The UWM Research Foundation has awarded $250,000 in new Catalyst Grant funding to five research teams in or affiliated with the college that are advancing technologies in artificial intelligence, energy systems, cybersecurity, and advanced materials.
Catalyst Grants provide critical support for UWM research projects with commercial potential.
Supported by the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation and additional partners the Rockwell Automation Charitable Corporation, Richard and Ethel Herzfeld Foundation, GE HealthCare, Clarios, and Invenergy. The program has led to:
- 72 issued patents
- 35 license and option agreements
- More than $49 million in follow-on investment
The newly funded projects are:
An AI-enabled cooling strategy for powerful electronics
Ryoichi Amano, Professor, Mechanical Engineering
As electric vehicle motors and AI data centers become more powerful, they produce more heat than today’s cooling systems can efficiently remove. This new approach combines a specially designed titanium metal heat sink, filled with tiny pores that greatly increase the surface area for transferring heat. Amano and graduate student Tarif Raihan are using AI that monitors temperatures and adjusts coolant flow before overheating occurs. By predicting heat spikes, the system can keep electronics cooler while using 20% less energy to pump coolant.
Grid-edge controller for transmission resiliency
Rob Cuzner, Professor, Electrical Engineering
As renewable energy and distributed energy sources are added to the electric grid, maintaining reliability becomes increasingly complex. Cuzner’s project will develop smart technology, such as an intelligent controller that continuously monitors electrical systems and predicts failures, to help keep electricity flowing during outages. The technology could have applications across utilities, microgrids, data centers, and other critical infrastructure.
Building in security for AI for industrial devices
Zhen Zeng, Assistant Professor, Computer Science
As AI systems are increasingly deployed on industrial sensors, robotics platforms, and medical devices, they face growing cybersecurity threats. Zeng is developing a lightweight, on-device defense that spots and removes malicious data before it can fool AI systems in industrial equipment. The solution is designed to protect real-time AI systems without requiring cloud computing or model retraining.
Hemp-based anodes for lithium-ion batteries
Deyang Qu, Distinguished Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Xiaoxiao Zhang, Scientist, Environmental Engineering
What could replace the expensive graphite in Li-ion rechargeable batteries? Qu and Zhang are developing a process to convert industrial hemp into high-performance carbon materials for lithium-ion battery anodes. By creating a sustainable, domestically sourced alternative to graphite, the project could strengthen U.S. battery manufacturing while creating new value for agricultural producers.
Nanometer-precision focus control for optical microscopy
Valerica Raicu, Professor, Physics, (affiliated, Electrical Engineering)
with Ionel Popa, Professor, Physics
Researchers studying living cells often face challenges caused by microscopic shifts in focus. Raicu and Popa are advancing a technology that provides real-time, focal-plane control with nanometer precision. The system has potential applications in biological research, drug discovery, and advanced microscopy facilities.