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John Deere will benefit from sustainable plastic research conducted by �� students, faculty

giffeyt — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 13:00:00 +0000

John Deere will benefit from sustainable plastic research conducted by �� students, facultygiffeyt April 9, 2026

Two-year project seeks to identify recycled polymers that can be used in manufacturing process

John Deere machinery has been recognizable for its distinctive green color for more than a century. Student and faculty researchers at �� are working to ensure that John Deere is also known for a different kind of green: sustainability.

Led by Professor Wei Zheng, student research assistants in the B.S. plastics engineering program have been working over the past two academic years to study how John Deere might be able to use recycled plastic polymers to manufacture vehicles.

Zheng is an active member of the Society of Plastics Engineers, and it was through that organization that she formed connections with engineers from John Deere, which is based in Moline, Illinois. The relationship led to a research contract between the Fortune 500 company and ��, which was facilitated by the university ��. Office of Corporate Relations & Economic Engagement.

Beginning in August 2024, students and faculty have tested and molded batches of different types of recycled plastic to see if they meet the manufacturer ��. needs.

“John Deere is asking two key questions,” Zheng said. “Can recycled polymers be used to manufacture these parts? And can those parts meet performance requirements?”

The research is part of the company ��. commitment to incorporating more recyclable and renewable materials into its products so it can be ahead of the curve in its industry, she said.

Student research assistant Ryan Xu measures plastic samples.

Students create, test samples

This semester, two student research assistants have worked on the project. One of them, junior Stephanie Kuhn, explained that the process begins with pellets of different types of recycled plastic polymer that are fed into a massive injection molding machine in the Plastics Engineering Lab inside Jarvis Hall Technology Wing.

Heat and friction melt the pellets, which are forced into a mold where they take the desired shape. Once completed, these pieces are cut precisely into various testing specimens by Instrument Shop Supervisor John Buss, who also assists with machine-related issues.

Next, students subject the specimens to a range of tests, including evaluating their short- and long-term mechanical behavior under stress, as well as their thermal and physical properties to assess overall performance.

Kuhn, who is pursuing a double major in B.S. plastics engineering and B.S. mechanical engineering, said having an opportunity to do this kind of work as an undergraduate is what attracted her to ��.

“I just love being able to use all the machines hands-on. It helps being able to see and use the equipment,” Kuhn said. While already familiar with the injection units and testing equipment from her coursework, taking part in the research helped Kuhn better understand how the equipment operates, reinforcing what she learned.

Likewise, the importance of the research has been highlighted by Kuhn ��. classwork, which has emphasized the need for increasing the use of recyclable plastics. “It has definitely opened my eyes that we need to learn to be more sustainable,” she said. “If John Deere begins to use this, hopefully other manufacturers will, too.”

Sabbatical recap: Wei Zheng, Plastics Engineering, 2024-25

Building biodegradable, sustainable plastics

This semester ��. other research assistant, Ryan Xu, a Menomonie High School senior who is already taking classes at ��, said he appreciates the applied nature of the project, including being able to use advanced equipment and analyze data.

Professor Adam Kramschuster has also helped with the John Deere research project by setting up, optimizing and troubleshooting the injection molding process for manufacturing the samples. This work has involved training the student research assistants and helping with the machine during the molding trials.

“I love working with students. It ��. why I am here, and I enjoy it when they learn and take responsibility as their knowledge base grows,” Kramschuster said.

“Our labs are exceptional,” he continued, “and the opportunity to use them for industry projects is ideal in that the students get even more real-world training during their undergraduate experience.”

Student research assistants Ryan Xu, left, and Stephanie Kuhn work with an injection molding machine in ��'s Plastics Engineering Lab.

Sustainability key to professor ��. research

The kind of research happening in the Plastics Engineering Lab isn’t uncommon at ��. In fact, applied learning and research are among the pillars of the university ��. polytechnic identity, which also include business and industry collaboration and career-focused experience – all three of which are part of the John Deere project.

Zheng noted that two of her prior research assistants leveraged their experience on the project to find jobs in the plastics industry at EVCO and Phillips Medisize. “This project helped them to solidify their injection molding and material testing skills, giving them a clear advantage in the job market,” she said.

The research, she added, will continue through at least this August. “John Deere is quite pleased with the results we have generated so far,” she said. “John Deere has been very supportive throughout the process, including providing Stout the plaque mold and materials, as well as sharing their technical expertise. They even connected us with material suppliers and molders.”

Zheng ��. work on behalf of John Deere complements her ongoing research focus on sustainability. During the 2024-25 academic year, Zheng conducted sabbatical research in advancing sustainability in the field of plastics, focusing on the biodegradation of plastic materials and the recycling of thermosetting materials. Typically, thermoset plastics have undergone a curing process that prevents them from being remelted or reshaped, posing a challenge in the recycling process. However, plastics engineers and chemists researching the reverse crosslinking process are developing ways to break the chemical bonds, allowing thermosetting plastics to be recycled. Part of Zheng ��. research focused on finding ways to reverse the process, increasing the recyclability of this kind of plastic.

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September 16, 2025

Two-year project seeks to identify recycled polymers that can be used in manufacturing process Plastics engineering students pose with injection molding machine

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Corporate Relations & Economic Engagement

��'s Office of Corporate Relations & Economic Engagement is your go-to organization for connecting business and community with our extensive resources.

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Hero Caption: Student research assistants Stephanie Kuhn, left, and Ryan Xu hold samples in front of an injection molding machine in ��'s Plastics Engineering Lab.

Wei Zheng

Dr. Zheng is an Associate Professor and Program Director of the Plastics Engineering Program at University of Wisconsin-Stout. Prior to joining ��, she was a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Polymer Science and Engineering Department at University of Massachusetts-Amherst. She received a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Texas Tech University in 2008. She is the recipient of several state-funded grants including the WiSys Applied Research Grant and the G. A. Taft Professorship of ��.

Her current research focuses on the bio- and/or biodegradable polymers including rheology of polymer melts and glasses, physics of crystallization and glass transition, curing kinetics of reversible thermosets, and structure-property-processing relationship. She has published 32 refereed articles with more than 700 citations. Dr. Zheng has also been active in the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) including serving as the Councilor of the Applied Rheology Division of SPE and the President of Chinese American Society of Plastics Engineers.

Full Name: Wei Zheng

Job Title: Professor

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College: College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Management

Department: Robert F. Cervenka School of Engineering Engineering & Technology Department

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Curriculum Vitae: Curriculum Vitae (134.14 KB)

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Degree: Ph.D. Chemical Engineering

University: Texas Tech University

Degree: B.S. Chemical Engineering

University: East China University of Science and Technology

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Solutions for space debris and cybersecurity threats among �� students’ research topics at state Capitol

giffeyt — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 18:57:03 +0000

Solutions for space debris and cybersecurity threats among �� students’ research topics at state Capitolgiffeyt March 12, 2026

Undergraduates demonstrate applied learning at annual Research in the Rotunda event

Tom Giffey

From the depths of outer space to the cutting edge of cyberspace, �� undergraduates presented wide-ranging, impactful research March 11 at the annual Research in the Rotunda event in the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison.

The event embodies �� . polytechnic approach on a statewide stage, with student and their faculty advisers sharing the tangible implications of their applied research in multiple disciplines, including chemistry, cybersecurity, conservation, packaging and human development.

“It ��. one of the more significant events students can go to where they can experience that they are an expert,” said Professor Tina Lee, who has accompanied applied social science students to Research in the Rotunda for more than a decade. Over the years, Lee has watched as student researchers have developed professional confidence presenting their research under the Capitol dome.

Nine outstanding �� undergraduates were among the roughly 125 students from all 13 Universities of Wisconsin campuses who shared their research at the 22nd annual event, which celebrates the positive economic impact of the state ��. universities. Elected officials, policymakers and business leaders were among the hundreds of visitors who explored the displays, chatting with undergraduates and their faculty advisers. Gov. Tony Evers was in attendance, as was Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman, who visited with �� researchers.

“Undergraduate research transforms learning,” as undergraduates apply innovative thinking, data analysis and problem solving to identify solutions, Rothman said.

