Qu discovers a way to turn used EV batteries into fertilizer

Two men working at a lab bench. The one of the left is wearing a dark shirt and the one on the right is wearing a white lab coat.

As electric vehicle (EV) batteries age out – typically after about 10 years – the world is bracing for a wave of expired lithium-ion batteries with no affordable way to recycle them. The problem is especially pressing with lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, the kind most commonly used in EVs, E-delivery vans and E-buses.

Traditional disposal of these batteries requires special handling which is costly. So is recovering material from LFP batteries which offer little value beyond lithium.

Professor Deyang Qu, mechanical engineering, has developed a strategy to transform a looming EV waste crisis into an environmental and economic opportunity: Turn retired LFP batteries into something the U.S. desperately needs – domestically produced fertilizer that removes reliance on foreign imports.

Using a well-established ion-exchange process, Qu and his team were the first to recover lithium from the LFP materials by replacing it with potassium. The remaining elements include phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen, which are key ingredients in fertilizer.

“Right now, it costs more to recycle the batteries than the value of what we recover,” Qu said. “But if we can turn those elements into fertilizer, we not only reduce waste but also support agriculture in Wisconsin and beyond.”

The proof of concept has been demonstrated with funding from a UWM internal Discovery and Innovation Grant and research partner, the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service.

Why fertilizer?

“There are only two options to deal with this kind of waste,” said Qu, a global leader in energy storage research. “Either the manufacturers or the government will have to pay to dispose of the waste. That’s what inspired us to look for an economically sustainable way.”

Fertilizers are a high-value product essential for increasing crop yields and maintaining food security.

Most of the mineral deposits needed to make fertilizers currently are imported, he said. Recycling these batteries would create a ready domestic supply of those ingredients. And the fertilizer could be produced with less energy because the raw materials don’t have to be mined or transported.

Taking the next step

The next steps are to manufacture the fertilizer at a larger scale in order to conduct comparative field tests against conventional fertilizers.

“Once we obtain support for the recycling-separation portion of the project,” Qu said, “We will continue collaborating with the USDA to produce enough material for a one-acre tomato crop trial. Those results will help us market this idea to major fertilizer companies.”

Wisconsin is well-positioned to lead this innovative, self-sustaining battery recycling effort, leveraging its strong manufacturing and agricultural base. The project promises to create high-tech jobs and provide workforce training in emerging green technologies.

BioRobotics Lab takes its rehab robots on the road

a woman and a man, each in a wheelchair talking to each other

Members of BioRobotics Lab, led by Professor Habib Rahman, mechanical & biomedical engineering, demonstrated robotic assistive technologies they have developed at the annual Abilities Expo Chicago in June. The event showcases technologies and services for people with disabilities.

The students demonstrated two projects from the lab: a wheelchair-mounted assistive robot and a desktop therapy robot device. They also hosted a table promoting robotics learning opportunities at UWM.

This is the second year members of the lab have participated in the expo. Part of the booth is funded by Rahman’s research grant from ACL’s National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research.

The following CEAS students took part:

  • Md Samiul Haque Sunny
  • Nayan Banik
  • Md Mahbubur Rahman
  • Md Tanzil Shahria
  • Motakabbir Hossain
  • Mahfuzur Rahman Khan
  • Md Enamul Haque
  • Gabriela Albor
  • Asif Al Zubayer Swapnil
  • Mitchell Fox (undergrad)
  • David Loeza (undergrad)

If you’d like more information about this lab, email Professor Rahman at rahmanmh@uwm.edu.

Slavens provided keynote at donor luncheon in June

Two women talking to each other

Brooke Slavens, professor, mechanical and biomedical engineering, spoke about her research at the June 12 Chapman Society Luncheon, which drew a crowd of donors and deans, including Dean Brett Peters. Chancellor Mark Mone provided introductions.

In her keynote, Slavens described her nationally recognized research into helping pediatric manual wheelchair users live without shoulder pain. In January, Slavens was honored with the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, the U.S. government’s highest award for young scientists and engineers.

The Chapman Society is a group of donors who have included the UWM Foundation in their estate plans. It is named for Alice G. Chapman (1853-1935) who attended Milwaukee Female College, served on Milwaukee-Downer College’s Board of Trustees, and was a generous supporter.

Microsoft hosts the grand opening of its AI Co-Innovation Lab on UWM campus

group cutting ribbon

The Milwaukee community celebrated the grand opening of the Microsoft AI Co-Innovation Lab, housed within the UWM Connected Systems Institute, on June 25. The lab is Microsoft’s first AI Co-Innovation Lab with a dedicated focus on helping manufacturing advance their competitive edge through AI. It’s also the first such lab based at a university.

