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  1. Purdue
  2. Engineering
  3. Engineering Rising to the Challenge
Rapid Response Envisioning the Future Research & Innovation Online & Remote Education Working & Fostering Community

Rapid Response

From inventing rapid hand-held tests for COVID-19 to 3D-printing protective equipment, to identifying previously unknown risks to public health from building closures, to projects to diminish disease spread on campus, Purdue Engineering students, faculty and staff are responding to the urgent challenges of the pandemic while driving permanent innovation in emergency response capabilities.

Featured Media

Purdue Engineering teams with Intel, alumni, and other academic institutions to develop and commercialize robotic technologies to fight COVID-19.

DARPA taps Electrical and Computer Engineering professor to lead research on media manipulation, whose dangers can include COVID-19 misinformation.

Electrical and Computer Engineering professor tells how public cameras offer pandemic insights.

Electrical and Computer Engineering alumnus and SEL, the company he founded, are helping fight COVID-19, with a vaccine temperature monitoring and logging device, support to nonprofit organizations, and testing and vaccination clinics.

Purdue professor’s water safety research, including work on an NSF-funded study, assumes a prominent role during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Aeronautics and Astronautics student discusses his journey as a Protect Purdue ambassador in a blog post, telling how he has helped keep the University safe with students on campus this academic year.

Electrical and Computer Engineering team uses game theory to understand COVID-19 vaccination behavior, with potential policymaking benefits.

Industrial Engineering professor writes in a Medium post: “Sophisticated models inform good policy – but people stop disease spread.”

Chemical Engineering professor partners with Spirrow Therapeutics on NSF-funded research aiming to improve treatment for patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome using novel, biocompatible polymer lung surfactants.

Biomedical Engineering professor receives NSF funding to develop a three-dimensional flexible sensor to predict the effect of potential antiviral drugs for COVID-19 on the human heart.

Team led by an Electrical and Computer Engineering professor receives NSF funding to create a software infrastructure to analyze the risk of COVID-19 and future epidemics in crowded locations.
Related news

Civil Engineering professor receives NSF funding for a research project exploring the role of the built environment in both amplifying and suppressing the effects of COVID-19, especially during co-occurrence of natural hazards, such as hurricanes, tornadoes and earthquakes.

Interdisciplinary Engineering Studies graduate volunteers to administer COVID-19 vaccine.

Biomedical Engineering professor describes how his team is developing smart, connected health solutions to address COVID-19 issues and prepare for future healthcare challenges.

Professor of Industrial Engineering explains how her team uses system modeling and decision-making tools to help supply chains respond to unexpected events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mechanical Engineering Graduate Student collaborates with Purdue researchers to develop a new N-95 facemask for better fit, handling, and sustainability..

SURF student's company won $250K for developing a technology for air purification.

Electrical and Computer Engineering professor develops technology to unobtrusively and automatically detect proximity between two people through a Bluetooth transceiver that is small enough to be worn around a lanyard.

Materials Engineering professor receives funding from IdentifySensors Biologics Corp. to develop a nucleic acid-based, rapid electrochemical test for COVID-19 diagnosis in saliva, and to develop strategies to evaluate food quality through electrochemical sensing.

School of Industrial Engineering students and alumni describe their innovative, impactful pandemic response efforts.

Electrical and Computer Engineering Professor receives NSF funding to develop a comprehensive approach to modeling, learning, analysis and control of epidemic processes over time-varying and multi-layer networks.

Purdue Engineering researchers receive NSF funding to organize and lead a nationwide Building Water System Research Collaborative.

Materials Engineering professor collaborates with the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory to develop a paper-based lateral flow assay for COVID-19 detection in saliva.

Biomedical Engineering professor receives NSF funding to improve the delivery of healthcare to the growing sector of the population served by nursing homes.

Mechanical Engineering graduate student takes part in developing a way to extend the shelf life of N95 masks.

Electrical and Computer Engineering professor receives an NSF grant to study effects of transportation on the spread of COVID-19.

Professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering leads a team working to increase the efficiency of cloud-hosted databases during the data-intensive COVID-19 pandemic.

Biomedical Engineering team develops a portable, paper-based test for COVID-19.

Purdue Office of Technology and Commercialization is fast-tracking College of Engineering inventions for testing for and treating COVID-19.

Purdue Engineering faculty members, students, staff are using 3D printers to produce medical supplies for hospitals.

Professor of Materials Engineering receives NSF funding to develop a saliva test for coronavirus.

Electrical and Computer Engineering researchers patent a technique for biomolecule detection that may help in COVID-19 testing.

Purdue Engineering faculty, staff and students participate in making PPE for healthcare workers.

A Vertically Integrated Projects team is identifying urgent problems in industries affected by COVID-19, evaluating viable solutions and technologies, and building prototypes for proof-of-concept.

