Penn Engineering’s Digital Media Design (DMD) program is evolving into Visual and Interactive Computing (VIC), beginning in Fall 2026. VIC builds on DMD’s strengths in computer graphics, interface design and interactive media while giving students more flexibility to explore generative AI, computer vision, immersive environments and more. Learn more. bit.ly/4hlE9zC @CIS_Penn

@PennEngineers was at #AIHorizons2026 in Pittsburgh, with @GRASPlab and IoT4Ag showcasing research at the expo and Penn's Vice Provost for Research David Meaney joining the “Who Gets to Build AI?” panel on access to the resources and infrastructure needed to advance AI.

Two Penn Engineering faculty members are among the 18 finalists for the 2026 @BlavatnikAwards National Awards for Young Scientists. @Deep29Jariwala is recognized for advances in electronic materials and devices, while @ParisPerdikaris is recognized for developing physics-aware AI, including the Aurora weather forecasting model. bit.ly/4AdmQcM

Penn Engineering has launched a new MSE in Data Science & Artificial Intelligence (MSE-DSAI), bringing together data science, AI and a systems perspective. Students build foundations in statistics, machine learning and algorithms while learning to develop reliable, scalable systems. “By confronting challenges like scale, failures and performance trade-offs firsthand, [students] develop the systems intuition to understand not only how complex infrastructure works, but why particular designs succeed and where they can break down," says Linh Phan, Professor in @cis_penn and co-director of the MSE-DSAI program. Applications for Fall 2027 are now open. bit.ly/4yGcO2j @PennEngAI | @PennEngGrad

Avisi Technologies (@avisi_tech), founded by @Wharton alumna Rui Jing Jiang (@Rj_sapientia) (W’18), has reached a milestone with the first successful implantation of its VisiPlate Aqueous Shunt at Penn’s Scheie Eye Institute (@pennmedicine). Developed with support from Penn Engineering and the broader Penn ecosystem, VisiPlate is designed to lower eye pressure for patients with glaucoma. bit.ly/4xRrjAd

Penn Engineering’s David Meaney discusses how Penn can accelerate the path from research to real-world impact. “As our research becomes more practical and more directly useful to society, industry partners should be engaged from the earliest stages of an idea all the way through product development.” Read more. bit.ly/4cAaK3i

The waves at the beach are only part of the story. Penn Engineering’s @NaderEngheta studies invisible electromagnetic waves and polarization. Research on how green sunfish detect polarized light inspired a camera that could see 3–4 times deeper in murky water than a standard camera. bit.ly/4wsKU8h

Penn Engineering welcomes retired Air Force General Timothy D. Haugh as Senior Fellow in the Schlein Center for Cybersecurity and Adjunct Professor in @CIS_penn. General Haugh most recently served as Commander of U.S. Cyber Command and Director of the NSA/CSS, bringing 30+ years of experience in cybersecurity, intelligence and national defense. Read the full announcement today. bit.ly/4xk17xg

Congratulations to Jina Ko, Assistant Professor in @pennbioeng, on being selected for the Grainger Foundation Frontiers of Engineering 2026 Symposium of the @theNAEng. Ko is one of 75 early-career engineers selected for the symposium, which brings together researchers from across disciplines and industries to explore emerging technologies, exchange ideas and build collaborations. bit.ly/4ym1PuR

Today, Penn Engineering alumnus John Ternus (ENG’97) officially steps into his role as Chief Executive Officer at @Apple. Watch his 2024 Penn Engineering commencement address to hear the advice he shared with the graduates at the time: piped.video/dC6X_LVH2JY

Penn Engineering researchers and collaborators at @PrincetonPhysics have developed a technique that uses an atomic force microscope to “write” an atomically thin quantum material with nanometer precision. Using mechanical force instead of heat, the technique can reduce the reaction temperature from around 200°C to near room temperature while providing 50-nanometer lateral resolution for precisely patterning the material. bit.ly/4zBGu1L

Penn Engineers and collaborators at @ummedschool have developed a tiny inflatable device that lets researchers precisely control blood flow while continuously imaging the brain, offering a new view of stroke's earliest moments. Led by @ShuYangPenn (@mseatpenn), the MRI-compatible micro-balloon originates from soft robotics research. "As materials scientists, we are always connecting the dots," says Yang. "In this case, techniques we had been developing for soft robotics became the key to answering a longstanding question in stroke research." engineering.upenn.edu/storie…

Welcome to the 2026–27 academic year, Penn Engineers! Dean Vijay Kumar looks ahead to a year of new programs, high-impact research through the Penn Engineering Futures Fund, advancing responsible innovation and preparations for Penn Engineering's 175th anniversary in 2027. Read his full message. bit.ly/4hJjlnF

On An Educated Guest, Penn Engineering Dean Vijay Kumar discusses AI, entrepreneurship, educational access and how universities can prepare students for a changing world. Listen to the full episode with Todd Zipper. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcas…

Featured in @IEEEAPMag's Legends of Electromagnetics series, Penn Engineering's Nader Engheta shares his journey from his childhood fascination with a battery-operated radio to his pioneering research in electromagnetics and beyond. Watch the full interview today. bit.ly/4zoBBsL @MSEatPenn @ESEatPenn @pennbioeng @physatpenn

Four Philadelphia-area high school teachers spent the summer exploring AgTech through @IoT4Ag's Research Experience for Teachers (RET) program at Penn. "Technology is the future of agriculture and hands-on experience is essential for our learners," says Alimamy Fornah, a teacher at @phillysof and RET participant. From smart soil sensors to precision agriculture, teachers gained new tools to bring engineering research into their classrooms. iot4ag.us/ret-program/

Penn researchers have built the first spatial map of the developing human kidney, analyzing more than 700,000 cells to show how soluble signals from neighboring cells guide development. The study was conducted by the Penn-CHOP Kidney Innovation Center, a collaboration between @PennMedicine and @ChildrensPhila, in partnership with Penn Engineering and the @IRM_UPenn. "The kidney is a physical structure, and physical context is not incidental to how it forms—it is instructive," says Alex J. Hughes, Associate Professor in @PennBioeng, who co-led the study. bit.ly/4hrJYgO

Another successful summer for the Engineering Summer Academy at Penn (ESAP). High school students from around the world spent three weeks exploring AI, robotics, biotech, computer science and more while experiencing life as Penn Engineers. "How to work well in a team, iterate through designs and use past failures to drive the next version of your build" was one of the most valuable lessons Jack Leiman, an ESAP Robotics student, took away from the program. Congratulations to the 2026 ESAP cohort! esap.engineering.upenn.edu/

This summer's inaugural Glassman Penn Scholars Program has wrapped up. Over five weeks, 20 high school students selected from 300+ applicants completed college-level coursework, research and interdisciplinary capstone projects at Penn Engineering, preparing to be the next generation of innovators. "When students are given access, challenged to think deeply, and supported by a community that believes in them, they gain the confidence to solve problems, pursue their goals, and make a difference," says Chanda Jefferson, Director of Community Engagement & Outreach. Learn more about the program today. engineering.upenn.edu/glassm… @HeightsPhilly

What started as a hobby project has grown into a company helping shape the future of battery technology. Founded by Penn Engineering students, @Vero_Electric is building the "brain" behind modern battery systems, helping batteries operate more safely and efficiently. "Our goal is to build Vero into the defining battery platform of the 21st century: the tech stack companies turn to whenever they need to store, manage or deploy energy," says McFeely. Today, Vero Electric serves customers in 22 countries, supporting projects ranging from electric forklifts to backup power for critical water infrastructure. veroelectric.com/