Deyang Qu and student work together in lab

Research

Driving Discoveries Through Collaboration

UWM is one of the top 187 research universities in the U.S., named R1 by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. We’re the only one in southeastern Wisconsin and one of only two in the state of Wisconsin.

Our work in clean energy technologies inspired a visit by the U.S. Vice President. Our rich and productive partnerships with industry and government ensure a meaningful path for discoveries through innovation and tech transfer. At UWM, you’ll find a kindred spirit in the search for knowledge and quest to make our world better, whether you’re a future graduate student, an academic colleague or business partner.

UWM is a partner in$41MNorthwestern Mutual Data Science Institute

Strength Areas & Research Labs

Our researchers are well-positioned to solve complex problems in areas of need.

Advanced Manufacturing

Milwaukee has long been a hub for advanced manufacturing. Whether leading smart and connected systems, developing self-healing materials or recommending energy-saving efficiencies for manufacturing partners, UWM’s cross-discipline experts are known for leadership in advanced manufacturing, including:

Biomedical & Health

UWM’s proximity to Froedert & Medical College of Wisconsin regional health network, the Clement J. Zablocki Veterans Affairs Medical Center, GE Healthcare and other industry leaders provide collaborative research partnerships around innovations including robotic therapy or smart AI-driven wound care, leading to better patient outcomes. A few examples:

Energy & Sustainability

UWM researchers benefit from their location in the heart of the region’s robust cluster of power and control companies, which is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the state. Wisconsin has more than 900 companies in this cluster with $38 billion in sales and the college’s researchers are key collaborators with federal and industry agencies, driving change around clean energy technologies, including:

Infrastructure & Transportation

Researchers from the college are known globally for their infrastructure expertise, whether improving the bridges and roadways with transformative materials and sensors or reducing accidents and fatalities with better traffic flow. It’s not surprising that Wisconsin and other state department of transportation leaders have made UWM their choice for their education.

Water & the Environment

The College of Engineering & Applied Science provides a foundation for Milwaukee’s world-recognition as a leader in freshwater research, in partnership with UWM’s School of Freshwater Sciences, maximizing the benefit of proximity to Milwaukee’s rivers and the Great Lakes.

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Government & Industry Partners

Research Partnerships

Testing Facilities for Industry

Connect With Us

Office of Research Support

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Panel members at the MERCLeading industry and government research collaborations.
Faculty Awarded7NSF CAREER Designation

Research News

  • Undergraduate places at national metalcasting research competition
    Congratulations to Flavio Toma, an undergraduate mechanical engineering student and research assistant at the UWM Foundry Lab for winning second place and a prize of $750 at a national competition showcasing original metalcasting research. The International Journal of Metalcasting’s Foundry Education Foundation Student Research Competition is judged by a panel of industry experts from the …
  • CEAS poster competition and 3MT winners light up the Union
    Hats off to the nearly 100 students who put their research and experiential learning discoveries on display at the college's Student Research Poster Competition & Experiential Learning Expo on April 25. Of the 96 poster entries, 65 were from graduate students, 20 were undergraduates, and 11 competed in the experiential category, including posters on internships, …
  • Mechanical engineering doctoral student conquered 3MT 2026
    Abdallah Benelmadjat, PhD student in mechanical engineering, took the top prize in the “Three-Minute Thesis (3MT)” by explaining his research to a general audience in just three minutes and using only one static PowerPoint tile. 3MT, founded by the University of Queensland, is a "competition within a competition" at UWM, exclusively for PhD students who …
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Dean Peters

Brett Peters, Dean

Dean Peters leads the College of Engineering & Applied Science in fulfilling the mission of educating students to become creative problem-solvers, conducting leading-edge research with global impacts, and acting as a catalyst for improved economic development and quality of life in Wisconsin. Before he became dean in September 2012, he was a professor of industrial and systems engineering at Texas A&M University, where he served as department head from 2002 through 2011. 

petersba@uwm.edu

Andrew Graettinger

Andrew Graettinger, Associate Dean for Research

As associate dean for research, Dr. Graettinger continues to build on UWM’s R1 status and the college’s work to advance the frontier of technology, enhance the economic growth and vitality of the region and provide world-class research opportunities and experience for our students. Before beginning his role at UWM, Dr. Graettinger served as professor and director of graduate programs at the University of Alabama’s Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering.

andrewjg@uwm.edu