The Connected Systems Institute aims to expand Wisconsin’s talent pipeline for Industry 4.0 manufacturing, which allows small and medium manufacturers to integrate new technologies, such as the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence and robotics into their production processes. It promotes learning experiences for engineering and computer science students, including a Connected Systems Engineering master’s degree, offered through the College of Engineering & Applied Science.

The lab’s opening event marks one year since Microsoft’s investment to build AI infrastructure in Wisconsin. That effort is unfolding through a partnership among Microsoft Corp., the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, TitletownTech and UWM.

See the UWM REPORT story and all the photos from the celebration here. See Wisconsin Public Radio report. See TMJ4 News report. See Fox6 News report.

Pillai uses advanced engineering math to help INL simulate next-gen nuclear reactors 

man looking at the camera

Krishna Pillai, professor of mechanical engineering, has received funding from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory (INL) to advance the modeling of oxidation and degradation in porous graphite—an essential material used in certain nuclear reactor components.

As the demand for energy-intensive data centers grows, especially with the rise of artificial intelligence companies, there is renewed interest in nuclear power as a reliable, large-scale energy source.

INL is at the forefront of developing these advanced reactors which are being designed smaller than their predecessors. The compact size of these next-gen reactors (called high temperature gas-cooled reactors) aims to improve safety, cooling efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.

Core components of the reactors are made of graphite which sustains atomic fission in a controlled manner, reflects heat, and protects the reactor’s internal structure.

However, graphite is susceptible to oxidation which reduces its benefits.

So, being able to predict the potential for oxidation is also what INL researchers are focused on. 

Pillai’s contribution

Before accurate simulations can be created, INL has enlisted Pillai to complete the first step. His role is to develop mathematical models that will help scientists run simulations to estimate how fast the graphite will wear out, how much weaker it gets, and how long it will last in a reactor.

By applying advanced engineering mathematics – specifically, the volume averaging method – Pillai will be able to predict what happens to the tiny pores inside the graphite when it’s exposed to the heat and conditions inside a reactor. These small-scale changes are hard to see directly, so he’s using advanced math to describe the overall behavior of the material with a few equations instead of trying to track every tiny detail.

“My work with INL scientists will result in accurate mathematical models that can be used for predictive simulations,” he said, “helping them better understand and have advance warning of graphite degradation in high-temperature reactors.” 

Pillai’s equations also will help INL scientists as they develop a graphite degradation modeling tool. The tool will help engineers assess the reliability of graphite components using industry-standard design codes.

These insights will enable researchers and engineers to optimize reactor designs, improve maintenance, and ensure that nuclear energy can offer a safe option for powering the data-driven future. 

New Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree offers unique interdisciplinary pathway to increase engineering workforce

a blonde female working on a piece of equipment - closeup of her face.

The College of Engineering & Applied Science at UWM has launched a new program that will offer students a more interdisciplinary path to an engineering bachelor’s degree. Now enrolling for Fall 2025, the program is the first-of-its-kind in Wisconsin.

Students can choose specialized tracks based on their educational interests and career goals, including embedded systems, engineering management, manufacturing, software engineering, construction engineering, power engineering, and engineering operations and systems.

“The purpose of the program is not only to prepare students for future engineering jobs but to also provide opportunities for newer groups of students who will take advantage of flexible and customizable pathways to earning an engineering degree,” said Professor Prasenjit Guptasarma, associate dean for academic affairs. “I thank Todd Johnson and Professor Jaejin Jang who have worked with us to help get this program off the ground.”

The new Bachelor of Science in Engineering program is ideal for transfer students, especially for students with Associate of Applied Science degrees, returning college students, and individuals already working in a technical field who need a bachelor’s degree in engineering to enhance their skills and further their career.

The college is also preparing for a program that would offer students in partner technical colleges in Wisconsin the opportunity to concurrently enroll in courses at both institutions. Additionally, the program is preparing multiple online courses to be available by 2026.

The interdisciplinary nature of the program helps maximize the transfer of students’ existing credits which can apply to this engineering degree, assuring the most efficient time-to-completion.

Graduates will have diverse career opportunities in industries where interdisciplinary skills are highly valued. Occupational employment projections indicate continued demand for engineers. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the growth rate for engineers as being much faster than the average growth rate for all occupations. More information can be found here.

UWM offers new engineering master’s degree in artificial intelligence and machine learning

a graphic showing a robot finger and a human finger touching

UWM’s College of Engineering & Applied Science is currently enrolling for a Master of Science in Engineering degree in artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) for Fall 2025.

The new flexible master’s degree concentration, which is unique in Wisconsin, is designed to meet the needs of a wide variety of students and employers, offering professional advancement across many industries as they continue to adopt and apply AI techniques to engineering.

