ECE News

As quantum technologies move from research laboratories toward real-world applications, Michigan State University is helping prepare the next generation of students to take part.

More than 200 researchers, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers and government partners gathered in East Lansing on Aug. 11 for the 2026 Mobility Summit, themed “Michigan Moves: Building the Next Mobility Economy.”

John Albrecht has been named interim associate dean for research for the College of Engineering at Michigan State University. His appointment begins Sept.1, 2026. Albrecht has been a professor in the Departments of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Chemical Engineering and Materials Science since 2012. He has served as the executive director of the University Research Organization (URO) in the MSU Office of Research and Innovation since 2022 and will continue in the leadership role while serving as interim with the college.

For decades, silicon has been the foundation of modern electronics because it is abundant, relatively affordable and well suited to the precise control of electrical current that makes computer chips possible. But today’s most advanced systems, from AI hardware to high-power and quantum technologies, are pushing silicon harder than ever, demanding more speed, more power and operation in hotter, harsher environments. As those demands grow, heat has become a major bottleneck: silicon remains essential, but it does not move heat nearly as well as diamond, making it harder to keep next-generation devices cool, compact and reliable.

This graduation season, more than 1,100 Michigan State University College of Engineering graduates are taking their next steps into careers, research, continued education and professional growth. Their paths reflect the range of opportunities shaped by technical preparation, hands-on learning, mentorship and problem-solving.

Two faculty members from the Michigan State University College of Engineering have received among the highest honors presented to faculty members at MSU. The awards recognize outstanding faculty members for research that enhances MSU’s intellectual prominence nationally and globally.

If you’ve ever driven through a whiteout or dense fog you’ve experienced the danger of navigating with low visibility. Autonomous vehicles face the same challenge, especially in places with changing seasons because they were trained to operate in clear weather conditions.

Each year, Michigan State University’s Design Day showcases the creativity, innovation, and problem-solving skills of graduating undergraduate students as they present real-world solutions to complex challenges. Design Day is a premier undergraduate academic event highlighting the creativity and ingenuity of Spartan Engineering students. This spring, Infrastructure Planning and Facilities (IPF) proudly sponsored several student teams whose projects reflect a shared commitment to accessibility, sustainability and campus safety.

Michigan State University has awarded comprehensive scholarships to 51 extraordinary first-year students - 16 of them are headed to the College of Engineering. Alumni Distinguished Scholarships are part of a 71-year-tradition, University Distinguished Scholarships were initiated in 2000, and the Joseph R. and Sarah L. Williams Scholarships have enabled more students than ever to receive full merit awards to MSU.

Michigan State University College of Engineering students earned recognition this spring in competition, entrepreneurship, scholarships, fellowships and research. Their work spans computer science, civil engineering, biosystems engineering, elec