Electrical Engineering

��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� enters next phase to develop national quantum networking capabilities

Charles Ferrer — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 17:46:16 +0000

��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� enters next phase to develop national quantum networking capabilities Charles Ferrer Wed, 07/08/2026 - 11:46

Charles Ferrer

Krister Shalm

Researchers at ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� have advanced to the second phase of the Attosecond Synchronized Photonic Entanglement Network (ASPEN-Net), an effort to build a scalable quantum platform capable of distributing networks at high rates across large distances.

ASPEN-Net aims to develop the world’s most advanced quantum repeater network, operating thousands of times better than existing approaches. With these platforms, quantum can be leveraged across applications for computing and sensing technologies.

The National Science Foundation funded effort, led by the University of Oregon, is centered on the development of a large-scale quantum networking testbed that will be hosted by ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ��.

��Ҵ�ý�ƽ��, along with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), is at the center of opening new capabilities in quantum networks, including the ability to connect quantum computers, deliver new forms of secure communications and connect remote sensors with extreme precision.

The endeavor is co-led by Professor Juliet Gopinath, professor of electrical engineering; Krister Shalm, a member of ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� Quantum Engineering Initiative adjoint faculty member in the Department of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering and NIST quantum physicist; and Dileep Reddy, a senior research associate in the Physics Department, where they are combining their expertise in quantum engineering, photonics and physics.

“This next phase unlocks the ability for us to design a real, fieldable quantum system and perform proof-of-concept experiments,” said Gopinath. “We are excited to test new capabilities in quantum networking and carry out scientific experiments in an array of fields including metrology and astronomy.”

Juliet Gopinath

Precise timing tools not only enable new quantum repeater technology but also opens new clock synchronization capabilities essential for advanced positioning and navigation and applications.

Existing telecommunication technology, as Shalm notes, is fundamentally incompatible with the needs of a quantum network. Instead, one needs a device known as a quantum repeater to overcome the loss in communication networks.

“Right now, quantum repeaters are still in their infancy,” said Shalm. “Our aim is to build an advanced quantum repeater network through our testbed to enable new quantum applications and technologies.”

Leading universities collaborate quantum networking technologies

A key goal of the ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ��-NIST testbed is the development of an attosecond-level timing layer.

An attosecond is a brief unit of time—a decimal point followed by 17 zeroes of a second. This allows researchers to monitor and compensate for fluctuations in the length of kilometers long deployed optical fibers that are the size of a single particle of smoke in a manner compatible with the highly sensitive single-photon-level quantum signals required for the network.

During the initial phase, researchers demonstrated attosecond-level stabilization of deployed optical fibers in a manner compatible with the highly sensitive single-photon-level quantum signals required for the network. This pushed the performance of entangled photon sources to meet the demands of a functional quantum network deployment.

Each testbed site contributes unique capabilities that complement the whole ASPEN-Net effort.

Dileep Reddy

��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� will house ASPEN-Net’s main user facility, accessible both in-person to partners and remotely to the broader research community.

Through the design phase, the ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� team will perform initial demonstrations of the repeater technologies that will be eventually scaled up. The University of Oregon will focus on quantum sensing applications, including new quantum-enabled telescopes and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign will explore connections to quantum computers.

The ASPEN-Net team is supported by the Program Management Office (PMO) within the ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� Research and Innovation Office. Kate Cochran and Julia Putt of the PMO serve as the project management team for the University of Oregon's prime award.

“By building interoperable quantum networks at each location, we will encourage a unified design that will lead to scaling quantum networks at a national scale,” Reddy said.

Doing so can help accelerate commercialization and move quantum networking technology out of the laboratory.

The design phase is expected to open significant new opportunities for ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� undergraduate students, graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. ASPEN-Net is planning to actively expand its internship program and looking to engage early-career scientists in hands-on work designing a fieldable quantum network system.

Towards the end of the design phase, the consortium will have detailed plans for building out the three-site testbed proving a framework for future commercializing technologies.

“There are many unanswered questions about how to build quantum networks at scale that we aim to address," Shalm said. “Ultimately, this will allow us to build quantum repeaters for networks at a metropolitan-scale."

ASPEN-Net is a consortium of universities, national laboratories and industry partners. Original pilot sites include ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ��, University of Oregon, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of New Orleans and University of North Dakota. The Design Phase expands the consortium to include University of Massachusetts Amherst, Harvard University and additional partners from industry, academia and the public sector.

Researchers have advanced to the design phase to build a scalable quantum network capable of transmitting quantum information across long distances at unprecedented rates. The NSF-funded project aims to develop technologies to unlock new capabilities for quantum computing, communications and sensing.

