University of Washington College of Engineering

09/04/2026

Between cellphone signals and optical technologies lies a once-overlooked part of the electromagnetic spectrum: the terahertz band. 📶

UW Electrical & Computer Engineering professor Hossein Naghavi is developing new ways to harness terahertz waves for imaging and sensing. As part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Genesis Mission, his team is working on low-power, high-bandwidth imaging technology that could eventually power augmented reality headsets capable of seeing through smoke, fog, debris and other challenging environments.

Naghavi spoke with UW News about the project, the potential of terahertz technology and what it will take to make it practical in the real world.

Read the full Q&A: https://bit.ly/4d40TD1

Hossein Naghavi, an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at the UW, explores new applications for an underused segment of the electromagne

09/03/2026

Earlier this summer, high school students from across the Seattle area came to the University of Washington for a week of hands-on exploration, design and problem solving. �

Engineering Academy introduces students to the breadth of engineering through design challenges, conversations with UW students and faculty, campus tours and opportunities to see how different engineering fields can make an impact in their communities.

See some of the action from this year’s Engineering Academy. �

09/01/2026

Applications are now officially open for two new UW Engineering graduate programs in robotics! ⚙️

The cross-disciplinary M.S. and Graduate Certificate in Robotics are designed for professionals and engineering graduates looking to build advanced knowledge and practical experience in robotics, autonomous systems, intelligent manufacturing and AI-driven innovation.

Whether you’re looking to deepen your expertise or build new in-demand robotics skills, find out what each program offers and how to apply. Applications close on September 10.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/4cPc6qR

Accelerate your robotics expertise with a graduate program designed for engineers ready to lead in autonomous systems, intelligent manufacturing, and AI-driven innovation.

08/31/2026

Washington state has emerged as a major hub for robotics innovation, fueled by advances in AI, growing investment in automation, and demand by companies such as Amazon, Microsoft and NVIDIA. ⚙️

To help meet that need, UW Engineering recently launched two new graduate offerings for autumn: a Master of Science in Robotics and a Graduate Certificate in Applied Robotics. Recently approved by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, the programs were created in response to the field's shift from a specialized engineering discipline into a foundational technology sector increasingly shaped by AI.

Applications open tomorrow, September 1. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4qKszTf

New cross-disciplinary Robotics graduate programs prepare engineers to lead the future of intelligent systems, advanced manufacturing, autonomous technologies and physical AI.

08/28/2026

Millions of Americans live in areas at risk of landslides, but until recently, there wasn’t a way to see that risk at the individual building level nationwide. 🏔️

University of Washington Civil & Environmental Engineering researchers developed the Landslide Exposure Database, which rates 128 million buildings by landslide susceptibility and combines that information with population and socioeconomic data. The researchers estimate that around 6.5 million people live in landslide-prone areas, which they hope can give emergency managers and communities a better picture of where education and mitigation efforts may be needed.

UW CEE professor Joseph Wartman recently spoke with Gizmodo about the research, including why understanding who is exposed is just as important as understanding where landslides are likely to occur.

More from Gizmodo: https://bit.ly/4gQk59D

These disasters can be deadly, and understanding your risk will become increasingly important as the world warms.

08/27/2026

Congratulations to UW Engineering faculty Alberto Aliseda, Dwayne Arola, Nikolla Qafoku, Michael Regnier and Nathalie Viosin on being elected to the Washington State Academy of Sciences! 🎉

They are among 12 University of Washington faculty members elected this year in recognition of outstanding scientific and technical achievement. Their research covers a wide range of areas, from human health and advanced materials to environmental systems and energy resilience.

Help us congratulate them in the comments and learn more about their work: https://bit.ly/4qDCTMF

Eleven faculty members at the University of Washington have been elected to the Washington State Academy of Sciences while another was elected to the WSAS Board

08/26/2026

How do you store information in a way that can still be understood centuries in the future? One answer might be DNA. 🧬

For America’s 250th anniversary, the Library of Congress created a new time capsule designed to be opened 250 years from now. But digital technologies can quickly become obsolete, so the Library wanted a way to preserve information that future generations could still access and interpret. They turned to Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering professor Chris Takahashi for help.

Takahashi sat down with KUOW Public Radio to explain how digital information can be translated into DNA for long-term storage, why DNA is so well suited to preserving data and what it takes to make sure that information can still be decoded centuries from now.

Listen to the interview: https://bit.ly/4yoy50v

How do you store a TON of data in a very small package for 250 year...

08/25/2026

We are pleased to announce the appointment of University of Washington Civil & Environmental Engineering professor Faisal Hossain as the new Assistant Dean for Professional and Executive Programs. 🎉

As assistant dean, Hossain will focus on UW Engineering's portfolio of professional master’s programs, executive and continuing education, certificates and custom industry programs in partnership with academic and industry partners.

Hossain’s appointment reflects his outstanding record of research, education and public engagement. He has published extensively and is known for his work on hydrologic remote sensing, sustainable water resources engineering, transboundary water management and improving water access for all.

Learn more about Hossain and the new appointment:

The civil and environmental engineering professor will begin his appointment on October 1.

08/20/2026

Congratulations to UW Electrical & Computer Engineering professor Hossein Naghavi on leading a multi-institutional research project selected for the U.S. Department of Energy's Genesis Mission! 🎉

The Genesis Mission brings together researchers across government, industry and academia to accelerate scientific discovery using technologies including AI, supercomputing and advanced scientific instruments. Naghavi’s team is developing a low-power augmented reality headset that combines intelligent sensing and terahertz imaging, with the goal of allowing users to see through smoke, fog, debris and other nonconductive materials.

“This is an exciting project that is rethinking how intelligent sensors are built, and by doing so, the research is supporting national priorities in energy-efficient computing and next-generation hardware,” says Naghavi.

Learn more about the project: https://bit.ly/4xVNGnW

By Wayne Gillam / UW ECE News

08/19/2026

We are excited to announce the launch of two new UW Engineering Robotics programs! ⚙️

These cross-disciplinary programs are designed for professionals and engineering graduates seeking advanced knowledge and practical experience in robotics, autonomous systems, artificial intelligence, sensing, controls and related technologies.

Applications for the M.S. in Robotics and the Graduate Certificate in Robotics open early September.

Learn more about the programs and how to enroll: https://bit.ly/4cPc6qR

Accelerate your robotics expertise with a graduate program designed for engineers ready to lead in autonomous systems, intelligent manufacturing, and AI-driven innovation.