Industrial Engineering team develops patented technology to detect tiny healthcare, supply chain and other system errors, potentially enhancing COVID-19 response.

Professor of Biomedical Engineering leads COVID-19 drug research collaboration with a Bangalore-based company.

Purdue Engineering researchers investigate how the novel coronavirus infects cells, and develop diagnostic tools and medical supplies.

Professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering says a diagnostic tool used on cows might unlock a key to COVID-19 testing.

Professor of Mechanical Engineering and students are developing a portable set of tools for social distancing on the go.

Agricultural and Biological Engineering research team is developing tools and processes to improve the resilience of our local food system in the face of disruptions, such as COVID-19.

GEARE students, working remotely, design healthcare booth to aid hospitals’ COVID-19 response.

Professor of Materials Engineering is using new laser treatment technique to make metal surfaces instant bacteria killers.

Professor of Industrial Engineering develops a cloud-based electronic system that may help first responders better react to natural disasters.

College of Engineering contributes to community food drive.

School of Engineering Education Head offers 10 helpful tips for effective online learning.

Professor of Mechanical Engineering is using augmented reality for online learning.

Minority Engineering Program launches We Are Family Series, a weekly interactive virtual discussion connecting prospective students and their parents with the Purdue community.

Professor of Mechanical Engineering discusses pioneering work in virtual education.

Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics and Materials Engineering leads the development of virtual labs across the College of Engineering.

Minority Engineering Program joins National Association of Multicultural Engineering Program Advocates (NAMEPA) for webinars on national efforts for virtual summer camps.

Purdue Engineering's Office of Future Engineers is forging new ways to engage and assist future students and their families.

Student organization perseveres, adapting to remote learning.

Minority Engineering Program moves to online delivery of its annual Summer Engineering Workshop and Academic Boot Camp.

Purdue Engineering researchers are developing fast, low-cost testing for COVID-19.

Engineering professors across disciplines help create new COVID-19 diagnostic tools.

New Patents Listed with Purdue's Office of Technology Commercialization

Thermoelectric sensor for detecting viruses like SARS-CoV-2
Luna Lu, School of Civil Engineering

Electrochemical Detection Device for COVID-19 in Saliva
Lia Stanciu, School of Materials Engineering

OptimusCloud: Heterogeneous Optimization for Databases in the Cloud
Somali Chaterji, School of Agricultural and Biological Engineering

Perforated MOS Structure for Single Biomolecule Detection
Saeed Mohammadi, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Temperature Controlled Phase-Change Valves for Disposable Nucleic Acid Amplification on Paper
Jacqueline Callihan Linnes, Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering

Fluidic Control Elements in Paper Networks for Signal Enhancement
Jacqueline Callihan Linnes, Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering

Shadow-free UV-light Based Self-disinfecting Surfaces
Tillmann Christopher Kubis, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Retrieving Visual Data from Cameras Connected to the Internet
Yung-Hsiang Lu, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering

SP3-COVID FILTER: The Novel Mask with Filter Surface Anti-Virus
Luciano Castillo, School of Mechanical Engineering

Whole-body Voluminous Antiviral and Antibacterial Disinfection of Photodynamic Therapy Using Edible Food Dyes
Young Kim, Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering

Faculty Experts in the Media

USA Today

February 20, 2021

BME's Goergen studies using smartwatch data to detect early COVID-19 signs

CNBC

February 1, 2021

Elevators pose lower COVID-19 risk than other settings, study by ME's Chen finds

Forbes

December 28, 2020

ME's Jain: COVID-19 vaccine development as momentous as first human moon landing

MSN

November 27, 2020

ME's Chen: Too soon to declare plane travel safe

The New York Times

November 25, 2020

ME's Chen says 'Having fewer people on the plane is key'

Forbes

October 29, 2020

ME’s Jain: Pandemic speeds automation, as experiential learning prepares students for the shift

Fox 5 Atlanta

October 15, 2020

BME’s Kim team develops way to neutralize tiny virus particles floating in the air

CNN

October 3, 2020

ME’s Chen comments on potential virus transmission inside Air Force One

Indiana Business Journal

September 25, 2020

ECE’s Lu discusses using public camera footage to analyze pandemic crowd sizes
(obligates a registrant to receive emails)

Slate

September 24, 2020

‘Wearing masks makes a huge difference’ on planes, ME’s Chen observes

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

September 21, 2020

Flying is riskier for catching coronavirus than being in an office, ME’s Chen says

Kaiser Health News

September 10, 2020

ME’s Chen: Masks needed on planes to curb virus spread

BBC

September 7, 2020

Air replacement on a plane far better than in a building, ME’s Chen says

Bloomberg News

September 1, 2020

ME’s Chen weighs in on virus spread on planes

Forbes

August 29, 2020

ME’s Jain asks: Human or automation – who is the expert?