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Better batteries

Hanna Nordwall — Fri, 29 May 2026 18:00:00 +0000

Better batteries Hanna Nordwall Fri, 05/29/2026 - 12:00

Susan Glairon

Illustrations by Hanna Nordwall

Improving energy storage is key to the renewable grid. Here’s how CU Engineering is getting us there.

CU Engineering researchers are working to solve one of the biggest challenges facing renewable energy: affordable, reliable energy storage.

In 2025, solar and wind accounted for roughly 90 percent of newly installed U.S. power capacity, according to a report by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. While renewables offer the most affordable source of new electricity and deliver emissions-free power, their dependence on weather and daylight makes energy storage essential to grid reliability, said Mike Toney, a professor of chemical and biological engineering.

“Better batteries will be critical to shifting our energy infrastructure away from fossil fuels.”

“There’s a need for inexpensive and safe energy storage to support renewable energy,” Toney said. “Better batteries will be critical to shifting our energy infrastructure away from fossil fuels.”

Challenges

Current battery technologies rely on materials with ethical, geopolitical and safety concerns, with end-of-life disposal posing environmental risks, Toney said.

Lithium-ion batteries are popular because they’re affordable, widely available, and can smooth out short-term fluctuations. But as more renewable energy is added to the grid, these batteries will be less suited to its demands, said Bri-Mathias Hodge, a professor of electrical, computer and energy engineering who uses computational simulations to study reliable and economical future power systems.

Hodge said that because solar and wind output change rapidly with weather and time of day, within the next decade the grid will need longer-duration storage capable of delivering electricity instantly.

“Most researchers agree it needs to be longer than 10 hours,” Hodge said.

Beyond lithium

Toney’s lab is working on one possible solution. He and his team study how electrolytes function in aqueous zinc-metal batteries, which use widely available materials — unlike lithium-ion batteries. They’re also researching sodium-ion batteries, which are inexpensive and also use abundant materials.

Associate Professor Chunmei Ban’s research focuses on what she calls “beyond lithium” battery technologies, including sodium and solid-state batteries for renewable energy and electric vehicles.

Ban, a mechanical engineer, explains that much of the supply chain for lithium batteries, including raw materials and manufacturing equipment, is concentrated outside the U.S. This makes it difficult for the U.S. to independently produce lithium batteries at scale and creates vulnerabilities in resource and technology access.

“Developing new battery materials is a very challenging and resource-intensive process,” Ban said. “Progress takes time because creating and testing new materials requires extensive modeling, material optimization and trial and error. Out of millions of possible compounds, only a small number are currently identified as suitable for batteries.”

“Developing new battery materials is a very challenging and resource-intensive process.”

Despite these challenges, Ban’s lab has successfully developed several new materials in under three years. They are being commercialized through her lab’s spinoff company, Mana Batteries.

These materials, such as new electrolytes for sodium batteries, are now being used in manufacturing and could support a wide range of applications — from grid-scale energy storage to vehicles and electronics.

“The discovery, design and synthesis of new materials present exciting opportunities for developing long-lasting and low-cost energy storage solutions for grid and vehicular applications,” Ban said.

Kimberly See will join ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� faculty in August 2026 as a Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute fellow with an appointment in chemical and biological engineering. The See Group is looking to replace metals like cobalt and nickel with more sustainable options such as iron in lithium-ion batteries to lower cost while improving safety.

“Current lithium-ion technology provides the energy density needed for diurnal cycling (charging when solar power is abundant and discharging at night), but high costs and safety concerns limit widespread grid deployment,” See said.

Beyond batteries

Another possible solution can be found in Ankur Gupta’s lab. Gupta is researching supercapacitors — energy storage devices that charge quickly and last longer than traditional batteries.

Beyond the lab

Solid Power, a CU Engineering spinout founded by mechanical engineers, went public in 2021. It is now an industry-leading developer of next-generation all-solid-state battery technology, with major partnership deals with BMW and Ford and a manufacturing facility in Thornton, Colorado. It also boasts many CU Engineering alumni among its employees.

While supercapacitors are not known for storing energy for long periods, they could help manage grid fluctuations. During sudden spikes or drops in electricity demand, supercapacitors could rapidly supply or absorb power to stabilize the grid.

“The primary appeal of supercapacitors lies in their speed,” said Gupta, an assistant professor of chemical and biological engineering.

In the end, which type of storage technology prevails all boils down to cost, Hodge said. “The uncertain costs of future storage technologies make it impossible to predict which technology will ultimately dominate.”

