Jie Chen, a Purdue professor of mechanical engineering in Indianapolis, focuses his research on dental biomechanics with an emphasis on orthodontics. Chen hopes his methods will help orthodontics to be more effective and efficient. In his energy efficiency research, he hopes to develop tools geared toward small- and medium-sized companies. For Dr. Chen, being under the Purdue umbrella in Indianapolis is important because of the resources provided by Purdue while being in close proximity to the industry in the capital city.

April Savoy, an assistant professor of industrial engineering in Indianapolis, discusses her expertise in industrial engineering, human factors engineering and computer science. With a background researching health information technology, she hopes to improve situational awareness of clinicians and patients and their shared decision-making. Savoy is excited about the increased access to Purdue engineering resources, internship opportunities and the transformations in health care associated with it.

There’s a lot more to the wonder drugs that provide life-changing treatments than the research breakthroughs that enable them. Just because you make something work in a lab doesn’t mean you can produce it at scale, especially given the fact that pharmaceuticals are inherently unstable. After discovery of the novel substance (molecule) comes follow-on steps like manufacturing (at acceptable yields), packaging, quality assurance, storage/preservation, logistics/transportation, and regulatory approval — all obstacles to overcome so the new therapeutic’s benefits can be realized across society, including remote, underserved populations. Elizabeth Topp and Alina Alexeenko discuss the ins and outs of advanced pharmaceutical and biotechnology manufacturing — including in space — and the nexus of Purdue and Indiana as a powerhouse in this strategic economic and social impact sector.

At Purdue, classroom, lab and seminar learning is the springboard for a student's deep dive into their passions. Purdue students are not only excelling in foundational tenets taught in that traditional academic setting — they are spilling out after class to join or start clubs and organizations, collaborating across disciplines with other students and faculty, entering national and international competitions, and hosting national expos in their fields. They are developing professionally by learning hands-on at industry level via internships and experiential co-ops, and launching research and startups to take their pursuits to a whole new level. This episode of Engenuity features two students who are taking part in the intellectual and innovation ferment — in their case, in space and robotics — that is bubbling across the Purdue campus.

Carys, Brian and Ishita love that their majors at Purdue University in Indianapolis empower them to take classes they are truly passionate about.

Explore student life in Indianapolis.

The introduction of quantum elements into classical computing is revolutionizing semiconductor technology, as researchers push the boundaries of knowledge at the convergence of physics, chemistry, and electrical engineering. Quantum transport of electrons might sound like something from Star Trek, but the flow and spin of electrons at an atomic scale is what makes possible modern semiconductor technology advances, like the billion-plus transistors in the smartphone. Supriyo Datta was recently elected to the prestigious National Academy of Sciences, and has been called "one of the most original thinkers in the field of nanoscale electronics." Here he explains his ideas about quantum physics in an engineering context and the role of quantum and electron spin — "spintronics" — in delivering the compute horsepower for today's advances in AI, Internet of Things, edge computing, autonomy, and optimization.

Semiconductors and chips are at the heart of everything we do. They are some of the most fiendishly complex engineered devices ever built, and are getting even more complex as we race to develop chips with mind-boggling power to fuel artificial intelligence. Chips are also a national security priority, which is why the CHIPS Act aims to onshore, or near shore, semiconductor manufacturing. This is all in Purdue's wheelhouse, as America's "Semiconductor University." Mark Lundstrom, Purdue's chief semiconductor officer, draws upon his 50 years in the field to discuss technologies like advanced packaging that are driving sector innovation forward; the challenges to building out an enduring semiconductor ecosystem in the United States; and how Purdue is tackling the No. 1 industry challenge — workforce development — by leading an urgent, ambitious effort to educate engineers and skilled technicians for the most sophisticated and foundational technology we humans manufacture.

It's widely agreed by all that United States infrastructure is in dire need of improvement, getting low grades like C- and D- in various studies. Luna Lu wants to make our aging infrastructure "smarter." She’s leveraging the Internet of Things via her smart, materials-based sensor technology and novel, interpretive data-processing methods, enabling infrastructure to monitor and wirelessly communicate its condition with current and actionable information so we can detect problems earlier and mitigate them. This can vastly improve infrastructure maintenance and modernization, so our roads and bridges can keep commerce and people moving safely and efficiently and the American economy humming. And Lu isn’t done with her innovation journey – her sensor-based testing technology is gaining wider use across other sectors, and next on her agenda is investigating the manufacture of plant-based cement to provide not only carbon neutrality but a carbon-negative construction material that can absorb CO₂ in permanent storage.