WIN-AIM Connect and Create Workshop

Welcome to the WIN-AIM Connect and Create Workshop!

AI is transforming how materials are designed, synthesized, and characterized. This half-day in-person kickoff workshop aims to bring together faculty and researchers from across UW–Madison to connect expertise from different departments, identify our strengths, and pinpoint areas where targeted internal investment can catalyze future large-scale funding efforts.

Workshop Goals

• Connect faculty across campus to spark new collaborations in AI-driven materials research.
• Identify UW–Madison’s core strengths in machine learning, modeling, characterization, and data-enabled materials discovery.
• Establish a foundation for Grainger Institute for Engineering (GIE) seed grants to identify and support collaborative efforts that can position UW–Madison for larger-scale external funding.
• Align campus capabilities with national priorities, such as AI for manufacturing, energy, and quantum technologies. Explore potential high-impact grand challenges, e.g., carbon capture, fusion, and quantum technology.

Why Attend

• Become more informed about AI for Materials Science research activities at UW–Madison and share your ideas and areas of interest.
• Join small-group discussions to identify promising research themes and directions for future government, industry, and Grainger Institute for Engineering seed-funded collaborations.
• Network with colleagues and help shape UW–Madison’s collective strategy in AI-enabled materials innovation.
• Learn about potential federal funding opportunities in AI for materials science, spanning different program scales.

Location

On UW Campus. Location TBD. This is an in-person workshop.

Agenda

8:30 Breakfast and Networking

8:45 Welcome and Introduction to WIN-AIM

9:00 Breakout Session #1: Discover Opportunities and Strengths

10:00 Breakout Session #2: Deep Dive on Opportunities

11:00 Breakout Session #3: UW Community Needs

• Includes presentation on Federal funding opportunities from Hyunseok Oh and Lewis&Burke.
• Includes discussion of relevant UW internal funding (e.g., Igniting Interdiscplinary Innovation projects, Data Science Institute seeds, Research Forward) and resources (e.g., Microsoft Discovery platform)

12:00 Discussion and Next Steps

12:30 Lunch and Networking

1:00 End

Additional Information

The workshop is primarily intended for UW–Madison faculty and research staff, but postdoctoral and other experienced researchers with related interests are encouraged to participate and contribute their perspectives.

Acknowledgement

Organizers: Jiamian Hu ; Hyunseok Oh ; Dane Morgan

Funding: We are grateful to the UW College of Engineering Grainger Institute for Engineering for their support. We are enthusiastic partners of the UW RISE-AI initiative.