University of Utah, John and Marcia Price College of Engineering

10/02/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Kevin Whitty on being named Executive Associate Vice President for Research Operations and Interim Chief Innovation Officer at the University of Utah.

Dr. Whitty has been a longtime leader in the department of Chemical Engineering and served as the former Associate Dean for Research in the Price College of Engineering.

Read the full announcement at the link below:
https://www.price.utah.edu/2026/09/25/university-of-utah-appoints-kevin-whitty-phd-executive-associate-vice-president-for-research-operations-and-interim-chief-innovation-officer

09/30/2026

Wildfire smoke isn't just an air quality issue—when it rains, smoke plumes deliver massive bursts of essential nutrients like nitrogen & phosphorus back to soil.

A new study co-led by Department of Chemical Engineering Professor Heather Holmes & Alexandra Ponette-González of the Natural History Museum of Utah breaks down this complex atmospheric cycle.

Read more at the link below:

Wildfire smoke is often discussed as an airborne pollutant and a risk to human health. But when smoke and rain […]

09/29/2026

"The ability to recognize how much pressure I’m putting on my wife’s hand and to feel hers back in mine is a wild idea to internalize."

Seventeen years after an accident resulted in the loss of his left arm, Alexander "Avi" Davidson is making history as the first person to bring home the University of Utah’s thought-controlled bionic arm.

Developed by Dr. Jacob George and the Utah NeuroRobotics Lab team alongside startup BIOS, this groundbreaking neuroprosthetic connects directly to nerves—giving users fine control and restoring a realistic sense of touch. Now, instead of just testing in a lab, Avi is using the arm at home to make sandwiches, write, play cards, and hold hands.

Read the full story behind this life-changing milestone:

Participant Tests Direct Nerve Interface of Thought-Controlled “LUKE Arm” at Home At age 16, Alexander “Avi” Davidson fell 35 feet […]

09/24/2026

Fifty years ago, a simple household object changed the trajectory of computer graphics forever.

At SIGGRAPH 2026, graphics pioneers Martin Newell and Jim Blinn joined Kahlert School of Computing Professor Cem Yuksel for “The Return of the Utah Teapot.” From its origins as a hand-drawn sketch on engineering paper in 1975 to becoming the ultimate test object across films, video games, and rendering research, the Utah Teapot remains a cornerstone of 3D graphics history.

Read the full story on how a tea set from ZCMI became computer science history at the link below:

Fifty years after a small digital teapot made its first appearance at SIGGRAPH, the object returned to the conference stage […]

09/18/2026

Join us for a special announcement of a first-of-its-kind clinical trial that is moving the thought-controlled “LUKE Arm” out of the laboratory and into a participant’s home for the first time!

Livestream begins at 10:30am! Don't miss it!

Join us live as researchers from the University of Utah and Biologi...

09/15/2026

Huge congratulations to Dr. Jacob George, director of the Utah NeuroRobotics Lab, for receiving a prestigious NSF CAREER Award!

Dr. George and his team are pioneering next-generation prosthetics, developing intuitive, AI-driven bionic fingers designed to restore natural dexterity and independence for amputees. This groundbreaking work is moving us closer to seamless human-technology integration.

Read more about this innovative research and what’s next for bionic tech at the link below:
price.utah.edu/2026/09/09/career-award-jacob-george-is-developing-bionic-fingers-for-amputees

09/14/2026

When self-driving vehicles get stuck or face unfamiliar routes, remote human drivers need to step in safely. But standard cellular lag makes remote driving dangerous—until now.

Professor Kobus Van Der Merwe of the Kahlert School of Computing alongside a team of collaborators from around the country are tackling this barrier through the NSF-funded DRIVE-SAFE project.

By using vehicle trajectory data to optimize NextG/5G network handoffs, the team successfully demonstrated ultra-low-latency, real-time remote vehicle operation on Utah's campus.

Read how these closed-loop networks are paving the way for safer autonomous and tele-operated transit at the link below!
https://www.price.utah.edu/2026/09/03/demonstrating-the-future-of-remotely-operated-vehicles

09/08/2026

University Of Utah - Department of Chemical Engineering Associate Professor Chuancheng Duan is leading a $4.76 million DARPA program to revolutionize critical chemical manufacturing.

Through advanced electrochemical technology, this initiative aims to create more efficient, sustainable, and cost-effective methods for producing essential chemicals.

Read more about how Utah engineering is shaping the future of energy and chemical production at the link below!

A University of Utah research team led by Chuancheng Duan, associate professor of chemical engineering in the John and Marcia […]

09/02/2026

Ready to get involved this semester?

Come to Engineering Club Rush and discover the amazing student groups you can be part of!

When: September 2, 10:00 AM–1:00 PM
Where: WEB Catmull Gallery

Why Attend:
Meet awesome people!
Explore clubs that match your interests!
Find ways to build new skills and get involved!
Enjoy snacks while they last!

Whether you’re looking to deepen your engineering experience or just want to make new friends, there’s a club for you.

We hope to see you there!

08/31/2026

Let your education take flight!
The Aerospace Scholars Program is a unique opportunity for engineering students to connect with internship, networking, research, and mentorship opportunities in the aerospace industry.

Program Highlights:
Engage with industry professionals
Be the first to learn about upcoming aerospace industry experiences
Collaborate with a cohort of like-minded individuals

Program Eligibility:
Be an undergraduate student in the Price College of Engineering
Maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA
Open to all engineering majors––with special encouragement for Mechanical, Computing, and Electrical & Computer Engineering majors
Must attend at least one official event (e.g., Zero Gravity Summit or High Tech West - free for students

Apply Now: https://admin.coe.utah.edu/fill-form/aerospace-scholars-application
Deadline: Monday, September 14, 2026