University of Washington College of Engineering

10/14/2026

In its first five years, the UW-led AI Institute in Dynamic Systems developed new ways to model and control complex, real-world systems. Now, with renewed support from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the institute is building on that work to make engineering design faster and more efficient. ⚙️

The national collaboration, directed by University of Washington Mechanical Engineering faculty, has released several open-source software tools, including HydroGym, a platform engineers can use to model and control fluid flows. With the additional funding, researchers will continue working to accelerate the design-test-manufacture process for potential applications ranging from artificial hearts tailored to individual patients to aircraft designed around customer needs.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/4zqtJGn

The UW-led, NSF-funded AI Institute in Dynamic Systems discovers new ways to model and simulate complex, real-world problems.

10/13/2026

We’re excited to announce that Winbond Electronics Corporation's U.S. subsidiary, Winbond Electronics Corporation America, will donate $12 million to UW Engineering to support research, education and innovation for students, faculty and staff. 🤝

The Winbond Endowed Fund for Excellence will provide the College with flexible, long-term resources to make strategic investments in exceptional people, research infrastructure, promising ideas and emerging opportunities, while responding to evolving needs in engineering, technology and research.

“This investment strengthens our ability to attract talent, foster innovation and deepen collaborations across the Pacific Rim, creating new opportunities for students and researchers while advancing the technologies that will shape the future,” says Nancy Albritton, the Frank and Julie Jungers Endowed Dean of the College of Engineering.

Learn more about the Fund:

The University of Washington today announced a multimillion-dollar gift to establish the Winbond Endowed Fund for Excellence in the College of Engineering, supp

10/12/2026

Microchips power almost every modern electronic device, but they are remarkably complex to design and build. UW Electrical & Computer Engineering is helping train the next generation of integrated circuit designers. 🔬

Traditionally reserved for graduate students, new capstone courses give undergrads the opportunity to learn how to design and build microchips for specific applications. Over the span of about a year, students develop their designs, send them to an industrial foundry for fabrication and then test the finished chips to see how they perform in real-world settings.

“Nationwide, we’re just not graduating enough students that have skills to do integrated circuit design. That’s the critical need our courses are helping to address,” says UW ECE professor Chris Rudell.

Learn more about the program: https://bit.ly/47RguTm

Article by Wayne Gillam, Photos by Ryan Hoover / UW ECE News

10/07/2026

The UW-led optoelectronic center just received a second round of funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF)! 🎉

The center brings researchers from 14 universities across the U.S. together to develop new materials that could transform information technology with light. The research has a range of potential applications, from enabling photorealistic virtual reality displays for telehealth to optical quantum communication links that help keep data secure.

The interdisciplinary team includes researchers spanning engineering, chemistry, physics and materials science, collaborating across fields to advance optoelectronics and semiconductor technology.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/4zjE0nT

A University of Washington-led center for optoelectronics — technologies that combine light and electronics — brings researchers from 14 universities across the

10/06/2026

Students aren’t the only new faces on campus. This year, we welcome 12 new faculty to the UW College of Engineering. �

Say hello in the comments and get to know them at the link below.

https://bit.ly/4hGGaqw

10/05/2026

The inaugural Engineering Program Enhancement Fee awards have been announced. 🎉

From 97 proposals, 32 projects received a combined $1.8 million to create new opportunities for hands-on learning, innovation and student success for undergraduate students across UW Engineering. 🛠️

A few examples of funded projects:

• Expanded access to waterjet manufacturing technology, helping students prototype and build projects more quickly.
• A new Avionics Lab, giving students hands-on experience with electronics design, fabrication and testing using industry-relevant tools.
• Additional investments in fabrication spaces, computing resources, student support programs and exploration opportunities across the College.

From advanced manufacturing and electronics to computing and student support, these 32 projects will expand the resources and experiences for UW Engineering students.

See all funded projects and learn more about their impact: https://bit.ly/4dPdhXW

Recommended by a committee of faculty leaders and undergraduate students selected by the Engineering Student Council, these awards reflect a shared commitment to expanding hands-on learning, strengthening student success and preparing graduates for an evolving engineering profession.

10/02/2026

The University of Washington and Microsoft just opened the University’s first-ever, full-time location on Microsoft’s campus in Redmond, WA. 🤝

Dedicated to preparing students and professionals to lead responsibly in an era of disruptive technological change, the UW’s location in Redmond will serve as the new permanent home for the UW’s Global Innovation Exchange (GIX), a globally recognized engineering and business institute for emerging and established technology leaders.

“As we face the complex future of emerging and rapidly evolving technologies, our state, region and world will benefit from the training taking place here at the UW in the heart of the Microsoft campus,” says UW President Robert Jones.

Learn more about the partnership:

The University of Washington and Microsoft today expanded their decades-long partnership with the opening of the university’s first-ever, full-time location on

10/01/2026

Eleven UW Engineering bachelor’s degree programs have been accredited or reaccredited by ABET! 📚

ABET is the global accreditor of college and university programs in applied and natural science, computing, engineering and engineering technology. ABET accreditation assures that programs meet standards to produce graduates ready to enter critical technical fields that are leading the way in innovation and emerging technologies and anticipating the welfare and safety needs of the public.

“This achievement reflects the strength of the College’s educational programs and the collective commitment of our faculty, staff, and students to engineering excellence,” says UW Engineering Dean Nancy Allbritton.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/4zcgtFq

Eleven College of Engineering bachelor’s degree programs have been accredited or reaccredited by ABET, the global accreditor of college and university programs in applied and natural science, computing, engineering and engineering technology.

09/30/2026

To understand what’s happening inside a cell, researchers first need to clearly see the structures they want to study. NovoTags were created to make that process simpler. 🔬

Developed by a team including UW Chemical Engineering Ph.D. student Long Tran, NovoTags are designed proteins that can be attached to specific parts of a cell and paired with bright, photostable dyes. By combining precise targeting with dyes that hold up better under advanced microscopy, researchers can visualize multiple cell structures at once.

"We want the entire academic community to be able to use these tools freely and easily," Tran says. "Our philosophy is simple: keep the science open and accessible to everyone."

Learn more:

NovoTags are designed proteins that can illuminate specific areas of cells so they can be studied under a microscope. The research was published in Science.

09/25/2026

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) supports outstanding graduate students across STEM, but what does the application process actually involve? 📝

With 2026 engineering applications due October 16-22, we sat down with University of Washington Mechanical Engineering graduate students Ally Clarke and Alex Eagan, both GRFP recipients, to demystify the process and share advice for applicants.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/4z2SR6a

Graduate students share their path to receiving NSF support for their research.