Unlike many other programs which offer AI/ML instruction in the context of computer science, this new program is unique in that it is focused on both engineering and computer science.

“AI and ML are rapidly evolving fields that are becoming an integral part of every aspect of science and engineering,” said Professor Prasenjit Guptasarma, associate dean for academic affairs. “Fluency with the fundamental methods and practices of AI and ML will soon become a minimum requirement for anyone entering the advanced workforce.”

The degree is open to students with a broad range of undergraduate degrees beyond engineering and computer science, including the natural sciences (physics, chemistry, bioscience, geosciences, or health sciences), information technology, mathematics, data science, and some social sciences (e.g., psychology, or geography). Applicants with other undergraduate degrees will also be considered with a review of their academic record and professional experience.

Generous financial support is available for students enrolling in this program through Fall 2026:

  • GRE waived
  • $75 application fee waived
  • $2,000 guaranteed scholarship to all students who enroll in the program full-time with 12 or more credits, in-person or online (available starting in Spring 2026), earned from the College of Engineering & Applied Science each year.
  • Up to $4,000 in additional merit-based scholarships per two-year master’s degree, to students enrolled in the program with 16 or more credits, in-person or online (available starting in Spring 2026), from the College of Engineering & Applied Science each year.

The flexible program enables students to customize their degree to fit their background and interests, with electives that include AI techniques, image processing, natural language processing, robotics, cyber security, data analytics, connected systems, and other multidisciplinary master’s level courses. Several courses are being converted to online course offerings. More information can be found here.

Graduate student awarded prestigious AIME scholarship

Swaroop Kumar Behera, a PhD dissertator in the Department of Materials Science & Engineering, has been selected as one of only two recipients nationwide of the highly competitive AIME Henry DeWitt Smith Scholarship, awarded by The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (TMS) and the TMS Foundation.

The award recognizes Behera’s academic excellence and potential for future contributions to the field of materials science.

The $2,000 scholarship honors Henry DeWitt Smith, an influential figure in the mining and metallurgical industries, and is given to students who demonstrate exceptional promise in metallurgy or materials engineering.

Behera’s research focuses on high temperature aluminum alloys, metal matrix composites and sustainable manufacturing, and he plans to pursue a career that bridges academic research with industrial innovation.

Since 2022 he has served as the UWM Foundry lab manager under the supervision of Professor Pradeep Rohatgi. His dedication to the field includes special recognition from the Foundry Educational Foundation (FEF), for providing outreach activities to recruit students to and inform the public about the metalcasting industry. He has introduced hundreds of students to the fundamentals of foundry engineering and materials science through engaging, hands-on tabletop demonstrations.

Behera also received complimentary registration for the TMS 2026 Annual Meeting & Exhibition in San Diego, California, and a ticket to the TMS-AIME Awards Ceremony Reception, for the formal presentation on Wednesday, March 18, 2026.

Flooding damages west end of EMS building; cleanup underway

an empty room with drywall and carpet stripped

A significant water leak caused extensive damage to the west end of the EMS building during the night of June 6 or early morning of June 7.

The flooding resulted from a rusted pipe in an air handler unit on the third-floor roof that failed due to age. Because the incident occurred when the building was unoccupied, water leaked undetected for several hours.

The most severe damage occurred on the second floor, though areas from the basement through the third floor were also affected. Saturated ceiling tiles, drywall and carpeting are currently being replaced. Computers and other equipment will be assessed individually to determine the extent of impact.

Cleanup and restoration are expected to continue throughout the summer, according to Avie Judes, lab manager for the college. Restoration work is being handled by contractor Paul Davis.

Faculty and staff can report water-damaged equipment by adding it to the  Impacted Property Log_EMS West 5-31-25.xlsx which will be reviewed by Risk Management. Computers in the W220 lab will be taken for drying and testing. Documents that are wet and need to be salvaged may possibly be freeze dried. Add them to the log.  

Despite the damage, Judes noted that this is also a good opportunity to sort through items and surplus anything still usable. Faculty and staff are encouraged to use the online form available on the Office of Sustainability web page.

Dean honored with Distinguished Alumni Award from University of Arkansas

Dean Brett Peters was recently recognized as a distinguished alumnus by the University of Arkansas College of Engineering.

Peters, who earned his Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Arkansas in 1987, was one of nine graduates honored with a Distinguished Alumni Award. The award celebrates individuals who have achieved distinction in their field and demonstrated outstanding leadership and service to the college, their organizations, and their communities.

He became dean of the UWM College of Engineering & Applied Science in 2012 from Texas A&M where he was a professor of industrial and systems engineering from 1992 until 2011. The recognition reflects Peters’ decades-long impact as an academic leader and his commitment to advancing engineering education and innovation.