ALT Inspired by a record-breaking marathon and the technology behind it, Malachi Cohen came to Northwestern Engineering determined to design sports equipment that pushes performance to new heights.

ALT From Copenhagen to Engineers Without Borders, Rachel Silverman embraced every opportunity at Northwestern, gaining global experience and discovering the passions that will shape her future.

ALT Hannah Wilks made the most of McCormick, blending sustainability, data science, leadership, and hands-on experience. This fall, she\u2019ll stay at Northwestern to pursue a master\u2019s degree focused on renewable energy and environmental challenges.

ALT Sophia Jedziniak studied civil and structural engineering while exploring how design connects technical systems with the people and communities they serve. Through coursework and hands-on experiences, she developed a holistic approach to building, considering architecture, sustainability, and the human experience within a space. \n\nOutside the classroom, Jedziniak got involved in sustainability-focused organizations, mentorship programs, and design competitions, experiences that helped shape her interest in community-centered infrastructure and teaching.

ALT Professor Petia Vlahovska has received a Ver Steeg Distinguished Research Fellowship Award, which supports the research of a tenured University faculty member whose work enhances the reputation of Northwestern nationally and internationally.

ALT Rohan Sohini turned applied math into a pathway to biology\u2014now he\u2019s Fulbright-bound to study RNA expression before heading to med school and a career in computational healthcare.

ALT Northwestern Engineering is rolling out a redesigned undergraduate core, along with a new bachelor of science in engineering degree and an AI major.

ALT Lindsey Wade balanced biomedical engineering research with a passion for dance, exploring how movement and science can inform one another. She performed with student dance groups, pursued research focused on human health, and found creative ways to connect her technical and artistic interests throughout her time on campus.

ALT In a review article, Professor Horacio Espinosa explains how researchers can now watch materials crack, deform, and fail in real time\u2014a shift that could improve everything from batteries to electronics.

ALT Lithium needs water. A lot of it.\n\nProfessor Jennifer Dunn found most proposed US mining sites may not have enough\u2014and shortages could intensify.

ALT Professor Shana Kelley and Biohub teams released an AI \u201Cworld model\u201D of protein biology\u2014one that learns how proteins work, then predicts and designs new ones.

ALT From graphite to lithium, the materials behind modern life come with supply chain and environmental challenges. \n\nNorthwestern engineers are exploring new ways to recover, prepare, and responsibly source the minerals that power everyday technology.

ALT Professor Ryan Truby was named to the ASME Mechanical Engineering Magazine Watch List, which recognizes 25 early-career engineers pursuing breakthroughs. He leads work on soft materials that give robots capabilities like movement and sensing.

ALT The Spring 2026 Northwestern Engineering Magazine is now online and arriving in mailboxes. This new issue highlights diverse pathways to mineral acquisition, 10 years of the Center for Synthetic Biology, and the evolution of the McCormick curriculum.

ALT Northwestern Engineering students are turning big ideas into real-world impact—and winning big. Trevor Abbott and Quinn McGinley, both mechanical engineering students, took home the VentureCat 2026 Grand Prize — $100,000 for their startup HaptE, a computer vision system that catches execution errors and optimizes warehouse operations in real time. Abbott and McGinley were far from the only McCormick School of Engineering students honored. Read on to find out who else was recognized.

ALT Post-disaster rebuilding is fueling unsustainable resource extraction and emissions. A team with McCormick faculty is calling for debris reuse, supply-chain planning, and circular construction policies to turn reconstruction into a driver of resilient, climate-aligned infrastructure.