Yang’s lab grows ceramics on organic scaffolds, mimicking the way minerals bind to structures during bone formation in the human body.

Hosted by the Studios @ Venture Lab, the Spring Makers Market showcased student creations, offering trendy takes on everyday products. Featuring products created by students using digital fabrication and small-batch production, this year's collection included laser-cut vegan leather belts, upcycled fabric handbags, the ultimate "girl dinner" tray, sea-creature earrings, and more. #digitalfabrication #makersgonnamake #makerspace

Penn FoQus 2026: Penn Forum on Quantum Systems brought together students, postdocs, faculty and industry professionals from across the quantum community for a day of research, discussion and collaboration. Thank you to all who attended.

Meet the winners of Penn Engineering’s 2026 Senior Design Competition. From a pacemaker powered by the heart's own motion to a device that aids those with paralysis to better control technology, these student teams are developing solutions with real-world impact.

Read the full story today: penntoday.upenn.edu/news/using-ai-…

Penn Engineering’s @RajeevAlur and collaborators at @PennMedicine developed CAMEL, an AI model that can forecast dangerous cardiac rhythms before cardiac arrest occurs. By analyzing continuous ECG data, the system identifies subtle warning signs 10 to 15 minutes in advance, helping move cardiac care toward earlier prediction and intervention. @PennEngAI / @CIS_Penn

AI safety for robots requires more than chatbot guardrails. In @SciRobotics, researchers from @PennEngineers, @CarnegieMellon and @UniofOxford outline new frameworks for safe, real-world AI systems. bit.ly/4w4JORu #AIMonthatPenn #ResponsibleAI

In less than three weeks, the Penn Engineering Class of 2026 will be walking the stage at Commencement. Save the dates below if you haven't already: 🎓 Doctoral Ceremony - Thursday, May 14, 2026 🎓 Master’s Ceremony - Friday, May 15, 2026 🎓 Undergraduate Ceremony - Saturday, May 16, 2026 🎓 University Ceremony - Monday, May 18, 2026 Following the University Ceremony, Penn Engineering will host an Open House from 12:15-2:15 p.m. throughout the first floors of the main Engineering complex for graduates and their families to make commemorative t-shirts, enjoy light refreshments and connect with classmates and faculty.

@tianfr1999, a @PennEngineers Ph.D. student in @cis_penn, has been named a 2026 @Apple Scholar in AI/ML. Tian, mentored by @vidal_rene, Rachleff University Professor in @ESEatPenn and Radiology, was selected from a highly competitive pool of nominees. bit.ly/3QEs9zE

@LingjieLiu1 (@cis_penn, @PennEngineers) develops AI methods at the intersection of graphics, vision and 3D computing. Her work combines AI and physics to model how the world looks and behaves. bit.ly/4to2x8Q #AIMonthatPenn #ComputerVision

Penn Engineering hosted a fireside chat with Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna. In conversation with Dean Vijay Kumar, Vigna reflected on his path from physicist to CEO and discussed AI, innovation and the future of engineering. Thank you to those who attended. #AIMonthAtPenn #FutureOfEngineering

This year’s George H. Heilmeier Faculty Award Lecture featured Aaron Roth. His talk, “Calibration in the Age of AI,” explored how to interpret AI predictions, make informed decisions and navigate a future where AI is shaping research itself. #AIMonthAtPenn / @PennEngAI / @CIS_Penn

Earlier this month, Penn Engineering junior Emily Valerio traveled to Washington for the Catalyzing Advocacy in Science and Engineering (CASE) Workshop, alongside students from @pennsas. Hosted by the @aaas, the program brings students together to understand the federal policymaking process and the role of science in shaping policy. Reflecting on the experience, Valerio says, “It was super empowering to hear from government officials, lobbying organizations, and university representatives on how the scientific community can make sure our work is supported by the federal government.”

Listen to the full episode today. youtu.be/k5T6xwg2X-Y?si…

In episode 11 of "Innovation & Impact," Dean Vijay Kumar speaks with Jason Cong of @UCLAengineering about specialized hardware and the role of customizable computing in AI. Cong notes that those in the AGI sector “care about capabilities, not so much efficiency, where there is actually much to be gained.” The conversation also explores how these innovations are influencing the speed, cost and accessibility of everyday technologies.

Innovation and policy leaders from the offices of @GovernorShapiro and @PADCEDnews visited Penn Engineering, touring @GRASPLab and the newly opened Artificial Intelligence-Driven RNA BioFoundry (@NSF AIRFoundry). Discussions with Penn Engineering leadership focused on how robotics and AI research can drive real-world impact across the Commonwealth.