Researchers from four universities highlighted new tools, real-world demonstrations and student work during a National Science Foundation site visit at Purdue.

Nominations for the Class of 2027 cohort of Purdue Engineering Fellows are open until July 3, 2026. Candidates for the Engineering Fellows are considered outstanding academically, professionally and socially. The criteria include creativity, problem-solving and respect of their peers.

The annual awards recognize academic researchers whose Intel-sponsored university research is helping shape the future of technology. Raghunathan was one of 10 researchers honored in 2025 by Intel’s Corporate Research Council.

Pending approval from the Indiana Higher Learning Commission, the Executive MS in AI Engineering Leadership will begin in Fall 2027 with two cohorts – one in AI Tech Stack and the other in Physical AI.

Utkarsh is one of 85 student members of SPIE, the International Society for Optics and Photonics, who were awarded scholarships in May 2026. Singh was recognized for his potential contributions to optics, photonics, and related fields.

Yi Ding has been named project lead for the Software Water Intensity project, a new initiative launched within the Green Software Foundation (part of Linux Foundation). The project aims to develop a consistent way to measure the water consumed by software, similar to how organizations now measure software’s carbon footprint.

Bhave was recognized for his contributions to microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). MEMS technologies are used in many everyday systems, from smartphones and cars to medical devices and advanced scientific instruments.

At the center of the work is a quantum effect known as photon blockade, a phenomenon in which light is controlled so that photons, the smallest particles of light, pass through a system one at a time or in carefully controlled groups. This degree of control is important because many quantum technologies rely on the ability to generate and control light with extreme precision.

The fellowship, established in 2024, supports outstanding doctoral students in Purdue’s College of Engineering who are preparing for high-impact careers beyond academia. Okafor is one of five graduate students selected for the latest cohort.

Roth was recognized “for contributions to the development of multiscale and multiphysics computational techniques for the analysis and design of quantum information technologies.”