“In doing so, our students gain exactly the skills that employers across Wisconsin need,” he said. “In short, these research experiences make our universities an even stronger pipeline of great talent.”

�� chemistry major Reese Hufnagel speaks about her work on space debris at Research in the Rotunda.

Bringing space research down to earth

Among the stratosphere-scraping undergraduate talent was �� junior Reese Hufnagel, a B.S. chemistry major who, alongside faculty adviser Professor Matthew Ray, is trying to solve the problem of reentry debris from spacecraft and satellites.

Ideally, materials such as expendable rocket stages and decommissioned satellites burn up when they fall back to earth. However, as stronger carbon-fiber materials have become more common and the number of rocket launches has increased exponentially thanks to firms like SpaceX, reentry debris has become much more common in recent years, Hufnagel explained. To address this potential danger, Hufnagel and Ray have worked to create a catalytic additive that, when integrated into carbon-fiber materials, can cause them to disintegrate when they reach a specific trigger temperature at reentry.

“I think this research is really important because it could solve one of the major issues that is being faced by the aerospace industry today,” Hufnagel said. Entities such as the European Union and the European Space Agency are at the forefront of this topic, the latter having created a Zero Debris Charter that calls for an end to space debris by 2030. “This research is a direct correlation with some of their goals and could significantly impact how people look at ‘design for demise’ when it comes to aerospace,” Hufnagel added.

To bolster their work, Hufnagel and Ray have conducted more than 50 interviews with people in the space industry, including experts at NASA, SpaceX and Sierra Space, which has a facility in Wisconsin. Among other things, the pair have formed a startup to commercialize their work, and Hufnagel has received a research scholarship from the Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium.

As Wisconsin ��. ��, �� uses the slogan “Do More on Day One,” and Hufnagel jokes she began her research on “Day Negative Two” — the weekend before she even started classes.

“I don’t think that ��. something you could do at another university,” she said. “I immediately got attention from people high up, like faculty, who were able to make those kinds of decisions. I was able to start right away as an 18-year-old, starting some of this research and having access to all of the labs.”

Cybersecurity majors Fletcher Meyer, left, and Chloe Kaneski stand by their display about the use of AI agents in cybersecurity.

Keeping an eye on AI agents

Two other �� undergraduates, senior Chloe Kaneski and junior Fletcher Meyer, have also researched ways to mitigate risky incidents, but in a very different kind of space. The B.S. cybersecurity majors’ work focused on using artificial intelligence agents to respond to cybersecurity threats.

Using a large language model (LLM) — specifically, one developed by Anthropic — the students programmed an AI agent to find and fix vulnerabilities in an IT system. The results were measured in terms of correctness, accuracy, effectiveness and other factors. They found that the agent could correctly identify vulnerabilities 74% of the time, but was less accurate (67%) in understanding the vulnerabilities.

“The result of the research was that there should always be a human element,” Meyer said. The AI agent, he explained, would sometimes harm a network while attempting to secure it — for example, by locking itself out without providing a means back in. “So while it can do things at great speed and great quality, there are things that — when it doesn’t match up — it does a very bad job at, and there need to be humans to validate its answers,” he added.

Kaneski said she expects her experience researching and working with AI will be an asset in the professional world.

“Especially in cybersecurity, AI is becoming a pretty big factor, so having exposure to it is going to be a good thing in the long run,” Kaneski said. “It could be valuable to employers if you can see if the tool is effective or not effective.”

Students from across all 13 Universities of Wisconsin campuses took part in Research in the Rotunda on March 11, 2026.

Research explores multiple disciplines

Participants in Research in the Rotunda are nominated by faculty, staff and a student committee. Here is a complete list of this year ��. �� student researchers, their topics and their mentors:

Helayna Brown, of Menomonie, and Ella Kemp, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, both applied social science: Return on Investment of the Work of County Land and Water Conservation Departments in Wisconsin. Mentors: Professor Tina Lee and Assistant Professor Nicole Hayes.
Cayanna Erickson, of Eau Claire, environmental science: Monitoring the Zebra Mussel Invasion in Lake Menomin. Mentors: Lecturer Julia Chapman and Hayes.
Reese Hufnagel, of Anoka, Minnesota, chemistry: The Sky is Falling: Accelerating Demise During Uncontrolled Reentry of Space Debris. Mentor: Professor Matthew Ray.
Elias Jeska, of Somerset, environmental science: Microcystin Concentrations and Space: A Survey of Spatial and Depth Patterns. Mentor: Hayes.
Louis Malais, of Rhinelander, human development and family studies: The Effects of Traumatic Stress on Interpersonal Relationship Characteristics. Mentor: Associate Professor Kevin Doll.
Fletcher Meyer, of Appleton, and Chloe Kaneski, of Plymouth, Minnesota, both cybersecurity: Autonomous Al Agent for Incident Response. Mentor: Professor Holly Yuan.
Lauren Ras, of St. Michael, Minnesota, packaging: Raspberry Packaging Design: Effects of Air Flow Rate on Raspberry Shelf Life. Mentor: Assistant Professor Mary Paz Alvarez Valverde.

Research in the Rotunda is sponsored by Kwik Trip, Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, BioForward, the Wisconsin Technology Council, the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation and the UW-Milwaukee Research Foundation.

Student & Faculty Research

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John Deere will benefit from sustainable plastic research conducted by �� students, faculty

Two-year project seeks to identify recycled polymers that can be used in manufacturing process

April 9, 2026

Solutions for space debris and cybersecurity threats among �� students’ research topics at state Capitol

Undergrads demonstrate applied learning at Research in the Rotunda

March 12, 2026

�� professor brings aspects of grandfather ��. experience in Battle of the Bulge ‘back to life’

Oss uses AI tools to decipher World War II journal, recreate portraits, landscapes

January 28, 2026

Undergrads demonstrate applied learning at Research in the Rotunda Zebra mussel display at Research in the Rotunda

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Hero Caption: �� environmental science major Cayanna Erickson speaks about her research on the zebra mussel infestation in Lake Menomin at Research in the Rotunda on March 11, 2026.

Office of Research & Sponsored Programs

Investigate. Collaborate. Disseminate.

The mission of the Office of Research & Sponsored Programs (ORSP) at Wisconsin ��. polytechnic university is to create and support a university culture that promotes research and assists the �� community in securing the funds to advance research, scholarship, industry collaboration, and other innovations.

ORSP offers support to faculty, staff, and students in their research endeavors. We guide researchers through the pre-award funding process, offering support in proposal development, budget development, and submission. Read on to learn more about our services.

Campus-Wide Support

Extramural Grant Applications and Administration
Internal Professional Development Grants
Research and Grant-Related Workshops and Training
Compliance
- Institutional Review Board
- Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee
- Responsible Conduct of Research
- Financial Conflict of Interest
Research Day
- Outstanding Faculty and Student Researcher Awards

Browse a full list of services

for �� faculty and staff through the ORSP intranet

Student Support

Student Research and Dissemination Grants
Connections to Academic Journals for Publication
Annual Events
- Research in the Rotunda
- National Conference on Undergraduate Research
- UW Symposium
- Quick Pitch
- SPARK Symposium

Browse a full list of services

for �� students through the ORSP intranet

Research Sponsors & Partners

�� partners with a number of State, Foundational and Federal Sponsors, including but not limited to the following (in alphabetical order):

3M Foundation
American Lung Association
American Math Society
Centers for Disease Control
Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin
Margaret A. Cargill Foundation
National Endowment for the Humanities
National Science Foundation
United States Department of Commerce
United States Department of Defense
United States Department of Education
United States Department of State
West Central Wisconsin Workforce Development Board
Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development
Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation
Xcel Energy Foundation

John Deere will benefit from sustainable plastic research conducted by �� students, faculty

Two-year project seeks to identify recycled polymers that can be used in manufacturing process

April 9, 2026

Solutions for space debris and cybersecurity threats among �� students’ research topics at state Capitol

Undergrads demonstrate applied learning at Research in the Rotunda

March 12, 2026

�� professor brings aspects of grandfather ��. experience in Battle of the Bulge ‘back to life’

Oss uses AI tools to decipher World War II journal, recreate portraits, landscapes

January 28, 2026

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Office of Research & Sponsored Programs

201 Robert S. Swanson Library & Learning Center

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rs@uwstout.edu

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For the safety of human subjects, the Institutional Review Board (IRB) is a federally-mandated review board that exists to protect the rights and welfare of human research subjects.

