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WPI Faculty Awarded $600,000 Carnegie Corporation Grant for “Mapping Global China”

WPI faculty members Jennifer Rudolph, historian of modern China and professor in humanities and arts, and Lane Harrison, data visualization expert and associate professor in computer science, have received a $600,000, two-year International Peace and Security Program grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York to advance an international project called Mapping Global China, with collaborator Maria Adele Carrai, assistant professor of Global China Studies at New York University Shanghai. Mapping Global China aims to help people better understand China’s expanding role on the world stage by creating an open-access digital platform that integrates curated datasets, interactive maps, and advanced data visualization. By combining qualitative and quantitative data, the initiative enables scholars, policymakers, educators, and students to explore how China’s global engagements intersect with local contexts and impact global structures. This innovative, interdisciplinary approach brings together expertise in history, law, economics, cartography, and geography with WPI’s strengths in computer science and data visualization to provide accessible, unbiased resources that help reposition understanding of China both within and outside of its state borders. “Mapping Global China is designed to provide a clearer, more nuanced understanding of China’s global presence,” said Rudolph. “By allowing users to access integrated and reliable data sets to create tailored maps that advance significant research questions, the site supports informed decision-making for scholars and policymakers worldwide.” The grant also supports extensive student and faculty involvement at WPI. Harrison and Rudolph are leading a collaborative effort that includes advising two Major Qualifying Project (MQP) student teams, co-advised by Diane Strong, professor in WPI’s Business School, and incorporating into the site a story map on Confucius Institutes developed by a WPI Chinese Studies minor with assistance of the Global Lab. In January 2026, a WPI PhD student in computer science will join the project to incorporate cutting-edge machine learning and visualization technologies to take the project and the field to new levels. A second advanced WPI PhD student in computer science will join in year two of the grant. In addition to the interactive digital platform that will allow users to create their tailored maps, the project will produce a collected volume, Global China: Histories, Methods, Encounters, co-edited by Rudolph and Carrai, as well as an atlas. The Mapping Global China initiative also includes themed working groups, research briefs, story maps, and interviews with experts on various aspects of China’s global impact.

WPI Researchers Send Experiment to Space Aboard Blue Origin Spacecraft

Equipment from the lab of Jamal Yagoobi is prepared for launch aboard a Blue Origin spacecraft. A WPI experiment focused on a new way to prevent electronics from overheating flew into space Sept. 18, 2025, aboard a Blue Origin spacecraft, giving researchers led by Jamal Yagoobi a critical opportunity to advance their technology by testing it in zero-gravity and multi-gravity settings. The uncrewed suborbital flight lasted just over 10 minutes, including slightly more than three minutes of weightlessness, and carried more than 40 scientific and research payloads. Blue Origin’s New Shepard spacecraft blasted off and landed at a site near El Paso, Texas, while Yagoobi, the George F. Fuller Professor of Mechanical Engineering, watched a live webcast of the flight in his Multi-Scale Heat Transfer (MHT) Laboratory with students who had worked on the WPI experiment. “Many people, including students and collaborators at NASA, deserve credit for working hard on this project during the years leading up to this mission,” says Yagoobi. “The results of our experiment aboard the flight confirm that our design can significantly reduce the surface temperatures of electronics in zero-gravity and much higher gravity conditions. Because of the excellent results we obtained, we are very close to commercializing our electrohydrodynamic cooling technology, as our project has reached a new level of maturity as designated by NASA’s Technology Readiness Level.” The project, funded by NASA, sought to address an out-of-this-world challenge that could have implications for future spaceships and satellites. On Earth, liquids boil upon encountering hot objects, and vapor carries away the heat, making boiling a liquid an efficient way to cool heated items. However, in space, where there is no gravity, vapor bubbles cannot rise from a boiling liquid and heat does not dissipate effectively or at all. To enable heat transfer in small spaces to avoid overheating, Yagoobi and his team adopted an electrohydrodynamic approach.