Improving energy storage is key to the renewable grid. Here’s how CU Engineering is getting us there

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High time

Hanna Nordwall — Tue, 19 May 2026 21:06:53 +0000

High time Hanna Nordwall Tue, 05/19/2026 - 15:06

Charles Ferrer

Scott Diddams
Professor and Lead Researcher

��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� faculty and alumni are pushing quantum science to new heights — literally

A team of scientists is attempting something no one has done before: Measuring Earth’s gravity at 14,000 feet using one of the most accurate clocks ever built.

Optical atomic clocks are instruments so precise they can detect tiny differences in the flow of time caused by Earth’s gravity.

“One of the most exciting things about quantum right now is that we’re finally moving from lab experiments to real-world environments,” said Scott Diddams, professor of electrical, computer and energy engineering and a lead researcher on the project. “We’re taking the best clock devices and testing them in entirely new ways.”

A portable optical atomic clock was transported this summer to the peak of Mt. Blue Sky — one of Colorado’s famed Fourteeners. Diddams and his colleagues then started to compare the time to another clock 9,000 feet below in Boulder through a one-of-a-kind free-space and fiber optic laser link.

Their ultimate goal: Make the most precise determination of whether a clock at higher elevations ticks at a faster rate than ones closer to Earth. If so, comparing how time flows between two elevations can unlock how we better understand our planet.

“This is about understanding the earth.”

Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity tells us that time will pass more slowly under the influence of gravity, known as the gravitational redshift.

The Mt. Blue Sky collaboration includes Diddams, NIST physicist Andrew Ludlow (PhDPhys’08); NIST physicist Laura Sinclair (PhDPhys’11), who enabled the frequency comb time transfer; and NOAA geodesist Derek van Westrum (PhDPhys’98), who provided millimeter-level benchmark measurements.

Quantum impacts

Here are just a few of the ways quantum sensing could help us understand our globe:

Tracking water movement: Changes in groundwater alter the mass beneath Earth’s surface and its gravitational potential. Precise gravity measurements could allow scientists to detect water flow for improved flood monitoring.
Sensing Earth’s surface: Earthquakes redistribute land mass, creating tiny shifts in gravity. Atomic clocks may detect changes, offering new insight into tectonic activity.
Watching magma rise: As magma accumulates beneath a volcano, the increased mass changes local gravity. Clock-based sensing could provide a clear picture of subsurface dynamics.

What makes this endeavor remarkable is that we’re seeing how atoms inside an optical clock can reveal the gravitational pull on Earth — bridging the micro and the macro worlds.

“There’s not a lot of precedent for making measurements at this level,” said Ludlow, who developed the portable optical clock. “Then we’re adding into the mix that one of the clocks has to be up on a mountain top exposed to some harsh conditions.”

These optical clocks can measure changes in the Earth’s gravity down to just one centimeter in elevation, important in telling us where water flows, how land shifts and how the Earth responds to natural forces. Right now, that one-centimeter precision corresponds to measuring time at the 18th decimal point.

Although the team’s first trip to the Fourteener mainly tested whether the technology could survive the harsh mountain conditions — and it did — the researchers also successfully linked the Mt. Blue Sky clock to its twin in Boulder.

Next year, they will continue capturing detailed time comparisons at these extreme elevations, hoping to operate at the same precision as in the lab.

“This is about understanding the Earth,” Diddams said. “If we’re able to tell where water flows or what’s going on under the surface when we can’t directly see it, that’s something quite exciting. This can ultimately impact lives and property.”

While it may be obvious in Colorado that Mt. Blue Sky stands higher than Denver, Diddams noted that the position of the highest ground is much more challenging to determine precisely in flat coastal regions over long distances. A shift of even a few centimeters in elevation can determine whether floodwaters move toward communities or away from one.

“These clock-based tools can open up how we use powerful quantum-based measurements,” Diddams said. “We don’t know exactly what that’s going to yield, but we think it will give us new ways to measure the shape of the Earth.”

��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� faculty and alumni are pushing quantum science to new heights — literally

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��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� to host International Workshop on Biodesign Automation this June

Charles Ferrer — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 18:34:11 +0000

��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� to host International Workshop on Biodesign Automation this June Charles Ferrer Tue, 04/07/2026 - 12:34

��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� will host the 18th International Workshop on Biodesign Automation (IWBDA), June 18–20, following the SEED Conference in Denver. The workshop brings together researchers and industry leaders advancing biodesign automation in synthetic biology.