To ensure animal safety, the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) monitors and regulates the use of animals in research. Please find the IACUC Whistleblower Procedure here.

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�� professor brings aspects of grandfather ��. experience in Battle of the Bulge ‘back to life’

goersab — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 13:30:00 +0000

�� professor brings aspects of grandfather ��. experience in Battle of the Bulge ‘back to life’goersab January 28, 2026

Oss uses AI tools to decipher World War II journal, recreate portraits, landscapes

Abbey Goers

As an instructor of documentary filmmaking at ��, Assistant Professor Keif Oss ��. professional interests in artificial intelligence (AI) filmmaking center on tools that can meaningfully inform and streamline the creative process.

Oss, program director of video production, is currently using AI to explore a conceptual documentary based on his grandfather ��. World War II journal from the Battle of the Bulge. His grandfather, Jack Mooney, served in Company D, 405th Infantry Regiment, 102nd Infantry Division, in the European Theater of Operations.

Jack Mooney, 1952

“Until now, his experiences were things I could only imagine through black-and-white films and the few stories he shared. After he passed, I gained access to his journal, and the vivid detail of his writing reads almost like a film. I wanted to see whether AI could help me bring aspects of his experience back to life,” Oss said.

The Battle of the Bulge was fought in the Ardennes region of Belgium during World War II, from Dec. 16, 1944, to Jan. 25, 1945. It was the last major German assault on the Western Front, in an unsuccessful attempt to break Allied lines.

Just as he encourages students in his documentary courses, Oss used the AI tools Elicit and Perplexity as elevated forms of research support. Elicit surfaced research articles on troop movements and the broader context of the battle, while Perplexity helped confirm geographical details and historical images of the terrain.

These tools allowed Oss to map locations from his grandfather ��. journal and cross-reference them with known Allied troop movements, giving him a clearer sense of where his grandfather may have been during the campaign.

Using a photograph of his grandfather from 1952, Oss mapped his likeness into an AI engine and generated period-accurate still images of him in the European Theater. He used a combination of period stock photography, processes, and tools to generate initial stills in Midjourney, then brought them into Runway to create short live-action sequences.

“The results, while clearly artificial, had an uncanny resemblance to how my grandfather might have looked as a young soldier. Sharing these with my family produced the same mix of fascination and emotional weight I felt while creating them,” Oss said. “For one scene – his account of being in a foxhole in a beet field in Belgium during a German assault – I combined his descriptions with uploaded reference photos of uniforms and landscapes.”

During the assault, his grandfather ��. unit was taken by German soldiers wearing harvested officers’ clothing from American troops. “He and one other soldier escaped. Otherwise, the whole unit was captured. He didn't know it until later,” Oss explained.

Oss also attempted to use AI handwriting tools to decipher difficult portions of the journal. “While some engines struggled with cursive without a training sample, the process helped clarify what AI can and cannot yet handle,” he said. “This project remains an ongoing personal hobby, and AI continues to be a meaningful part of my ability to study, visualize and interpret my grandfather ��. experiences.”

A new Artificial Intelligence (AI) Assisted Film and Video Production course will launch at �� in summer 2026. The course, possibly a first-of-its-kind in the Universities of Wisconsin, was developed by Oss and fellow faculty members Jonny Wheeler and Co O’Neill. Students in the course will produce a short narrative film, using AI tools from pre-production concepts to completion.

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Oss uses AI tools to decipher World War II journal, recreate portraits, landscapes Keif Oss, AI research, documentary

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Keif Oss

Keif has an M.S. in Career and Technical Education and an MFA in Digital Filmmaking. He is an Assistant Professor of video production and serving as Program Director for the B.S. Video Production degree. Keif teaches a variety of courses in video production and photography with both narrative and commercial aspects.

Keif has worked on a range of professional and commercial video projects as a senior video producer and owner/independent contractor of A Creative Advocate, LLC. His work includes television/web advertising, documentary, motion graphics and a variety of marketing-oriented materials. Keif ��. expertise and creative contributions include work for 100+ clients including Mayo Clinic, Seventh Generation, State Farm Insurance, Royal Credit Union and others.

Keif has also worked on short and feature film projects in various capacities including writing, producing, directing, camera operation and post-production/VFX.

Full Name: Keif T. Oss

Job Title: Assistant Professor / Program Director

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Area of Expertise: Video Production Cinema Production Photography Graphic Communications Cross-Media Graphics Technologies

College: College of Arts & Human Sciences

Department: School of Art & Design Design Department

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B.S. Video Production

Curriculum Vitae: Keif T. Oss CV (408.56 KB)

Education:

Degree: M.F.A. Digital Filmmaking

University: Anaheim University Akira Kurosawa School of Filmmaking

Degree: M.S. Career & Technical Education

University: University of Wisconsin-Stout

Degree: B.S. Graphic Communications Management

University: University of Wisconsin-Stout

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Breaking ground for polytechnic partnerships: �� top story highlights of 2025

giffeyt — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Breaking ground for polytechnic partnerships: �� top story highlights of 2025 giffeyt January 21, 2026

Heritage Hall renovation, AI innovations, industry-sponsored focus among year ��. notable headlines

It was a year of big things at ��, from breaking ground for the biggest construction project in university history to posting some of the most notable enrollment growth in the Universities of Wisconsin to being chosen as the area ��. Large Business of the Year.

In 2025, Wisconsin ��. �� also earned big accolades, such as being named one of America ��. Best Colleges by Money Magazine for the second year in a row and made big waves by continuing to break down barriers and redefine higher education for the 21st century.

These milestones are just some of the university ��. Stout Story highlights as it looks back at 2025.

Reinvigorating renovations

The university began its fall 2025 semester with a groundbreaking for the long-awaited $144.3 million Heritage Hall renovation project, which will transform the half-century-old building into a cutting-edge educational hub to help meet Wisconsin ��. workforce needs. The project, which is expected to be finished in 2028, will be paid for with funding from the state as well as $13.5 million donated by university supporters, industry partners and alumni.

‘Power of Partnership’: �� celebrates groundbreaking for $144M Heritage Hall renovation

Chancellor, lawmakers, community and campus leaders join to highlight project that will boost Wisconsin workforce

“The renovation of Heritage Hall is a direct reflection of our mission as Wisconsin ��. ��: to provide career-focused, applied learning and research, and industry collaboration that meets the evolving needs of the state ��. workforce and communities,” Chancellor Katherine Frank said.

The campus also looked forward to another major project, a $31.7 million revitalization of the Recreation Complex. Funded through the 2025-27 state budget as well as a record-setting $5 million gift, the renovations are expected to begin this year. And in October, �� celebrated the opening of a $1 million Esports Arena, a new high-tech home for the championship-caliber esports team.

Advances in AI

Artificial intelligence isn’t a stand-alone subject at �� — it ��. been integrated across all programs, a 360-degree approach to create tomorrow ��. AI-ready workforce.

“Equipping students from every major with AI skills is not only important but necessary,” said engineering and technology Assistant Professor Yuan Xing, who is working with applied social science Professor Tina Lee on a cross-disciplinary program focused on an AI-enhanced farming robot.

AI, fully integrated: �� . 360-degree approach to artificial intelligence embeds skills across all programs

‘Equipping students from every major with AI skills is not only important but necessary.’

The university ��. AI Fellows and AI Innovation Committee, led by faculty and staff, ensure AI is embedded into learning, operations and innovation, while directing AI integration, governance, ethics and literacy. Among the many examples of faculty engagement with AI include employing machine learning in engineering and manufacturing processes as well as comparing human and AI-generated written communication.

Assistant Professor Cami Banger, program director of business information technology and digital marketing technology, created a business technology class with AI “baked in,” while Professor Betsy Pudliner used AI-driven prompts to transform hospitality industry experiences into interactive online course content.

Meanwhile, a $647,000 grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation will allow �� . Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Artificial Intelligence – CAM-AI – to provide advanced manufacturing and AI support to small- and medium-sized manufacturers.