WPI and MCPHS Expand Longstanding Partnership with New Degree Pathways

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) and Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS), two nationally recognized institutions with complementary strengths in health science and biomedical engineering, are expanding their academic partnership with new degree pathways. Building on a long-standing relationship, this new agreement creates streamlined pathways for students to pursue advanced degrees across disciplines such as pharmacy and biomedical engineering—while remaining immersed in Worcester’s thriving academic and innovation ecosystem. The expanded partnership promotes collaborations of mutual interest and benefit and formalizes a series of articulated degree programs that will allow qualified undergraduate students from one institution to seamlessly transition into graduate programs at the other. These pathways are designed to help students accelerate their education, broaden their career prospects, and contribute to the evolving landscape of healthcare, life sciences, and technology. Students graduating from WPI with degrees in biology, chemistry, or related STEM fields will now have streamlined access to advanced degrees at MCPHS, including the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program. Similarly, MCPHS students completing degrees in molecular biology, biotechnology, or pharmacy will be able to pursue graduate-level studies at WPI in biomedical engineering. The agreement comes at a pivotal moment, as interdisciplinary knowledge and collaboration are increasingly essential to addressing global challenges. With Worcester emerging as a regional hub for biotechnology, medical research, and advanced manufacturing, WPI and MCPHS are uniquely positioned to train professionals who will drive innovation and improve lives. “By creating clear, cross-institutional pathways that connect WPI’s strengths in biomedical engineering with MCPHS’s expertise in pharmacy and health sciences, we are preparing students to advance from rigorous undergraduate programs into specialized graduate study,” said WPI President Grace Wang. “These programs will produce highly skilled professionals ready to make real impact, from leading breakthrough medical research to developing innovative biotech and pharmaceutical solutions that improve health and fuel the growth of the life sciences economy.” “Through this agreement, this partnership reflects the spirit of collaboration that defines Worcester’s higher education ecosystem. MCPHS is proud to strengthen our long-standing partnership with WPI, creating new opportunities for students to seamlessly advance their education and careers at the intersection of healthcare, life sciences, and technology,” said Richard Lessard, president of MCPHS. The degree pathways feature clearly defined academic journeys, streamlined admissions processes, and personalized advising from faculty and admissions liaisons at both institutions. Students will benefit from an efficient transition between institutions to study in the heart of Worcester, a city rich with opportunity, innovation, and a strong sense of community. Students enrolled in these programs must meet GPA and course prerequisites, and final admissions decisions will be handled by the relevant program at each institution. Details for each program pairing will be available on the WPI and MCPHS websites, ensuring transparency and consistency. This agreement reflects a shared mission to empower students, support workforce development in the region, and strengthen the city’s position as a center of academic and professional excellence.

WPI Joins Neuroarts Academic Network

Jean King, the Peterson Family Dean of Arts and Sciences, has been named to the newly launched Neuroarts Academic Network (NAN). The network, created by the NeuroArts Blueprint Initiative, brings together leaders from 38 universities and organizations worldwide to advance the emerging interdisciplinary field of neuroarts—the study of how the arts affect the brain, body, and behavior and how this knowledge is applied to improve health and well-being. King’s appointment highlights both her expertise at the intersection of arts and humanities with neuroscience and WPI’s commitment to exploring how creative expression can drive innovation and well-being. At WPI, King has championed cross-disciplinary approaches that integrate the arts and sciences, reflecting the university’s broader mission to harness creativity and research in ways that positively impact society. NAN seeks to establish neuroarts as a recognized academic and professional field. The network’s goals include connecting existing programs, encouraging new research and training opportunities, building career pathways that combine the arts and health, and supporting the long-term growth of the field. “I am honored to join the Neuroarts Academic Network and contribute to this important effort to show how the arts and creative expression can shape our health, our communities, and our future,” said King. “This field has long been a passion of mine, and I am excited to help advance the science that shows the transformative power of the arts in our lives.”