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Scientists harness AI to reveal forces behind glacier surges

Charles Ferrer — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 15:27:27 +0000

Scientists harness AI to reveal forces behind glacier surges Charles Ferrer Thu, 03/05/2026 - 08:27

Glaciers are constantly changing and reshaping the Earth’s surface. ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� researchers have developed a new machine learning tool to better understand how Arctic glaciers suddenly accelerate or “surge”.

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Researchers build ultra-efficient optical sensors shrinking light to a chip

Charles Ferrer — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 15:36:56 +0000

Researchers build ultra-efficient optical sensors shrinking light to a chip Charles Ferrer Mon, 02/23/2026 - 08:36

��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� researchers have built high performing optical microresonators opening the door for new sensor technologies. In the future, the microresonators could be used for compact microlasers, advanced chemical and biological sensors and even tools for quantum metrology and networking.

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3 with ties to CU Engineering elected to National Academy of Engineering

emad5542 — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 17:19:25 +0000

3 with ties to CU Engineering elected to National Academy of Engineering emad5542 Thu, 02/12/2026 - 10:19

Dana Anderson, Iain Boyd and Bob Erickson are among the 130 scientists and engineers from around the country who will be inducted as members of the NAE at a meeting this fall.

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How one engineering alum optimizes clean energy operations before they break

Charles Ferrer — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 15:53:18 +0000

How one engineering alum optimizes clean energy operations before they break Charles Ferrer Thu, 02/05/2026 - 08:53

Aoife Henry (PhDElEngr‘24) is leading Zentus, a startup she founded that addresses a critical challenge in the energy sector: how to prevent costly equipment failures that can bring wind and solar farms offline without warning.

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Dennis J. Pretti (ElEngr'95)

miwi9607 — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 18:00:32 +0000

Dennis J. Pretti (ElEngr'95) miwi9607 Mon, 02/02/2026 - 11:00

Dennis J. Pretti, 2026 Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award Recipient

Engineering Alumni Awards

2026 Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award recipient

Pretti received a BS degree in electrical engineering from ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� in 1995. He began his career at Micron Technology Inc. in Boise, Idaho, in 1995, working as a parametric test device engineer in Boise’s high-volume manufacturing facility until 2000. From 2000 to 2022, Pretti designed parametric test devices used for process development in technology development. In 2000, he developed and led a team of test device design engineers until 2013. From 2013 to 2019, his work focused on CMOS automation, test device and optical design quality. From 2019 to 2022, his efforts were centered on test device and optical design roadmap pathfinding initiatives. In 2022, he shifted his focus to STEM outreach (K-12), university technical engagement and the development of Micron team member technical engagement and career pipeline opportunities.

Pretti joined the Technical Leadership Program (TLP) community in 2015 as a senior member of technical staff, where he has held various roles of leadership, influence, mentoring, technical expertise and innovation. He became Micron’s technical ambassador for ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� in 2018, holding this role today. Pretti actively contributes to ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ��, serving on the ECEE External Advisory Board since 2022 and joining the Engineering Advisory Council in 2024. He holds one U.S. patent and has five publications.

Dennis J. Pretti (ElEngr'95) spent over 25 years at Micron advancing parametric test design, automation, and optical roadmap work before shifting to STEM outreach and university partnerships. A senior member of Micron’s Technical Leadership Program and the company’s technical ambassador to ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ��, he serves on multiple advisory boards and has authored several publications and a U.S. patent.

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An earthquake on a chip: New tech generates tiny waves, could make smartphones smaller, faster

Charles Ferrer — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 21:37:17 +0000

An earthquake on a chip: New tech generates tiny waves, could make smartphones smaller, faster Charles Ferrer Wed, 01/14/2026 - 14:37

A team of engineers has developed a new device that works like a laser but, instead of light, generates incredibly small vibrations called surface acoustic waves.

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Electrical Engineering

���Ҵ�ý�ƽ������ enters next phase to develop national quantum networking capabilities

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Better batteries

Improving energy storage is key to the renewable grid. Here’s how CU Engineering is getting us there.

Challenges

Beyond lithium

Beyond batteries

Beyond the lab

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High time

Quantum impacts

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���Ҵ�ý�ƽ������ to host International Workshop on Biodesign Automation this June

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Scientists harness AI to reveal forces behind glacier surges

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Researchers build ultra-efficient optical sensors shrinking light to a chip

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3 with ties to CU Engineering elected to National Academy of Engineering

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How one engineering alum optimizes clean energy operations before they break

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Dennis J. Pretti (ElEngr'95)

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An earthquake on a chip: New tech generates tiny waves, could make smartphones smaller, faster

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��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� enters next phase to develop national quantum networking capabilities

��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� to host International Workshop on Biodesign Automation this June