Upgrading STEMM spaces

The completion of a two-year, $7.4 million renovation project ensured that labs in the Jarvis Hall Technology Wing provide the technology, accessibility and visibility necessary for students to succeed in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Management.

Some of the new equipment in labs in both Jarvis and Fryklund halls — including production-level 3D printers, a fully-integrated automated manufacturing system and more — was funded through a $3.1 million donation from the Ronald and Joyce Wanek Foundation. The gift was the result of an ongoing partnership between �� and the Wanek family and their business, Ashley Furniture Industries, based in Arcadia.

Ronald & Joyce Wanek Foundation donation transforms labs with advanced manufacturing equipment

Machinery for automated manufacturing, 3D printing and more will impact thousands of students’ polytechnic experiences

Such campus labs create space for innovation, such as work by Associate Professor Kevin MacDonald, director of the B.S. construction management program, and his students to create innovative low-carbon concrete using blast-furnace slag, which was tested in April in a campus project.

Labs also provide workspaces for students like mechanical engineering senior Heidi Benningfield, who received more than tuition and an internship through the U.S. military ��. SMART Scholarship program. After graduation, she ��. guaranteed a job with the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command in Huntsville, Alabama.

Other students brought research on optimizing plant growth through the use of robotics to the national stage, while a faculty-student collaboration created software for making better 3D models of priceless objects in museums from Minneapolis to Amsterdam.

Degree and university programs honored

�� and its programs continued to rake in top rankings in 2025. Princeton Review listed �� . undergraduate game design programs, which include the B.F.A. game design and development and B.S. computer science – game design concentration, No. 5 in the Midwest and No. 24 worldwide.

�� . game design programs ranked among international best by Princeton Review

Side gigs at Roblox, Respawn strengthen students’ skills; Stout Game Expo on May 8

�� . Bachelor of Science in cybersecurity was named a Top 25 Best Value Cybersecurity Degree Bachelor ��. Program in the U.S. by Programs.com, the only Wisconsin program on the list. And U.S. News and World Report said �� had some of the Best Online Programs in the nation, including the M.S. manufacturing engineering online (Top 20 in the Midwest), the M.S. education online (Top 45 in the Midwest), and the B.S. management and leadership online (Top 15 in the Midwest).

University programs also garnered state and national honors, with the Grow, Persist, Succeed on-campus job program earning an Academic Staff Excellence Award from the Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents and the Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute receiving the annual W.F. Faulkes Award from the National Rehabilitation Association for its nearly 60 years of helping tens of thousands of Americans with disabilities.

High-ranking services for veterans

For veterans and active military students, �� was named to the 2025 Best for Vets Colleges list by Military Times for its commitment to serving veterans and their families, ranking first in Wisconsin among traditional and online universities.

Serving those who served: �� among top 25 in Midwest on annual Best for Vets list

University lauded by Military Times for services to veterans, their families

The university was also honored as a Military Friendly® School. Its silver designation marked the 16th consecutive year the university was named a Military Friendly® School for its efforts to offer service and support to meet the needs of military students. It was also named a 2025-26 Military Spouse Friendly School.

Army ROTC Northwoods Battalion students learn leadership theory, time management skills, basic soldier skills, map reading and other skills from experienced Army leaders. �� has a long-standing agreement with the Air Force ROTC program at University of St. Thomas, in St. Paul – a unique agreement among Wisconsin universities – that allows students to enroll in Air Force ROTC classes while completing their degrees.

Top design awards

While ��'s School of Art & Design celebrated its 60th anniversary, students from across degree programs celebrated top wins in state, national and international competitions.

Interior design senior Khendra Thompson rose to the challenge at the 12th Annual Steelcase NEXT Student Design Competition and won with her design of a 16,000-square-foot workplace spread across two floors in a Chicago office building, beating four other finalists from a field that began with 1,600 students from across the continent.

Interior design student tops international field to win Steelcase competition

Interior design majors who entered the 12th Annual Steelcase NEXT Student Design Competition faced a lofty challenge.

To address the concern of microplastics in food and water, Master of Fine Arts in design student Ashley Jandro created a social awareness campaign called “MicroWhat?,” for which she received a Student – Integrated Consumer Campaign Silver Pin at the Minnesota AdFed awards, sponsored by the Advertising Federation of Minnesota.

A team of four packaging students won first place among university teams from around the globe in the 2025 International Molded Fiber Association Student Competition. They created a sustainable packaging solution for a waffle iron, previously packaged in polystyrene, and replaced the components with molded fiber.

The claustrophobic, cooperative game Dread Not, in which players try to survive a sinking submarine, won the award for Best Student Entry at M+DEV, the largest game industry conference in the Midwest. Dread Not was developed by a team of 15 game design students.

With a design inspired by her adventures with her black lab, Max, studio art major Jaelyn Logterman won the 2026 Wisconsin State Park and Forest vehicle admission pass design contest, announced by the state ��. Department of Natural Resources.

Students lending a Helping Hand

Two interior design students are working to ensure their peers have a more efficient, comfortable and warm experience at Helping Hand Food+ Pantry, the university ��. student pantry. Emma Walstra and Klaire Johnson, project co-leads, reimagined the pantry space to create an “atmosphere that reflects the care �� places in serving its students.”

Interior design program partners with Helping Hand pantry to highlight ‘essential campus resource’

Student design team reimagines pantry space to ensure peers have comfortable, warm experience

In a cross-disciplinary collaboration, four groups of students in a Light Construction Methods class built two raised garden beds, one raised tool bench and one raised tool holder for The Neighbors of Dunn County, a senior living home. The project was part of a service-learning activity and was launched last summer during a new STEAM camp for high school students.

A team of animation and digital media students collaborated with Dunn County Humane Society to develop a public service announcement as part of the Animation Production junior capstone class. Their 72-second 2D animated film, “Stray,” was created to help advocate for pet adoption. The informative short features Bow, a stray orange tabby cat rescued during Wisconsin ��. bitter winter.

Industry-sponsored projects are standard practice

Arcadia-based Ashley Furniture sponsored multiple engineering student projects in 2025. A team of students, including Inspiring Graduates Luke Mertens and Zachary Morgan, designed an innovative nonstandard pallet stacker. Ashley Manufacturing Engineer Erik Kramer, the team ��. project manager, said, “The �� team built a better system, a better product for us. Now, with the team ��. documentation, our automation team can replicate their functional design to build six more stackers for our facilities.”

All stacked up: Ashley Furniture-sponsored project results in ‘better product’ developed by engineering seniors

Student team builds functional nonstandard pallet stacker to be implemented, replicated in company ��. facilities

Students also developed toolless bed connections for Ashley and worked in eight cross-disciplinary groups to research market trends, ideate preliminary designs, test materials and build professional prototypes. The class traveled to Ashley for a tour of the facility and to present their prototypes to the R&D team.

Packaging faculty and student research is poised to help Madison-based Tricky Foods deliver its tasty but temperature-sensitive charcuterie boards coast to coast. Associate Professor Kate Liu of �� . packaging program worked with Tricky Foods to test the insulating abilities of two eco-friendly packaging options – one made of cornstarch, the other of recycled paper.

Three industrial and product design students were awarded a cash prize by Room & Board in exchange for the rights to produce their designs if they choose. The senior’ project focused on storage solutions for media, dining, living, entry, bathroom and kitchen systems.

Blue Devil athletes excelling

The �� Blue Devil women ��. basketball team ��. Cinderella run to the Final Four last March marked the team ��. best-ever performance in the NCAA Division III National Tournament. They completed their historic season with a 23-8 record, going 10-4 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletics Conference. Senior Raegen Sorensen became ��'s all-time leading scorer with 1,754 career points.

Blue Devil women ��. basketball makes history in Cinderella run to the Final Four

Records set in tenacious battle against undefeated, defending champions NYU

Gymnast Jamie Beatty delivered a historic performance at the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association National Championships, capturing national titles in both the all-around and the uneven bars and being named WIAC Newcomer of the Year.

