Dr. Nathan Weise, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering in the Opus College of Engineering, was named the 2022 Young Engineer of the Year by STEM Forward, metro Milwaukee’s leading STEM education and outreach provider.
The Young Engineer of the Year has been awarded since 1953 to a remarkable person in the greater Milwaukee area who is under 40 and has made an extraordinary contribution to the engineering profession. He will be honored at the 70th Annual Celebration of STEM on Wednesday, Feb. 15.
“I am grateful to STEM Forward for this incredible recognition of Dr. Weise and his contributions to our region and our field,” said Dr. Kristina Ropella, Opus Dean of the Opus College of Engineering. “As Young Engineer of the Year, there is an exciting road ahead for Dr. Weise to continue leading groundbreaking energy research while also educating and inspiring new generations of engineers.”
Weise was recognized for his extensive academic and industrial experience in designing, building and operating high-power electronics. He was the principal investigator on a grant through the U.S. Department of Energy’s ARPA-E CIRCUITS program, which focused on high power density, high frequency and high specific power converters utilizing wide band gap devices. He was also part of a research team that was awarded funds for a project through the ARPA-E ASCEND program, which focuses on producing an all-electric propulsion system for commercial aviation applications.
STEM Forward said Weise’s efforts today will carve a path toward an innovative energy future. Since arriving at Marquette, he immediately established a lab group and sought key industry and academic partners. As a rising leader within the Opus College of Engineering, he is already shaping the future of innovation at Marquette and in the greater Milwaukee ecosystem.
STEM Forward is southeastern Wisconsin’s leading nonprofit, technical organization providing and promoting educational outreach programs emphasizing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Through programs and activities, STEM Forward inspires youth to pursue STEM careers while preparing them for a 21st century workforce. In turn, we provide local businesses with a pipeline of STEM talent. Additionally, STEM Forward serves as a resource for schools and businesses to establish partnerships through its Day of STEM program, and cross-promotes what’s happening in STEM to raise awareness and educate others.