Celebrating A Decade of Data Science at WPI

Q: Looking back to the program’s launch, what problem in higher education or industry were you trying to solve? A: It was clear there was a talent gap. Businesses, government, and organizations needed skilled workers who could access big data, analyze it, and turn it into insights to drive decision-making, from sales and sciences to services. There weren’t enough people with the right skills. As the world grew more data-driven, we at WPI saw an opportunity to step in, using our expertise to educate the next generation of data professionals and help drive the economy forward. Q: A decade ago, “data science” wasn’t a common term—most people talked about “big data.” How did you decide on the program’s name? A: I vividly remember trying to find the appropriate name for this new major. As an interdisciplinary team of colleagues from computer science, mathematical sciences, and business, we spent half of the time designing the curriculum, and half of the time we were having fun debating what to call it. In retrospect, the name we chose fit perfectly: We’re working with data and we’re answering fundamental scientific questions. Calling it “data science” gave the program academic staying power. And we got it right—today, everyone uses the term “data scientists” for the data modeling professionals in this field. Q: How close is WPI’s program today to your original vision? A: I’d say 110%. We dreamed big, and it has come together even better than we dreamed. The program now delivers rigorous training in mathematical foundations—like statistical machine learning—while offering a wide range of cutting-edge computational courses, from deep learning and reinforcement learning to natural language processing and beyond. When we started, we knew there was great potential, but what has now become reality and the impact it allows us to make on our students is truly rewarding. 2020 WiDS conference poster presentation Q: How has demand from industry influenced the direction of the program? A: From day one, we set out to make this a program where students don’t just graduate with knowledge—they graduate with the skill set to immediately excel in their profession. In that sense, industry demand has been our compass. To ensure that, I formed an executive industry advisory board for data science composed of professional leaders in the field. They share real-time insights on where their companies—and the field at large—are heading, allowing us to have a finger on the pulse through the disruptive transformations we encountered, from COVID-19 to the invention of generative AI. Those insights don’t just inform us, they help us transform our curriculum. Courses and projects have been developed from those conversations, ensuring our students aren’t just prepared for meeting the demands of today’s jobs but are also equipped to shape tomorrow’s opportunities. Q: What kinds of companies and industries do you engage with? 2018 multi-drug interaction analysis research A: We engage with companies across all industries. Our graduates work in banking, finance, healthcare, engineering, energy, startups, global corporations, and government labs. They’ve joined organizations like National Grid, Google DeepMind, DataRobot, Bose, Microsoft, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Capital One, Mitre Corporation, Dell Technologies, Fidelity Investments, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and many more. Because data science is so versatile, our students can be found contributing to nearly every sector. Q: What’s the “secret sauce” of WPI’s success in data science? A: Our students develop a distinctive combination of skills. They know how to analyze data and use computational tools, but they also have strong communication, collaboration, and business skills. They’re willing to dive in and tackle complex problems, working closely with engineers, marketers, or social scientists—whatever the challenge requires. That flexibility makes them highly sought-after and opens doors to a wide array of career opportunities. 2019 GQP presentation Q: What unique opportunities does WPI offer data science students? A: One of the most distinctive opportunities in the data science program at WPI is the Graduate Qualifying Project (GQP) we offer in close partnership with our industry partners. Every master’s student tackles a real-world project sponsored by industry—not hypothetical problems, but actual challenges companies need solved. It’s similar to a focused internship or co-op. Students contribute to products, processes, and even intellectual property for their sponsoring company while gaining hands-on experience they can showcase on their résumés. Our WPI faculty play a key role in mentoring these projects. Similar opportunities are available to undergraduate students as well. Q: Technology has changed rapidly over the past 10 years. How has the curriculum kept pace? A: We constantly update. While some of the core principles remain the same, tools and techniques evolve quickly. Every year faculty adjust their existing courses and design new ones to stay current. This year, for example, we launched an experimental course on natural language processing and large language models, while last year we added courses in machine learning operations (known as MLOps) and responsible AI. Our strong PhD program, along with WPI’s support for hiring faculty experts in emerging areas, allows us to quickly translate cutting-edge research into project-based learning and teaching. Q: In what ways has the data science program shaped WPI’s broader AI offerings? A: Here at WPI, data science and AI are inseparable. Our faculty have been at the forefront of applying machine learning and deep learning to solve problems—that’s AI. Many of our data science faculty hold joint appointments in computer science and other departments across campus, so their expertise naturally extends to AI research and teaching. Industry demand for skills like natural language processing pushed us to hire in those areas, which in turn strengthened WPI’s AI program. You could say the growth of data science in terms of faculty recruitment and curriculum development helped lay the foundation for AI at WPI. Q: Looking ahead, what’s your roadmap for the next decade? A: I see a decade where data science and AI fuse even more—but the real frontier isn’t just technology; it’s humanity. By partnering with other disciplines, including social sciences, we can understand the human impact of automation, build safeguards, and ensure systems are trustworthy and empowering. The goal is clear: Create technologies that amplify human potential and serve society. That’s not just our roadmap—it’s our mission, with excitement and challenges of the next decade.

WPI Researchers Pioneer Advances to Make Next-Generation Lithium Batteries Safer, More Sustainable, and Ready for Widespread Use

Battery technology researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) recently published major studies in two top-tier journals that address some of the biggest challenges in the field. Led by Professor Yan Wang, William B. Smith Professor of Mechanical and Materials Engineering and a widely recognized innovator in battery technologies, the studies in Joule and Materials Today focus on improving the performance and stability of all-solid-state lithium batteries and on ways to recycle lithium-metal batteries safely and efficiently. Safe and scalable lithium-metal battery recycling In Joule, Wang’s team reports a safe, scalable, and economically viable method for recycling highly reactive lithium-metal anodes. By using a “self-driven” aldol condensation reaction in commercial acetone, the researchers converted spent lithium-metal anodes into lithium carbonate (Li₂CO₃) at 99.79% purity—surpassing industry standards for battery-grade materials. The recovered lithium carbonate was then used to produce new cathode materials with electrochemical performance comparable to commercial counterparts, demonstrating real-world feasibility. This breakthrough offers a pathway to reduce dependence on mining while lowering costs and accelerating the adoption of cleaner technologies. “This method is an effective solution to one of the most pressing challenges in the battery industry,” said Wang. “By turning a safety liability into a driving force for recovery, we’ve created a process that is both practical for industry adoption and critical for building a more sustainable energy future.” Advancing solid-state battery design The research team’s work published in Materials Today tackles another barrier to next-generation batteries: the poor compatibility of halide-based solid-state electrolytes with lithium-metal anodes. Traditionally, these systems require protective interlayers that add cost and complexity. The WPI team introduced iron doping into lithium-indium chloride, creating a material that achieves direct and stable contact with lithium-indium anodes without the need for a protective layer. The material retained high ionic conductivity and delivered long-term performance, with full cells cycling more than 300 times at 80% capacity retention and symmetric cells operating for over 500 hours—the first such demonstration in the field. “This work establishes iron doping as an effective strategy to simplify solid-state battery design while enhancing stability and performance,” said Wang. “Together with our recycling research, these findings represent important steps toward a future where high-performance lithium batteries are not only more powerful but also safer and more sustainable.” By tackling both the beginning and end of the battery life cycle—from safer designs to scalable recycling—WPI researchers are advancing the technologies needed for the next era of electric vehicles, portable electronics, and renewable energy storage.

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