The inaugural women ��. flag football team hoisted the Midwest College Women ��. Flag Football League Championship trophy at the Minnesota Vikings’ TCO Performance Center in April. �� was a founding member of the collegiate league, which was kickstarted with support from the Vikings.

Women ��. golf took the WIAC conference championship, where they triumphed by a near-record margin. Sophomore Julia Imai and junior Brin Neumann placed first and second individually.

Blue Devils football made history at Bank of Sun Prairie Stadium, earning the program ��. first-ever postseason victory with a 31-23 win over Washington University in the Culver's Isthmus Bowl. �� finishes the season 6-5 for their second straight winning season.

Officer Harvey: University Police therapy-dog-in-training is already warming hearts

The newest police officer at the University of Wisconsin-Stout is also the department ��. furriest.

BONUS: Introducing Officer Harvey

Officer Harvey, a therapy dog in training, joined ��'s University Police as its newest member in March. Once Harvey is fully trained, he will serve University Police by assisting people experiencing mental health crises as well as victims of crime and will help the department bridge the gap with members of the community, said University Police Chief Gregory Kalosis.

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John Deere will benefit from sustainable plastic research conducted by �� students, faculty

Two-year project seeks to identify recycled polymers that can be used in manufacturing process

April 9, 2026

Equine therapy gives clinical mental health students skills to support clients’ growth

Vance Creek Experiential Therapy internships add to clinical training for master ��. students

April 3, 2026

Internships with Yankees, PGA Tour, Vikings, Brewers and beyond give �� students big-league skills

Students get professional experience working with sports professionals

March 25, 2026

Heritage Hall renovation, AI innovations, industry-sponsored focus among year ��. notable headlines Dignitaries with shovels at Heritage Hall groundbreaking

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Incredible employment rates. Guaranteed practical experience. Industry-aligned facilities. Tuition discount for South Dakota residents.

Inspiring Graduates Share Their Stout Experiences

Celebrate our graduates as they cross the commencement stage and reflect on the journey that brought them here

Hero Caption: Representatives from the campus, community and state took part in a ceremonial groundbreaking.

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AI reshaping industry: New �� course sets AI-use as baseline competency in filmmaking

goersab — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 14:50:00 +0000

AI reshaping industry: New �� course sets AI-use as baseline competency in filmmakinggoersab January 14, 2026

Wheeler ��. ‘Relic’ offers students glimpse into possibilities as they create original films

Abbey Goers

This summer at ��, students in a new AI Assisted Film and Video Production course will use AI tools from pre-production concepts to completion, generating scripts, storyboards, shot lists, visual effects, video, music, voice-overs and sound effects to produce a short film.

With the course, �� video production faculty are establishing AI use in filmmaking as a baseline competency.

“The core philosophy of the course is that AI tools are utilized to handle the technical ‘grunt work,’” Assistant Professor Jonny Wheeler said. “By offloading labor-intensive tasks, we are opening the potential for a high level of creativity, allowing students to focus entirely on their narrative vision without being limited by traditional budget or production constraints.”

With creative freedom over their storylines, students will develop a complete concept package for an original film. The specific deliverables will include a creative pitch document, a sizzle reel and a short video teaser.

The course will incorporate AI-generated images and short films as examples, including “Relic” by Wheeler. “Relic” is loosely based on the Old English epic poem “Beowulf,” but which takes place on a post-human Earth with an intelligent ape as the hero.

The film is set in the overgrown, futuristic ruins of a once-great city. The lone warrior navigates this concrete wasteland to hunt down a powerful, ancient weapon to end a reign of terror. His journey leads him into the heart of a monster ��. lair, where he must use this artifact to vanquish the creature or face extinction.

Wheeler was inspired by “Beowulf” and the famous quote by science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke: “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”

“I wanted to take the ‘magic’ of the Beowulf tale and give it a technological origin – reimagining the mythical swords and monsters as remnants of a high-tech past,” Wheeler said. “Using AI allowed me to cast an ape as the lead and create a massive, ruined world – elements that would have been impossible for me to film live with a meager budget.”

The course, possibly a first-of-its-kind in the Universities of Wisconsin, was developed by professors Keif Oss, Co O’Neill and Wheeler.

�� . School of Art & Design is one of the largest public art schools in the Midwest. It offers bachelor ��. degrees in animation and digital media; game design and development-art; graphic design and interactive media; illustration; industrial and product design; interior design; studio art; arts administration and entrepreneurship; fashion design and development; and video production, and an M.F.A. in design. �� also has a new program in game and media studies.

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Wheeler ��. ‘Relic’ offers students glimpse into possibilities as they create original films Jonny Wheeler AI image, Cheetah, a frame used as an example in the summer class

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Jonathan Paul Wheeler

Jonny has a diverse and extensive background in stop-motion animation, photography, video production, graphic design, sculpture, and art/design education. Over the years, he has honed his skills across multiple disciplines, blending traditional techniques with contemporary technologies to create visually compelling and thought-provoking works. His work in sculpture, in particular, has given him a unique perspective on the intersection of physical and digital media, enabling him to explore how tactile, three-dimensional forms can enhance narrative storytelling in film and animation.

Jonny's formal education includes a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) from the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, where he developed his foundational skills in the arts. He later earned a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Education, equipping him with the tools to teach and inspire others in the creative fields. His academic journey culminated in a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Design from the University of Wisconsin-Stout, where he further refined his expertise in design and creative processes.

In addition to his academic achievements, Jonny has dedicated much of his career to education, designing and hosting cinema workshops for secondary students, where he nurtures the next generation of filmmakers by guiding them through the creative and technical processes of filmmaking. He has also taught summer video production camps on campus, helping young students explore video production techniques and the power of storytelling through film. His ability to make complex concepts accessible and engaging has earned him praise from both students and peers. He has also contributed to the Visioneers Design Challenge at the Peck School of the Arts, where he mentors students to develop innovative design solutions, fostering a collaborative environment that encourages creativity and problem-solving.

Jonny ��. educational journey also includes a transformative study abroad trip to Iceland, where he taught photography. Immersed in the unique landscapes of Iceland, he shared his expertise with students while also drawing inspiration from the country ��. dramatic natural beauty. This experience deepened his understanding of visual storytelling and enriched his approach to teaching and creating art.

Currently, Jonny ��. research is focused on the development of narrative cinema, with an emphasis on virtual production—a rapidly growing field that integrates real-time digital environments with live-action performance. He is particularly interested in how new technologies, including AI, can enhance storytelling, automate certain aspects of production, and open up new creative possibilities for filmmakers and animators alike. His work explores the intersection of human creativity and technological innovation, with a keen eye on the future of the film industry.

In addition to his research, Jonny is actively involved in the development of the Unspooled Film and Animation Festival. This festival aims to bring together emerging and established filmmakers, animators, and creators who are pushing the boundaries of storytelling through both traditional and digital media. By embracing AI-driven creativity, innovative techniques, and cutting-edge production methods, the Unspooled Film and Animation Festival celebrates the evolving landscape of film, animation, and sculpture while fostering a space for collaboration and experimentation in the arts. Through this festival, Jonny hopes to inspire a new generation of creators to explore the limitless potential of storytelling in the digital age, encouraging the integration of multiple artistic forms, including sculpture, into cinematic experiences.

Full Name: Jonathan Paul Wheeler

Job Title: Assistant Professor

Include in Directory: Yes

Area of Expertise: Photography Video Production Digital Cinema Fine Arts Curriculum Design

College: College of Arts & Human Sciences

Department: School of Art & Design Design Department

Program

All Degree Programs

Website: Jonathan Paul Wheeler

Education:

Degree: M.F.A. Design

University: University of Wisconsin-Stout

Degree: B.F.A.

University: Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design

Degree: B.S. Art Education

University: University of Wisconsin-Stout

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AI reshaping industry: �� professor develops unique approach to chatbot use in pharmacology, human biology

goersab — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 14:45:00 +0000

AI reshaping industry: �� professor develops unique approach to chatbot use in pharmacology, human biologygoersab January 14, 2026

Grant develops student-driven projects; finds high accuracy in AI-dispensed information

Abbey Goers

Professor Jennifer Grant, with �� . biology department, has been curious about how well everyday chatbots dispense health information, including pharmacology advice and influences on human health.

