OUR BEGINNING
The Grainger Institute for Engineering (GIE) was established as a multidisciplinary research institute in 2015 with a gift from The Grainger Foundation and a bold vision for the future of the College of Engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
We’re honored to have received this investment, enabling us to cultivate a future in which engineering researchers, industry, government labs, policy experts, and communities are creating transformative societal change together. Guided by the college’s Office of Research Innovation, we deliver resources, support creativity, and foster tenacity to advance the College of Engineering’s tradition of excellence. We will continue to strategically invest in our faculty, the passion they have for seeking knowledge, and their capacity to pioneer new technologies that resonate far into the future.
OUR PEOPLE
Oliver Schmitz
Director
In his research, Dr. Schmitz focuses on plasma edge physics for fusion energy applications and developing state of the art numerical methods for 3D plasma edge transport and plasma-wall interaction. As GIE director, he is eager to expand the research enterprise in the College of Engineering by bolstering innovation, industry engagement, and entrepreneurial spirit.
Ting-Ray Chang
Associate Director
Prior to joining the GIE, Ting-Ray spent her time in Tech start-ups (e.g. DefinedAI), SAAS companies (Ubuntu, GfK/NielsenIQ), and large corporations (Stepstone, Dyson) leading UX and market research functions. Additionally, she also worked with European research organizations such as VTT, Philips Research, focusing on user-driven innovation in large scale European projects. Finally, TR consults on market discovery in BRIC countries. Ting-Ray is passionate about the charity she built during COVID “Surplus4Dorset”, which brings surplus to those in need.
Peggy Sullivan
Project Manager
Peggy joined the Grainger Institute for Engineering in 2021 with experience working in higher education, customer service, supervision, and management. She earned her MBA in Project Management in 2018 and enjoys supporting researchers, faculty, and staff to move their ideas forward throughout all stages of innovation.
Maddie Lux
Administrative Manager
Maddie is a proud fourth generation Badger and earned her bachelor’s degree from UW-Madison in 2009. After working in sales, customer service, supply chain, and office management, Maddie joined the Office of Research Innovation in 2024. She is passionate about process improvement, strategic problem solving, and building collaborative consensus across teams and departments to deliver support solutions for the innovative work of the Grainger Institute for Engineering (GIE), the Office of Corporate Relations (OCR) and the Technology Entrepreneurship Office (TEO).
Jamie Valentine
Project Manager, Clean Energy Community Initiative
As a graduate student in the Urban and Regional Planning MS degree program at UW Madison, Jamie intends to improve the world through collaboration across disciplines. Her research interests include planning and design, water and energy, land use, and infrastructure. Professionally, Jamie has worked in academic institutions, architecture, and civil and environmental engineering firms. She has volunteered with Engineers Without Borders, Habitat for Humanity, and the Nature Conservancy.
OUR PARTNERSHIP
Within the College of Engineering’s Office of Research Innovation, the Office of Corporate Relations, the Grainger Institute for Engineering, and UW’s Technology Entrepreneurship Office are working together to cultivate a comprehensive support network for engineering researchers. Uniting across disciplines and competencies, we are pooling our resources to provide guidance, support relationship-building, and champion research along the paths to discovery, entrepreneurship, industrial engagement, and societal impact. By leveraging the unique strengths of each office, we provide both depth and breadth of expertise, helping faculty reach their individual goals.
