Penn Engineering @PennEngineers

In EAS 5500: Applying Your Thesis to the Real World, Penn Engineering Ph.D. students explore how their research can create real-world impact. Taught by @VanessaZChan, the course explores the market, policy, manufacturing and adoption challenges that shape whether new technologies succeed beyond the lab. bit.ly/4oprgbe

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"When the answer isn't obvious, when the incentives are loud and the timelines are tight, may our class have the integrity to pause. To think. To choose wisely." Watch remarks from Penn Engineering's 2026 Undergraduate Speaker, Julia Fremberg (ENG'26).

Read more: forbes.com/30-under-30/20…

Congratulations to Harrison Chong (MEAM’27, W’27) on being named to the @Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2026 list in the Social Impact category. Chong cofounded Jalan Journey, a social enterprise that creates online educational games designed to help students develop emotional skills and engage more deeply with social issues. Since its founding in 2022, the platform has reached more than 25,000 learners across Southeast Asia. “When I started Jalan Journey, I simply wanted to create learning experiences that helped young people feel, reflect, and care more deeply,” says Chong. “To have that work recognized by Forbes is surreal and deeply humbling. It reminds me how far I have come, but also how much more I have to do.” Congratulations, Harrison!

Listen to the full podcast today. youtu.be/XOijfgbLDS0

Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna joins Vijay Kumar in episode 12 of Penn Engineering’s Innovation & Impact podcast to discuss electric vehicles, innovation leadership and balancing new technologies with Ferrari’s legacy of performance and design.

Quantum science is becoming more hands-on at Penn Engineering thanks to ESE 3200: The Qubit Lab, where students work directly with optical and solid-state quantum experiments using research-grade equipment from @thorlabs. Led by Lee Bassett and Anthony Sigillito (@Penn_ESE), the course brings quantum concepts to life. Interested students can register for ESE 3200: The Qubit Lab in Fall 2026.

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Read more: cifar.ca/cifar-global-s…

Ottman Tertuliano, AMA Family Assistant Professor in @MEAM_Penn, has been selected into the 2026 CIFAR Global Scholars program (@CIFAR_News). Tertuliano's research explores how cells communicate mechanically within bone tissue during development and is already expanding into new collaborative questions, including how changes in the mechanical properties of the placenta during pregnancy could help predict health outcomes. The CIFAR Global Scholars program supports emerging research leaders worldwide through collaborative opportunities, international convening and unrestricted research funding.

Congratulations to Ludwig Zhao, @pennbioeng Ph.D. candidate, on receiving the 2025-26 President & Provost’s Honor for Developing New Initiatives in Graduate & Professional Student Life. Zhao was recognized for his leadership within GAPSA, service on University committees and advocacy for research students at Penn. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition, Ludwig! bit.ly/3PJsBN2

Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna joins Vijay Kumar on the Penn Engineering podcast to discuss his journey from physicist and semiconductor innovator to leading one of the world’s most iconic automotive brands. The conversation explores Ferrari’s evolving approach to electrification, digital transformation and high-performance engineering, as well as the importance of pairing deep technical expertise with long-term vision. youtu.be/XOijfgbLDS0 @PennEngAI

In a recent conversation, @jamiecgrant (C’98, GEd’99), Senior Associate Director for @PennEngineers at @PennCareerJobs, discussed how students can use AI while continuing to build the judgment and foundational skills employers value. bit.ly/4uYHM3Z #AIandCareer

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Leading the University of Pennsylvania's 270th Commencement procession, Penn Engineering's Class of 2026 marches into the future with excitement and the knowledge they need to accomplish their goals and responsibly impact the world. Congratulations, Class of 2026! #PennEngineeringProud #PennGrad

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Congratulations to Penn Engineering's Class of 2026! In her speech, student speaker Julia Fremberg (ENG’26) drew a parallel between Penn’s interconnected buildings and the vital bonds between students. "As you move from place to place, from goal to goal, never forget to cherish those in-between moments. The E-Quad tunnels were never just about getting somewhere faster. They were about who you found—and who you became—along the way." #PennEngineeringProud #PennGrad

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Penn Engineering’s Class of 2026 master’s graduates have turned their tassels and are prepared to step into the next chapter equipped with the knowledge, experience and determination they’ve accumulated at Penn. Keynote speaker Vanessa Lyon (GEng'24) encouraged the graduates to embrace lifelong learning and use their skills to solve humanity’s biggest challenges: "Tools change fast. Faster than you realize. What doesn't change is your ability to reason about what's underneath." Congratulations, master's graduates! #PennEngineeringProud #PennGrad

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U.S. @SenMcCormickPA visited @NSF AIRFoundry for a close look at how AI and automation are accelerating RNA science, and emphasized the importance of federal research support to help move ideas from the lab toward real-world impact. “Every time I come to Penn for a visit,” said McCormick, “I just leave inspired by the incredible discoveries and progress.” @PennEngAI

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Introducing Penn Engineering's Class of 2026 doctoral graduates. Representing six engineering departments, these new Ph.D. holders are prepared to make an impact across industries and the world. Congratulations to all the graduates! #PennEngineeringProud #PennGrad

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Penn Engineering recently hosted “Beyond the Benchtop,” a workshop focused on reimagining graduate education in energy and sustainability. The workshop brought together attendees from a broad range of interdisciplinary backgrounds and roles for discussions and active learning sessions on community engagement, real-world impact, and the evolving role of graduate education in addressing energy and climate challenges. Lorena Grundy, @CBE_Penn professor and event organizer, says, "I’m confident that the collaborations we’re building here will ripple into incredible opportunities for our future students, and I’m excited that Penn Engineering is a national leader in innovative climate education."

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Read more: scientificamerican.com/article/mollus…

The future of stronger, more sustainable materials may lie inside the mollusk shell. @ShuYangPenn, Joseph Bordogna Professor in @MSEatPenn, is taking inspiration from nacre, the iridescent lining inside mollusk shells, to rethink how ceramics are made. Unlike traditional ceramics, which are strong but brittle and energy-intensive to manufacture, nacre’s layered structure combines calcium carbonate with flexible organic proteins, creating a material that is more durable. Taking inspiration from this process, Yang’s lab grows ceramics on organic scaffolds, mimicking the way minerals bind to structures during bone formation in the human body.