The New York Times

August 27, 2020

CE/EEE’s Whelton, Proctor discuss Legionella bacteria in reopened schools’ water systems

San Francisco Chronicle

August 20, 2020

ME's Chen: There's always an infection risk on public transit

The New York Times

August 8, 2020

Purdue Engineering researchers talk about water safety after CDC closes offices

Stars and Stripes

August 3, 2020

ME’s Chen discusses transmission of germs on a plane

Inside Indiana Business

August 3, 2020

Purdue-affiliated startup bringing STEM learning to isolated students

HuffPost UK

August 2, 2020

Virus risk higher on long plane rides, ME’s Chen says

Forbes

July 31, 2020

ME’s Jain says humans need to work together before we can expect them to work with machines

The New York Times

July 17, 2020

ME's Chen comments on airplane disinfection

CBS Chicago

July 14, 2020

ABE‘s Verma discusses at-home COVID-19 test his team is developing

GenomeWeb

July 10, 2020

BME’s Linnes discusses progress in paper-based SARS-CoV-2 testing technology.

BBC

July 3, 2020

ME’s Chen assesses coronavirus risks on planes

Forbes

June 26, 2020

ME’s Jain explains how to make robots behave more like people

Inside Indiana Business

June 25, 2020

ABE’s Verma featured in story on COVID-19 point-of-care test that new collaboration aims to bring to market

USA Today

June 24, 2020

CE/EEE’s Whelton warns of contaminated water as colleges reopen

EdSurge

June 24, 2020

ChE’s Beaudoin contributes to article on how professors are planning for uncertain fall semester

Inverse

June 24, 2020

ME’s Chen explains how AC affects virus transmission

CNN

June 19, 2020

CNN cites comments from ME’s Chen on airplane hygiene

Yahoo! Finance

June 16, 2020

Removing face coverings to eat, drink during flights is ‘dangerous,’ ME’s Chen says

Fast Company

June 15, 2020

Fast Company quotes ME’s Chen on improving indoor air quality to curb coronavirus spread

NPR

June 9, 2020

CE/EEE’s Proctor voices concern about bacterial growth during water stagnation

Bloomberg News

June 5, 2020

ME’s Chen recommends keeping the middle seat empty on planes

CBS News

May 28, 2020

CE/EEE’s Whelton says workers returning to office buildings may risk exposure to Legionnaire’s disease

Marketplace

May 27, 2020

CE/EEE’s Proctor discusses dangers of stagnant waters in closed buildings, and preventive measures

Yahoo! Finance

May 27, 2020

ME’s Chen discusses how COVID-19 could change plane design

ESPN

May 20, 2020

Purdue Engineering research supports a new football safety solution for the post-COVID-19 era

Forbes

May 20, 2020

ME’s Jain pens piece on how trust in robots can help us fight the next pandemic

The New York Times

May 20, 2020

New York Times features warning from CE/EEE’s Whelton about stagnant water in closed buildings

Inverse

May 16, 2020

CE/EEE’s Blatchley says swimming pool water poses little risk of COVID-19 transmission

The Washington Post

April 29, 2020

ME’s Chen shows, discusses how cough droplets infect airplane passengers

Business Insider

April 27, 2020

Business Insider quotes ME’s Chen on why turning off A/C can protect people from COVID-19

Forbes

April 23, 2020

ME's Chen advises against A/C to prevent COVID-19 spread

USA Today

April 21, 2020

Research by ME’s Chen shows cruise ships, restaurants are riskiest for respiratory infections

Los Angeles Times

April 8, 2020

LA Times quotes ME’s Chen: Don’t mix COVID-19 patients with others on ships

CNN

April 6, 2020

ME’s Chen offers expertise on how to stop spread of disease on planes, ships

U.S. News & World Report

April 4, 2020

ABE’s Porterfield explains how astronauts cope with isolation

Forbes

April 2, 2020

ME’s Chen: Flushing with lid down can reduce coronavirus spread

NPR

March 30, 2020

BME’s Linnes discusses COVID-19 test development

Business Insider

March 26, 2020

ME’s Chen: Why hospital ships are safer than cruise ships in terms of COVID-19 transmission

Fast Company

March 11, 2020

ME’s Chen: It’s time to redesign travel for the age of COVID-19

Associated Press

March 7, 2020

AP quotes ME’s Chen: Cruise ships are no place for COVID-19 quarantine

Forbes

March 2, 2020

ME’s Chen offers insights on coronavirus transmission on cruise ships, planes

BuzzFeed News

February 20, 2020

ME’s Chen comments on cruise line’s coronavirus response

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