“You sometimes hear that these tools can give distorted or misleading answers, and that ��. what first caught my attention,” she said.

To quell her curiosity, Grant began several lines of AI research and developed projects for her introductory pharmacology and 100-level human biology students. For the results of the first study, Grant published a peer-reviewed manuscript, with reviews that noted that she is developing a unique angle on chatbot use in health care.

“Looking ahead, I plan to develop curricula that teach both students and, eventually, patients how to critically evaluate the quality of chatbot responses. Those skills will be of paramount importance in a world overflowing with digital advice,” Grant said.

When everyday chatbots dispense advice

A plot graph comparing ChatGPT and Copilot / Jennifer Grant

Grant asked her pharmacology students to put three chatbots to the test: ChatGPT, Copilot and Gemini. Their task was simple: ask the chatbots about the safety profiles of specific medications and look for errors. They looked at correctness and rated how thorough and helpful the generated answers were.

“To my surprise, and theirs, students found that the chatbot responses were highly accurate,” she said. “And yes, the chatbots differed. Each had their own style, and students preferred when chatbots organized information in a helpful way.”

Grant recently published an article on her findings in the open-access journal Discover Artificial Intelligence, titled “Undergraduates perceive differences in helpfulness and thoroughness of responses of ChatGPT 3.0, Gemini 1.5, and Copilot responses about drug interactions.”

“I published this research because this is truly a new academic frontier. This work is also very timely, because we believe that many people already consult everyday chatbots for medical advice,” she said.

Access to better information on human health

The pharmacology project experience led Grant to wonder how this approach could help students in her human biology class. Because the goals in that course are different, Grant redesigned the activity.

Instead of focusing on medications, students used Copilot and ChatGPT to explore how molecules influence human health. Every other week, students asked the chatbots a question tied to the organ system the class was studying. Early results showed that the chatbots provided accurate information, and Grant is excited to work up the rest of the data.

“Chatbots are everywhere now, which means learners and patients have more information at their fingertips than ever before. My hope is that this work will help people get better information, not just more of it,” she said.

A third line of Grant ��. research addresses biochemistry, using AI software to look at how proteins fold. These student projects are in mid-stage, with outcomes expected by June.

“I am very excited about these projects and will start looking for high-power collaborators with bespoke AI chatbots this spring,” she said.

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Grant develops student-driven projects; finds high accuracy in AI-dispensed information Jennifer Grant research, ChatGPT vs Copilot plot graph

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Biology Department

Biology helps us understand ourselves, other species, and our place in the earth's ecology, and what life is and how it functions.

�� . biology department offers undergraduate degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology; applied science; biology; environmental science; as well as an online professional science master's in conservation biology. �� also offers degrees in chemistry and physics.

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Jennifer Grant

Teaching Interests: Proteomics (Bio425); Biochemistry (Chem311); General Chemistry (Chem135); Human Biology Lecture & Laboratory (Bio132); Biochemistry Lecture & Laboratory (Chem311); Introduction to Biotechnology (Bio210, Online); Advanced Biotechnology (Bio470); Introductory Biology (Bio101); General Chemistry (Chem 135); Biology of Aging (Bio125)

Research Interests: The impact of proteins in disease and the creation of functional foods using biochemistry.

Professional Interests: Mass spectrometry, protein chemistry, protein separations.

Full Name: Jennifer E. Grant, Ph.D.

Job Title: Professor

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Area of Expertise: Mass Spectrometry Protein Chemistry Protein Separations

College: College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Management

Department: Biology Department

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All Degree Programs

Website: LinkedIn Profile

Education:

Degree: Ph.D. Molecular & Cellular Pharmacology

University: University of Wisconsin Medical School

Degree: M.S. Biochemistry

University: Case Western Reserve University Medical School

Degree: B.A. Biochemistry

University: Oberlin College

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AI reshaping industry: �� professor examines impact on manufacturing, supply chains, health care, more

goersab — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 14:40:00 +0000

AI reshaping industry: �� professor examines impact on manufacturing, supply chains, health care, moregoersab January 14, 2026

Karaman Kabadurmus develops new economics course on AI in the Modern Economy

Abbey Goers

Assistant Professor Fatma Karaman Kabadurmus, with �� . social science department, researched how digital technologies and emerging tools, often described as “AI-enabled” or part of Industry 4.0, are reshaping how firms innovate, manage supply chains and compete in today ��. economy. A central focus of this work is how digitalization helped firms respond to the unprecedented disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Through her research, Karaman Kabadurmus recently co-authored two book chapters in “The Palgrave Handbook of Supply Chain and Disruptive Technologies.” The chapters were “The Impact of Digitalization on Firm-Level Innovation Performance During the Pandemic” and “Revolutionizing Last-Mile Delivery: Discovering Disruptive Technologies and Innovative Solutions.”

The role of AI and predictive analytics in health care / GetOnData

Her chapters examine how supply chain digitalization influenced firms’ innovation performance during the pandemic. “The findings highlight that digital transformation helps firms adapt to shocks in logistics, inventory management, labor availability and rapidly changing demand,” she said.

Her research on last-mile delivery and Industry 4.0 critically reviewed emerging technologies, such as AI/ML (machine learning) applications, big data analytics, blockchain, IoT, digital twins, and autonomous systems, and evaluated their implications for efficiency, innovation, and implementation barriers in supply chain operations.

A smart factory ecosystem diagram / LightGuide, Inc.

“This work builds on my broader research agenda in the economics of innovation. Rather than focusing on the technical design of technologies, my research asks economic and social science questions: When do firms adopt new technologies? What barriers do they face? And how do market conditions, competition and institutions shape innovation outcomes?” Karaman Kabadurmus said.

Impact on students and career readiness

Karaman Kabadurmus’ research has a direct impact on her teaching and students’ learning, particularly through a new course she developed, which launches this spring semester: Innovation and Artificial Intelligence in the Modern Economy.

“Employers want AI literacy,” Karaman Kabadurmus said. “As part of the Stout Core foundational education classes, I designed this course for students from all majors. They will learn to understand AI through an applied economic and social science lens.”

The course is an introduction to how digital and AI-enabled technologies shape innovation across sectors, such as health care, manufacturing, supply chains and more. Students examine real-world case studies, such as Amazon, Tesla and Google; observe changes in labor markets and firm strategy; explore ethical and regulatory dimensions; and study public policy debates that affect everyday economic decisions.

Stout Core ��. areas of expertise offer students opportunities to grow their global perspective, communication and critical thinking skills, ethical reasoning, and more, so they graduate ready to do more on day one.

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Karaman Kabadurmus develops new economics course on AI in the Modern Economy Fatma Karaman Kabadurmus research, role of AI and predictive analytics in health care. Graphic by GetOnData

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The Social Science Department provides courses in anthropology, economics, geography, history, political science, sociology and global languages.

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Fatma Nur Karaman Kabadurmus

Dr. Fatma Nur Karaman Kabadurmus is an Assistant Professor of Economics in the Social Science Department at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. She was also an Artificial Intelligence Fellow for the 2024–2025 academic year. At ��, she teaches economics while developing courses and applied learning experiences that connect economics, innovation, and artificial intelligence.

Before joining ��, Dr. Karaman Kabadurmus taught in the John E. Walker Department of Economics at Clemson University from 2022 to 2023. Earlier, she served on the faculty in the Department of Economics at Yasar University from 2013 to 2021 and was a Visiting Assistant Professor at Kalamazoo College after completing her Ph.D. in Economics at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

Her research focuses on the economics of innovation, industrial organization, health economics, and international trade. Her work examines how firms, institutions, and policy environments shape innovation, technology adoption, and economic outcomes. She is especially interested in applied, interdisciplinary research that links economic analysis to real-world challenges in industry, workforce development, and emerging technologies.

