University of Utah, John and Marcia Price College of Engineering

10/15/2026

We are thrilled to share a closer look at the John and Marcia Price College of Engineering, home to the doers, where groundbreaking research meets hands-on education.

From AI and robotics to sustainable energy and biomedical breakthroughs, our students and faculty are redefining what’s possible.

Watch this short glimpse into the world-changing ideas coming out of our labs every single day. Whether you're a prospective student, an alum, or an industry partner, there has never been a better time to build the future with us.

The Price College of Engineering is home to the Doers!

10/06/2026

Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall has officially declared today, October 6, 2026, as "Biomaterials Day in Salt Lake City"!

This recognition honors the Price College of Engineering's Department of Biomedical Engineering for its incredible contributions to health innovation and the biomedical industry.

Learn more about this special declaration and check out BME's ongoing annual BioInterface Workshop & Symposium here:

In an official Proclamation, Mayor Erin Mendenhall declared October 6, 2026 as “Biomaterials Day in Salt Lake City,” recognizing the […]

10/05/2026

Registration for Engineering Day 2026 is open!

Engineering Day is a half-day event open to high school students, undecided majors, parents, transfer students, and anyone interested in engineering at the U. This event is FREE and is designed to introduce participants to a variety of engineering disciplines.

Secure your spot by registering at our link below:
https://www.price.utah.edu/engineering-day

10/02/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Kevin Whitty on being named Executive Associate Vice President for Research Operations and Interim Chief Innovation Officer at the University of Utah.

Dr. Whitty has been a longtime leader in the department of Chemical Engineering and served as the former Associate Dean for Research in the Price College of Engineering.

Read the full announcement at the link below:
https://www.price.utah.edu/2026/09/25/university-of-utah-appoints-kevin-whitty-phd-executive-associate-vice-president-for-research-operations-and-interim-chief-innovation-officer

09/30/2026

Wildfire smoke isn't just an air quality issue—when it rains, smoke plumes deliver massive bursts of essential nutrients like nitrogen & phosphorus back to soil.

A new study co-led by Department of Chemical Engineering Professor Heather Holmes & Alexandra Ponette-González of the Natural History Museum of Utah breaks down this complex atmospheric cycle.

Read more at the link below:

Wildfire smoke is often discussed as an airborne pollutant and a risk to human health. But when smoke and rain […]

09/29/2026

"The ability to recognize how much pressure I’m putting on my wife’s hand and to feel hers back in mine is a wild idea to internalize."

Seventeen years after an accident resulted in the loss of his left arm, Alexander "Avi" Davidson is making history as the first person to bring home the University of Utah’s thought-controlled bionic arm.

Developed by Dr. Jacob George and the Utah NeuroRobotics Lab team alongside startup BIOS, this groundbreaking neuroprosthetic connects directly to nerves—giving users fine control and restoring a realistic sense of touch. Now, instead of just testing in a lab, Avi is using the arm at home to make sandwiches, write, play cards, and hold hands.

Read the full story behind this life-changing milestone:

Participant Tests Direct Nerve Interface of Thought-Controlled “LUKE Arm” at Home At age 16, Alexander “Avi” Davidson fell 35 feet […]

09/24/2026

Fifty years ago, a simple household object changed the trajectory of computer graphics forever.

At SIGGRAPH 2026, graphics pioneers Martin Newell and Jim Blinn joined Kahlert School of Computing Professor Cem Yuksel for “The Return of the Utah Teapot.” From its origins as a hand-drawn sketch on engineering paper in 1975 to becoming the ultimate test object across films, video games, and rendering research, the Utah Teapot remains a cornerstone of 3D graphics history.

Read the full story on how a tea set from ZCMI became computer science history at the link below:

Fifty years after a small digital teapot made its first appearance at SIGGRAPH, the object returned to the conference stage […]

09/18/2026

Join us for a special announcement of a first-of-its-kind clinical trial that is moving the thought-controlled “LUKE Arm” out of the laboratory and into a participant’s home for the first time!

Livestream begins at 10:30am! Don't miss it!

Join us live as researchers from the University of Utah and Biologi...

09/15/2026

Huge congratulations to Dr. Jacob George, director of the Utah NeuroRobotics Lab, for receiving a prestigious NSF CAREER Award!

Dr. George and his team are pioneering next-generation prosthetics, developing intuitive, AI-driven bionic fingers designed to restore natural dexterity and independence for amputees. This groundbreaking work is moving us closer to seamless human-technology integration.

Read more about this innovative research and what’s next for bionic tech at the link below:
price.utah.edu/2026/09/09/career-award-jacob-george-is-developing-bionic-fingers-for-amputees

09/14/2026

When self-driving vehicles get stuck or face unfamiliar routes, remote human drivers need to step in safely. But standard cellular lag makes remote driving dangerous—until now.

Professor Kobus Van Der Merwe of the Kahlert School of Computing alongside a team of collaborators from around the country are tackling this barrier through the NSF-funded DRIVE-SAFE project.

By using vehicle trajectory data to optimize NextG/5G network handoffs, the team successfully demonstrated ultra-low-latency, real-time remote vehicle operation on Utah's campus.

Read how these closed-loop networks are paving the way for safer autonomous and tele-operated transit at the link below!
https://www.price.utah.edu/2026/09/03/demonstrating-the-future-of-remotely-operated-vehicles