In this episode of The WPI Podcast, we explore NASCAR racing from an engineer’s perspective.  Phil Surgen, director of technology for Trackhouse Racing, former crew chief for NASCAR Cup Series driver Ross Chastain, and a 2004 Worcester Polytechnic Institute mechanical engineering graduate, discusses the role of engineering, technology, and teamwork in competing at the highest level of stock car racing.  Surgen talks about how data and simulators inform his team’s efforts, career opportunities for engineers in NASCAR, how his work as a student on WPI’s long-running Formula SAE race car program provided him with valuable experience, and what it’s like to work on a race team with three cars competing in NASCAR. This episode is part one of a two-part feature on Surgen. You can read more about the WPI alum’s work in auto racing in the spring 2026 issue of WPI Journal, due out in April 2026.  Related links: WPI Formula SAE  Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering Major Qualifying Projects  

Seniors realizing the first years were born in 2006 🤯

In this episode of Time To StartUp, i3 Lab hosts a thoughtful conversation with Professor Martin Burt on what it truly means to be a social entrepreneur. Drawing from his personal journey and decades of experience, Martin challenges the idea of social entrepreneurship as a label or career path, reframing it instead as a mindset shaped by listening, empathy, and lived experience. Hosted by Ardian Preci, the discussion explores the difference between helping and empowering, the importance of dignity and agency in impact-driven work, and how sustainable solutions emerge when entrepreneurs design with communities rather than for them. This episode offers an honest, systems-level perspective on building meaningful social change—especially for students, founders, and leaders seeking to turn values into action.

Rolling out the red carpet because WPI students are kind of a big deal ✨

In this episode of The WPI Podcast, we explore the role of engineering in safe skiing and ski racing, and design improvements in athletic equipment that could help prevent ACL injuries, which are common in skiing and other sports.  Christopher Brown, professor in the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, director of WPI’s sports engineering laboratory, former collegiate All-American ski racer, and former collegiate and youth ski coach, discusses the research he does with students to develop patented sports equipment designed to reduce loads that can lead to injuries like torn ACLs.   He also shares his insight on how sports science institutes leverage research and technology in the quest for success in international skiing competitions like the Olympics.  Related links:  Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering  Major Qualifying Project  Interactive Qualifying Project  Sports Engineering, Inc. 

WPI Professor Dmitry Korkin and researchers in Senegal are using a unique type of artificial intelligence to develop a tool that could not only help pathologists in tropical regions diagnose skin diseases, but also show those pathologists how AI makes its decisions.The research involves explainable artificial intelligence, an approach that draws back the curtain on AI to reveal the processes of machine-learning algorithms. The researchers say their tool can analyze skin specimen images to identify pathogens that cause mycetoma, a disease often found in rural parts of Asia, Africa, and Latin America where medical and technical resources may be limited.“AI can feel like a black box holding something that is very difficult to comprehend,” says Korkin, the Harold L. Jurist ’61 and Heather E. Jurist Dean’s Professor of Computer Science. “With explainable AI, we can build a tool that will help diagnose skin diseases and provide down-to-earth explanations about the entire decision-making process.”Known as SINDI, for Skin INfectious Diseases Intelligent framework, the tool evolved from the work of Kpetchehoue Merveille Santi Zinsou, a PhD student who arrived at WPI in 2024 for a year in Korkin’s lab under the Partnership for Skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology. Since leaving WPI, Zinsou has continued to work on SINDI within the Institute of Research for Development at UMMISCO, a research organization in Dakar, Senegal.Mycetoma causes tumor-like lesions, often on the feet, where breaks in the skin and exposure to contaminated soil or water can provide a pathway for invading pathogens. Farmers, laborers, and people who walk barefoot are especially prone to mycetoma. If not treated, mycetoma can invade deep tissues, cause deformities, and impair the body’s ability to function.Antibiotics or antifungal medications can be used to treat mycetoma, depending on the cause of the infection, but determining the cause is not always easy. Pathologists typically examine tissues and cells under a microscope to identify abnormal structures called “grains” that aid in diagnosis.Sometimes, however, grains are not visible in specimens and additional costly, time-consuming tests are needed“For patients, any delay in diagnosing the cause of mycetoma can delay proper treatment,” Zinsou says. “Tools that speed up diagnosis can help patients get the help they need so they can recover quickly.”To develop SINDI, the researchers started with a dataset of 7,000 healthy tissue images and 1,324 labeled images of tissue infected by fungal and bacterial pathogens known to often cause mycetoma. Then the researchers developed mathematical algorithms to examine the dataset images. The researchers found that the tools learned to successfully identify infected tissues and pinpoint pathogens, even when no grains were visible.“We think that the tool can find complex patterns and details, even beyond the lesion areas, that are too tiny for a human expert to detect,” Korkin says.The next step was to configure SINDI to show clinicians multiple images that would explain how the tool had identified the disease and the pathogen responsible for a patient’s lesions.The research team published their SINDI research on the biology preprint server BioRXiv. In addition to Zinsou and Korkin, authors were Habone Ahmed Mahamoud, Abdou Magib Gaye, and Maodo Ndiaye, all of Cheikh Anta Diop University and National University Hospital of Fann in Senegal; Idy Diop of Cheikh Anta Diop University in Senegal; and Doudou Sow and Cheikh Talibouya Diop, both of the University of Gaston Berger in Senegal.Zinsou says researchers in Senegal are working with pathologists to begin testing SINDI. After collecting feedback from users, the researchers plan to refine the tool, seek approval from Senegal’s Ministry of Health and Social Action, and deploy SINDI in hospitals.“We want to ensure that the tool, which users can access through a computer interface or through a mobile app in the near future, is streamlined as much as possible so it can be easily used by doctors in rural clinics to help patients who need treatment,” Zinsou says.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) has received multimillion-dollar gifts from two alumni totaling $13 million, representing significant financial commitments that will be dedicated to student scholarships. The donors, who wish to remain anonymous, credit the college with shaping their careers, broadening their worldviews, and instilling in them a lifelong commitment to learning and service. Their gifts are meant to extend such life-changing opportunities to future students. “These extraordinary commitments reflect the enduring bond our alumni feel with WPI and their belief in the power of a WPI education to transform lives,” said WPI President Grace Wang. “By investing in scholarships, they are creating a legacy that provides for the future, opening doors for talented students and ensuring that a WPI education remains accessible for generations to come.” Both gifts—one from an alumnus and his wife, and another from an alumna and her husband—will reduce financial barriers and expand access for deserving students in need. Committed as bequests, the funds are structured as long-term financial commitments, providing sustained support over time. One donor couple shared that their decision to give back was deeply personal. They credited WPI with providing support and opportunities that changed the trajectory of their lives and now want to pay that forward by helping other students. The second couple, emphasizing the ripple effect of investing in students, said they “hope to ensure that future students have the access and support they need—and that they, in turn, can give back in their own meaningful ways.” Along with a $3 million gift from Paul Covec ’64 to stimulate growth in student and faculty startups, these gifts represent major investments in the future success of WPI and its students and support Beyond These Towers: The Campaign for Worcester Polytechnic Institute. The most ambitious fundraising campaign in WPI’s history, the initiative positions the university to continue to transform lives, to turn knowledge into action to confront global challenges, and to revolutionize STEM through its distinctive and inclusive education, projects, and research. The campaign’s theme honors the towers of WPI’s first two buildings and enduring symbols of its guiding philosophy of theory and practice. Through the campaign, alumni and friends have supported undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and world-changing research, global programs, facilities, and a thriving campus community. To support Beyond These Towers: The Campaign for Worcester Polytechnic Institute, visit wpi.edu/+give.

