We use our resources to invest in research initiatives by College of Engineering faculty who seek to catapult their research in new directions. Seed funding grants and faculty scholar awards provide capacity-building support, encouragement, and connectivity with others. Through research projects, information-sharing activities, and other efforts, we seed a vibrant community of collaborators.
SEED FUND GRANTS
We seek to invest in pre-competitive research projects by UW-Madison College of Engineering faculty who aim to address new and exciting research challenges. Supported projects have the potential to lay the groundwork for larger scale transformative research in one or more of our critical impact areas. Grants have been awarded for new studies and experiments, the procurement of collaborative equipment, and the creation of seminars and workshops designed for sharing knowledge and ideas.
FEATURED GRANTEE
VICTOR BRAR
Assistant Professor, Physics (Materials Science and Engineering affiliate)
“Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) is used in the semiconductor industry to create increasingly smaller transistors and memory devices. My group focuses on developing new types of optoelectronic devices for future quantum computers, and we are using ALD to push the limits in both of those areas.
I am excited about using the ALD equipment that GIE helped us acquire. This equipment can enable us to create next generation optical devices that could drastically reduce the cost of chemical sensors, which can be used for air or soil analysis. This work has been the foundation of several strong industry partnerships. ALD can dramatically broaden the materials available for quantum computing devices, and we have proposed a number of studies using ALD that have been included in proposal submissions to DOE, ONR, and NSF.”
FACULTY SCHOLAR AWARDS
We provide Faculty Scholar Awards, or Assistant Professorships, to help faculty explore new research areas, write proposals, collaborate with colleagues across UW-Madison, and pursue high-caliber students.
FEATURED AWARDEE
SANGKEE MIN
Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering
“The GIE Faculty Scholar Award has helped me develop my research programs, which focus on manufacturing for design, sustainable smart manufacturing, and industrial internet of things. Thanks to the award, I have been able to meet program directors, collaborators, and fund research projects that were not previously possible. My NSF CAREER award would not have been possible without the Faculty Scholar Award and the support of the GIE proposal team.”