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CBE Seminar: “From Molecules to Supply Chains: Transforming Data to Decisions using Geometry, Optimization, and Machine Learning” (Victor Zavala, University of Wisconsin-Madison)

Wu & Chen Auditorium

Abstract: We discuss how geometry, optimization, and machine learning are key technologies that are revolutionizing the way we think about data and the way we transform data into actionable models and decisions. Specifically, we explain how complex data (e.g., text, molecules, time series, images/video, supply chain flows) can be represented as geometrical objects and how […]

MSE Seminar: “Engineered Biomaterials for Regeneration, Therapy, and Beyond” Akhilesh K Gaharwar, Texas A&M University

Wu and Chen Auditorium (Room 101), Levine Hall 3330 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States

Engineered biomaterials have emerged as powerful tools for a range of biomedical applications, including regenerative medicine, drug delivery, and additive manufacturing. These engineered biomaterials possess tunable biophysical properties, specific biochemical cues, and complex architecture, enabling precise control over cellular behavior. In this talk, I will outline three biomaterials-based approaches developed in our lab for biomedical […]

IDEAS/STAT Optimization Seminar: “Negative Stepsizes Make Gradient-Descent-Ascent Converge”

Amy Gutmann Hall, Room 414 3333 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, United States

Zoom link: https://upenn.zoom.us/j/98220304722 Abstract: Solving min-max problems is a central question in optimization, games, learning, and controls. Arguably the most natural algorithm is Gradient-Descent-Ascent (GDA), however since the 1970s, conventional wisdom has argued that it fails to converge even on simple problems. This failure spurred the extensive literature on modifying GDA with extragradients, optimism, momentum, anchoring, […]

MEAM Master’s Thesis Defense: “Learning a Vision-Based Footstep Planner for Hierarchical Walking Control on Unstructured Terrain”

David Rittenhouse Laboratory Building, Room 4C4 209 S. 33rd Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States

Bipedal robots demonstrate high potential in navigating challenging terrains through dynamic ground contact. However, current frameworks often depend solely on proprioception or use manually designed visual processing pipelines, which are fragile in real-world settings and complicate real-time footstep planning in unstructured environments. To overcome this problem, this work proposes a vision-based hierarchical control framework that […]

BE-Grace Hopper Distinguished Lecture: Melody Swartz, PhD “Immunoregulatory roles of lymphatic vessels in cancer and opportunities for immunoengineering”

Berger Auditorium (Room 13), Skirkanich Hall 210 South 33rd Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States

Tumor lymphangiogenesis, which involves both the activation and growth induction of surrounding lymphatic vessels, is well-known to correlate with tumor progression and metastasis in many solid tumors. While it is typically assumed that lymphangiogenesis supports an ‘escape route’ for cells to leave the primary tumor, the tumor-draining lymph node serves as the key site of […]

Spring 2025 GRASP on Robotics: Phillip Isola, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, “Robots and Artificial Life from Visual Foundation Models”

Wu and Chen Auditorium (Room 101), Levine Hall 3330 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States

This will be a hybrid event with in-person attendance in Wu and Chen and virtual attendance on Zoom. ABSTRACT I will talk about two ways we can design agents with the help of powerful vision/graphics models. In the first project, LucidSim, we augment a traditional robotics simulation engine (MuJoCo) with visual detail from an image […]

Spring 2025 Robotics MSE Thesis and Capstone Lightning Talks and Poster Session

Wu & Chen Auditorium

This is an in-person event with in-person attendance in Wu and Chen Auditorium for Lightning Talks and Levine Lobby for Poster Session. This year we will have an "Audience Choice" for best Lightning Talk and Poster. Please be sure to vote for your favorite! Voting will take place during the Poster Session using a QR […]

MEAM Seminar: “Atmospheric Boundary Layer Simulations for Wind Energy”

Wu and Chen Auditorium (Room 101), Levine Hall 3330 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States

The growth in wind energy is driving a need to understand how wind turbines perform under a range of atmospheric conditions. Under stably stratified conditions, for example, wind turbine wakes can persist for long distances and impact the performance of downwind turbines. Additionally, variations in surface topography, from shallow depressions to steep mountains, can deflect […]

CBE Special Guest Lecture: “Preventing, Understanding and Reducing End-Customers’ Power Supply Outages with Digital Twins” (Panayiotis Moutis, City College of New York)

Raisler Lounge (Room 225), Towne Building 220 South 33rd Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States

Abstract: Blackouts have become rarer in the last decade. However, equipment wear and faults (some predictable)affect smaller scales but many parts of Distribution Networks (DNs) more frequently and add up to several hours of interruptions per customer per year. Also, utilities will preemptively de-energize thousands of customers in the path or vicinity of forest fires […]

Steering Higher Ed Through Rough Seas: Three Bold Strategies to Navigate the Future

Wu and Chen Auditorium (Room 101), Levine Hall 3330 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States

Higher education is navigating intense political pressure, shifting demographics, rising costs and evolving workforce demands. In this talk, John Katzmann will detail three strategies for sustaining academic excellence while lowering administrative costs, expanding reach and impact, and regaining public trust.