When you think about the critical issues facing humanity, pond scum might not come to mind. But for the City of Worcester, pond scum is an ongoing problem that recently presented WPI students with an opportunity to develop hands-on scientific research skills while simultaneously giving back to their community. Three first-year students in last fall’s Smart and Sustainable Cities section of the Great Problems Seminar (GPS) developed recommendations for a water management system for Crystal Pond, which lies at the center of Worcester’s University Park, near Clark University. In the height of summer, much of the water in Crystal Pond is covered by thick clumps of filamentous algae—the more scientific term for pond scum. The algae provide food for insects and other invertebrates that live in the water but they also are a problem: The unsightly brown and green globs block sunlight from reaching plants that live below the surface, and they can steal oxygen from fish. After getting an overview of the issues at Crystal Pond from Katie Liming, the lakes and ponds coordinator for the City of Worcester, teammates Norah Hoffert ’29, Chase Wherry ’29, and Nick Carney ’29 researched how other cities and towns have managed filamentous algae growth. “By focusing on one pond, we could go more in-depth and make more specific recommendations, which ultimately could make a bigger impact,” says Hoffert, an architectural engineering major, noting that the team’s recommendations could be adapted to meet the needs of other ponds and lakes throughout Worcester.Cultivating collaboration The partnership between the GPS class and the city was mutually beneficial. The two-term course is designed to introduce first-year students to WPI’s signature project-based curriculum while learning how to do university-level research. This year marked the first time that each of the student teams in the Smart and Sustainable Cities section worked directly with a representative from the cities of Worcester or Cambridge on a topic related to existing municipal projects or goals. The idea to have teams conduct research for specific municipal projects grew out of work that Stephen McCauley, who co-teaches the section, does with the Green Worcester Advisory Committee, a volunteer group of city residents that supports the Department of Sustainability and Resilience. He approached city officials about partnering with student groups and they responded enthusiastically. “They took my initial list of project ideas and revised it to focus on specific projects that would be really helpful for the city,” says McCauley, associate professor of teaching in the Department of Integrative and Global Studies (digs). He collaborated with co-instructor Katherine Foo, assistant professor of teaching in DIGS, to ensure a reasonable scope for each project, given WPI’s accelerated term schedule. The pair then worked with the 27 students in the class to develop seven teams. All of the Worcester projects related in some way to environmental conservation or sustainability. In addition to mitigation options for the algae at Crystal Pond, teams examined the effects of PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” in artificial turf fields; the benefits of large canopy trees; managing invasive species; adjusting ordinances to allow for landscaping with native plants; and evaluating infrastructure challenges related to green design guidelines. A final team explored options for expanding the City of Cambridge’s participatory budget process, which allows city residents to choose specific projects to get some public funds. Teams unveiled their recommendations in early December to WPI faculty, students, staff, and alumni who attended the GPS poster presentation, the annual event showcasing work from students in all of the seminar sections. This year 41 teams from eight sections participated. In a separate session, students in the Smart and Sustainable Cities section offered their recommendations to their municipal project sponsors, who had a chance to ask questions.Long-term benefits The Crystal Pond team settled on a three-pronged, long-term approach to minimize runoff from nutrients responsible for the algae: • Add more vegetative buffer around the pond, prioritizing native plants. • Upgrade the pond’s existing aeration system. • Place educational signage throughout the park to discourage people from feeding the geese. “It’s not necessarily the geese themselves that are the problem,” Hoffert explains. “It’s the goose poop, which gets in the water and causes excess nutrients.” All three team members enjoy knowing that their work could result in a prettier park for members of the public to enjoy. And even though what they learned about water quality during this project isn’t directly applicable to their chosen fields of study, they know they learned valuable skills. Wherry, a biology and biotechnology major says, “Coming up with ways to implement viable options will definitely be use...