Full Name: Fatma Nur Karaman Kabadurmus

Job Title: Assistant Professor

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Area of Expertise: Economics of Innovation Health Economics Industrial Organization International Trade

College: College of Arts & Human Sciences

Department: Social Science Department

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B.S. Applied Social Science

Curriculum Vitae: Fatma Nur Karaman Kabadurmus CV (194.44 KB)

Website: Google Scholar

Education:

Degree: Ph.D. Economics

University: Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

Degree: M.S. Economics

University: Istanbul Technical University

Degree: B.A. Business Administration

University: Istanbul University

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�� faculty integrate A.I. research in machine learning, business technology, composition courses

goersab — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 13:00:00 +0000

�� faculty integrate A.I. research in machine learning, business technology, composition coursesgoersab October 29, 2025

University ��. 360-degree approach to artificial intelligence aims to ‘equip students with hands-on experience and an applied understanding’

Abbey Goers

As �� continues to strengthen its 360-degree approach to artificial intelligence, embedding skills across all programs, faculty experts across degree fields build on their growing knowledge with research spanning generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), machine learning, AI deep research methods and more.

Three professors – Augustine Twumasi, Cami Banger and Justin Nicholes – representing �� . mathematics, statistics and computer science; hospitality and technology innovation; and English, philosophy and communication studies departments – demonstrate the wide range of research topics and challenges they’re tackling through AI to impact their fields and improve their students’ polytechnic experience.

The university ��. AI Fellows and AI Innovation Committee, led by faculty and staff, ensures AI is embedded into learning, operations and innovation, while directing AI integration, governance, ethics and literacy. The interdisciplinary AI Fellows is supported by 2023-25 Workforce Development funding.

Machine learning in engineering and manufacturing

Artificial intelligence and machine learning Assistant Professor Augustine Twumasi ��. research broadly focuses on developing intelligent systems that integrate machine learning, optimization, and physics-based modeling to solve complex engineering and scientific challenges.

Machine learning is a subfield of AI. It is a way for computers to think, learn and act just like humans. As the term “artificial” suggests, this form of intelligence is created by humans. “Machine learning is a way we make computers intelligent and capable of performing such tasks without explicitly teaching them how to do so. It does this by identifying patterns in data,” he said.

“One aspect of my work involves robot path planning in Robotic Compact Storage and Retrieval Systems (RCSRS), where I use reinforcement learning and advanced optimization algorithms to improve retrieval efficiency and scheduling, helping robotic systems make faster and more adaptive decisions in dynamic environments,” Twumasi said.

Another major focus of his research is laser scan path design in Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) additive manufacturing. “In this research, I apply deep reinforcement learning and physics-guided machine learning to design toolpaths that control microstructure evolution, to enhance the mechanical performance of printed parts,” he said.

RCSRS are widely used in the logistics, e-commerce, manufacturing, and warehousing industries, particularly in automated fulfillment centers, pharmaceutical inventory systems, grocery distribution and retail supply chains. The systems help optimize storage density, retrieval speed and operational efficiency.

L-PBF technology is central to aerospace, automotive, biomedical, and defense industries, where it is used to produce lightweight, high-strength metal components with complex geometries. It ��. also increasingly applied in energy, tooling and custom medical implants because of its precision ability.

Twumasi ��. current and upcoming projects also explore scientific machine learning, uncertainty quantification, and AI-driven modeling for smart manufacturing and logistics optimization. He hopes to soon recruit student researchers.

GenAI and business technology

Assistant Professor Cami Banger, program director of business information technology and digital marketing technology, is leading a Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) study titled “Reimagining Assignment Design: An Exploratory Study of AI-Assisted TILT Implementation.”

“The project explores how instructors can use generative AI to redesign assignments using the Transparency in Learning and Teaching (TILT) framework, which focuses on clarity, grading efficiency and student learning outcomes,” she said.

Banger ��. AI research and teaching intersect around GenAI and its practical implementation in higher education and business technology. She has developed and is currently teaching a professional development course, AI Implementation Strategy, where students design organizational AI strategies aligned to NIST, IBM, and McKinsey frameworks. The course integrates real-world AI tools and showcases how polytechnic learning can connect strategy, ethics and technology practice.

She is incorporating AI across the business information technology and digital marketing technology programs and highlights her research in her article “Generative AI is coming to the workplace, so I designed a business technology class with AI baked in,” published in The Conversation.

“From piloting CoPilot for Business in our capstone course and doing CRM case simulations using Salesforce with GenAI support to reflective assignments on ethical AI use in business, these projects collectively aim to equip students with hands-on experience and an applied understanding of AI in business and technology contexts, which aligns closely with Stout ��. polytechnic mission,” Banger said.

Human vs. GenAI poetry

Associate Professor Justin Nicholes, director of First-Year Composition, explored “Ownership, Accuracy, and Aesthetic Merit” in human and AI-generated poetry.

His research, published earlier this year in “Written Communication,” asked the questions, Would college students judge their poems differently from those written by GenAI? Would they feel a stronger sense of ownership of their writing versus AI-generated poetry?

“With each passing semester and academic year, students’ attitudes and experiences with generative AI change,” Nicholes said. “One surprising result from my research into asking students to write with and without AI through poetry, and about autobiographical moments, is that students increasingly see GenAI as a tool that enhances their personal meaning-making. It is not enough to simply dismiss GenAI writing as a form of cheating. While some will refuse GenAI, especially for personal and creative expression, there is a role, and we need to keep trying to understand how students see GenAI tools and the writing they produce with and without it.”

For his research, Nicholes recruited 88 first-year students, who composed brief poems about meaningful or challenging life experiences, such as loss, pain, anger, disappointment or defeat. They then prompted a GenAI program, such as ChatGPT or Gemini, to compose a poem about that same event.

The students wrote poems that were more narrative, authentic, unguarded and emotionally negative in tone than the GenAI poems.

Following their writing, the students completed surveys to record their perceptions of their own poems and GenAI poems, based on ownership, accuracy and aesthetic merit. Ownership referred to whether the writing reflected an important part of the writers’ selves. Accuracy referred to whether the poem reflected their thoughts and feelings. Aesthetic merit referred to the quality of the writing, with features such as vivid imagery, a feeling of completeness, rhyme, meter, structure and form.

Finally, the students were asked which poem they preferred and why.

Nicholes’ findings showed that the students fairly evenly preferred their poems to the GenAI poems: 42% preferred their poems because of the personal connections to the events; 50% preferred the GenAI poems, mainly for their textual features; and 8% preferred both.

Students felt significantly greater ownership of and accuracy in their human-written poems. And while students rated aesthetic merit higher for GenAI poems, which portrayed greater imagery, language, and form, they felt the GenAI poems lacked originality.

“In terms of implications for teaching writing, meaningful literacy remains a valuable college-writing experience whereby college writers in various writing contexts have chances to create work they view as important parts of themselves, work they see as importantly conveying their life experiences and voices, and work that they see as unique contributions,” Nicholes said. “While GenAI may be used as a tool to assist in autobiographical, meaningful writing, and although it has the potential for assisting writers in ways similar to peer review processes, human creativity is a unique territory worth protecting.”

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�� professor elected as Fellow of American Physical Society

goersab — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 19:14:11 +0000

�� professor elected as Fellow of American Physical Societygoersab October 23, 2025

McCullough receives prestigious nomination for impactful research, service

Abbey Goers

�� Professor Laura McCullough, chemistry and physics, was recently elected as a Fellow of the American Physical Society, a prestigious honor from her peers for her outstanding contributions to the field and “sustained, significant, and impactful research on and service toward promoting gender equity in physics.”

The American Physical Society (APS) is 150 years old and is considered the main international physics society. “It ��. the powerhouse of physics societies, and its work covers an extremely wide scope,” McCullough said.

APS helps physicists connect with colleagues and collaborate across more than 30 fields and subfields, including astrophysics, atomic and molecular physics, nuclear physics, data science, energy research, medical physics, quantum information and climate physics. Units also cover a breadth of topics, including public policy, history, physics education research and more.

McCullough is one of four fellows chosen by the APS Forum on Diversity and Inclusion this year. She was honored for her career ��. work on improving the physics climate for women and other minoritized groups. “By making physics more welcoming to everyone, physics as a field becomes better. And that is good for society as a whole,” she said.