In this episode of The WPI Podcast, we explore the launch of Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s new Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence—why the demand for specialized AI talent is accelerating, what makes WPI’s approach distinctive, and how the program prepares students to apply AI across disciplines and industries. Featuring faculty leaders behind the degree’s design, the conversation highlights WPI’s project-based learning model, strong industry connections, and the integration of responsible AI practices throughout the curriculum as the university prepares the next generation of AI innovators.

At an event at Worcester City Hall, the City of Worcester and Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) today formally signed an agreement to launch the Academic Civic Collaborative, a new framework designed to strengthen coordination between the municipality and the university around community-centered, Worcester-based academic projects. Announced at the same event, the City of Worcester, WPI, and the Central Massachusetts Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIACM) also introduced the Design and Community Partnership, a separate design-focused partnership aligned with—and advancing the goals of—the broader Collaborative. “This Academic Civic Collaborative reflects Worcester’s commitment to leveraging local talent, creativity, and academic excellence to benefit our neighborhoods and communities,” said Worcester City Manager Eric D. Batista. “By working hand-in-hand with WPI and project partners, we are developing thoughtful, inclusive design solutions that directly respond to the needs of our residents. The Collaborative will benefit both Worcester students and residents for years to come and is exactly the kind of civic collaboration that moves a city forward.” “Projects like these are possible because of the strong public-private collaborations Worcester has with partners like WPI and AIACM,” said Mayor Joseph Petty. “The Academic Civic Collaborative and the Design & Community Partnership will help the city plan and build for the future.” The Academic Civic Collaborative builds on more than two decades of WPI projects in Worcester—including hundreds of initiatives completed through the Worcester Community Project Center—and provides a consistent structure for municipally-identified student projects to be advanced annually, reinforcing Worcester’s role as a key partner within WPI’s project-based learning model. “WPI’s mission has always been rooted in harnessing science, engineering, and design to serve the public good,” said WPI President Grace J. Wang. “The Academic Civic Collaborative deepens our engagement with the City of Worcester and strengthens our commitment to community-driven project work. The Design and Community Partnership is a powerful early example of how this work will create new opportunities for our architectural engineering students and meaningfully contribute to the city we proudly call home.” Through the Design and Community Partnership, the municipality, WPI, and AIACM will advance community-centered design efforts across Worcester, including small-scale civic structures, adaptive reuse concepts, housing prototypes, public space enhancements, and sustainability initiatives. These projects connect students and faculty with architects, engineers, trade professionals, residents, and municipal leaders to pair educational value with civic impact. “Architects have a responsibility to serve the greater good, and this partnership creates an extraordinary platform for design to make a measurable difference in people’s lives,” said Sean Brennan, President of AIACM and a lifelong Worcester resident. “Together with WPI and the municipality, we are cultivating the next generation of designers and supporting the regional design community, all while advancing projects that strengthen Worcester’s civic fabric.” Building on more than a decade of successful WPI architectural engineering projects in the community—such as the Elm Park Bridge replacement and the WWI Memorial in Green Hill Park, and recent conceptual work related to resource shelters—the design partnership supports continued collaboration while expanding workforce pathways and strengthening the regional design ecosystem. “WPI has a long tradition of successful architectural engineering projects in the community,” said Steven Van Dessel, director of the Architectural Engineering Program at WPI. “Our students are eager to work on real-world challenges, and this collaboration with the City and AIACM gives them the opportunity to apply their engineering and design expertise where it matters most—right here in Worcester.” Under this coordinated effort, the City of Worcester will identify priority projects, coordinate across municipal departments, facilitate community engagement, and ensure that design concepts align with long-term planning goals and neighborhood needs. AIACM will serve as a liaison among the municipality, WPI, and participating design professionals—providing professional expertise, convening community engagement sessions, and offering overall coordination and oversight. Additional initiatives, partnerships, and projects will be announced as future opportunities are identified and developed.