Physics professor's passion for teaching honored with UW System Excellence Award

McCullough loves helping students learn challenging subject, works to increase women in STEM fields

McCullough has taught at ��, Wisconsin ��. ��, for 25 years. “Within STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), there is so much more awareness now of the importance of diversity. When I gave my first presentation on women in physics in 1996, it was the first such research of that type. My publications on women in STEM leadership are some of the first ever in that field. So much more work has been done since then. It makes me very hopeful,” she said.

McCullough ��. applied research doesn’t focus on figuring out the underlying causes of systemic discrimination but rather on the theories that inspire actions to make a difference, from research on gender bias to chairing the APS climate site visits program.

“I look back and see how different the world is from when I started. I’ve always identified as a teacher first, physicist second. Technology has made such a difference in both disciplines. Students have much more going on and are having more mental health issues, so I’ve become much more flexible. I’ve realized the importance of meeting students where they are. The classroom is about them, not me or what I hope they learn. Physics has always had a bad reputation for being hard, and I feel that attitude is diminishing. My students are more accepting when I say that everyone can learn physics. I love that,” she said.

Physics professor honored by American Association of Physics Teachers

McCullough recognized for her work in helping break down gender barriers for females in science

Each year, APS Fellow nominees represent fewer than 0.5% of the society ��. total membership. McCullough was nominated by Jennifer Blue of Miami University, Ohio, and Charles Henderson at North Carolina State. The process was started by Ramon Barthelemy at University of Utah.

McCullough received the Universities of Wisconsin Teaching Excellence Award in 2022 and the American Association of Physics Teachers’ Homer L. Dodge Citation for Distinguished Service to AAPT in 2019.

�� . chemistry and physics department offers undergraduate degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology, applied science, chemistry, environmental science, and physics, as well as minors in chemistry, environmental health, materials science and physics.

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University interns gain environmental job skills assessing health of region ��. waters

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University interns gain environmental job skills assessing health of region ��. waters giffeyt September 18, 2025

Latest grants from Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin bring $389K for research, education, monitoring

By Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin and Tom Giffey / ��

Cayanna Erickson says interning with the 2025 Red Cedar Basin Monitoring Group will give her a step up when she enters the job market. The University of Wisconsin-Stout undergraduate recently declared a B.S. environmental science major, and the summer internship gave her experience with hands-on field work.

“My career goals involve water monitoring, specifically in the Eau Claire area as that is where I am from originally,” she said. “The skills that I learned this summer directly relate to what I want to do in the future.”

Erickson was one of six students from ��, UW-Eau Claire and UW-River Falls who spent the summer collecting and analyzing data that helps show the impact of restoration efforts in the Red Cedar Basin. This watershed includes Lakes Menomin and Tainter, which are listed as impaired by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Nutrient pollution causes frequent harmful algal blooms in these water bodies and others throughout Wisconsin.

Despite the multitude of problems facing the Red Cedar Basin, the lakes and rivers are heavily used for angling, recreation and power generation. This has led to multiple restoration projects to improve the health of the watershed.

The initial monitoring group was started two decades ago as a volunteer organization but languished after its leader retired. It was revived with funding from the Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin, a partnership of Wisconsin ��. 13 public universities, connecting with industry partners, local communities, policymakers and advocacy groups. Since 2022, Freshwater Collaborative funding has provided continuity of data collection and built capacity to gather data from more sites and more diverse ecosystem types. Eighteen students have participated so far, and recent funding investments will ensure the project continues.

Students Carter Lane of ��, right, and Grant Ableson of UW-River Falls survey black ash impacted by emerald ash borers in Muddy Creek.

Fulfilling a community need

“The Red Cedar River Basin Monitoring Group trains students to collect data on aquatic ecosystems and fills a critical need of collecting data related to management and restoration,” said Nicole Hayes, an assistant professor at ��.

Hayes said the goals of the Red Cedar River Basin Monitoring Group are twofold. First, it leverages the expertise of scientists at �� to work with local community groups to understand how environmental change is impacting lakes, rivers, streams and wetlands in the watershed. Second, it builds a better understanding of how these ecosystems are responding to ongoing degradation and mitigation and restoration efforts. The data gathered is used to support management decisions.

“We are informing best management practices in trout stream restoration and maintenance,” added Professor Amanda Little, program director for environmental science. “Students are studying harmful algal blooms and monitoring the zebra mussel invasion of Lake Menomin in order to better understand the dynamics of the lake. Future projects will investigate aquatic vegetation restoration in local lakes to improve fish habitat. Students are also studying sedimentation in Galloway Creek in Menomonie to understand the impacts of sanding during the winter and erosion on this urban stream.”

Four �� educators – including Hayes and Little as well as Associate Professor Keith Gilland and lecturer Julia Chapman – collaborate with DNR Fisheries, the City of Menomonie, Dunn County, Beaver Creek Reserve, the Colfax Red Cedar Preserve and The Prairie Enthusiasts, among others. This allows students to start building a professional network while gaining professional skills.

�� student Cayanna Erickson, left and UW-River Falls student Grant Ableson measured sediment type, sediment depth and particle size to assess soil erosion on Galloway Creek.

Each intern also develops an independent research project in addition to contributing to the overall data collection. Several students have continued their research projects into the following academic year, and many have presented their findings at local, state and even national conferences.

This summer, Erickson ��. independent student project focused on zebra mussels, an invasive species first identified in Lake Menomin in 2024. “I hope that the survey allows for a deeper understanding of the abundance of zebra mussels in our lake as well as their high-density areas,” she said. “In turn, both city and county could use the data as a means for reducing/confining the spread of zebra mussels.”

Erickson concluded that the internship was an “amazing experience” that will prepare her for future classes.

Little agreed, adding that working on the project prepares students for what lies ahead. “Students will be well-prepared for specific upper-level courses that incorporate the skills from the summer,” Little said. “The wide range of projects that they worked on over the summer are great resume-builders and give them a broad scope of work to discuss during interviews. This internship really makes them super-competitive due to both the breadth of skills and the depth of their own individual project which demonstrates leadership and initiative.”

Thanks to Freshwater Collaborative funding, 14 of the interns have received scholarships to participate in additional freshwater coursework at ��, UW-Eau Claire and UW-River Falls. The coursework helps prepare them for their internships and provides the opportunity to work with faculty and students from other universities.

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New funding announced

The Freshwater Collaborative recently announced that funding would continue for the Red Cedar Basin Monitoring Group for the next two years thanks to money included in the most recent state budget, which covers 2025-27.

In total, �� will receive $389,256 for four projects:

The Red Cedar River Basin Monitoring Group will receive $258,452 to continue the internship program and related research projects.

Crop Per Drop, a collaborative research project between �� and UW-River Falls aimed at understanding and improving water use in dry bean production, will receive $30,307.

Field Hydrology, a three-week summer field course for upper-level students from ��, UW-Eau Claire, and UW-River Falls, will receive $21,050.

Water in Western Wisconsin: An Interdisciplinary Freshwater Field Camp for High School Students, a collaboration among the three western Wisconsin universities that targets rising high school seniors, will receive $79,447.

Overall, the Freshwater Collaborative will invest $4.2 million in projects that involve faculty, staff and students from all 13 Universities of Wisconsin, as well as dozens of partners from industry, government, local communities, tribal nations, nonprofits and K-12 education. They will increase research and training opportunities for high school, undergraduate and graduate students and will address Wisconsin ��. biggest water challenges, including PFAS and phosphorus pollution.

“The Freshwater Collaborative has helped campuses develop innovative statewide courses, programs and research collaborations over the past five years,” said Marissa Jablonski, executive director for the Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin. “With this latest round of funding, we are committing to ongoing investment in those programs that will best recruit and train the next generation of water professionals to address the needs of Wisconsin.”

The funding is part of a statewide initiative, backed by the Wisconsin State Legislature and Gov. Tony Evers, to tackle Wisconsin ��. grand water challenges and support recruitment, hands-on curriculum, undergraduate research opportunities, career development, and field training experiences for students interested in water-related careers.

Grant descriptions for the latest funded projects are available at freshwater.wisconsin.edu.

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Hero Caption: As part of the Red Cedar Basin Monitoring Group, students from �� and UW-Eau Claire collect water samples to measure microcystin, a toxin produced by harmful cyanobacteria, near Wakanda Park on Lake Menomin.

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