Manufacturing Innovation Across Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development has announced its 2025 Manufacturing PA Innovation Award recipients, and six researchers from the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering have each received awards of $70,000 to help Pennsylvania-based companies fuel innovation and solve problems.
For the second year in a row, Pitt has been the most-awarded university across the Commonwealth. Since the launch of the program in 2018, Pitt has received $2,293,188.00 in total award funding. Associate Professor Markus Chmielus has received nine awards totaling $487,665 alone, making him the most-awarded researcher in the program.
Administered through Carnegie Mellon University, these awards are part of a program that fosters collaboration between Pennsylvania businesses and universities and colleges across the Commonwealth. Researchers and their students can receive up to $70,000, which is used for student research and related expenses.
“The Manufacturing PA Innovation program gives real-world workplace experience to undergraduate and graduate students while assisting Pennsylvania manufacturers in conducting research that they may not have the means or expertise currently to address,” said David Vorp, Senior Associate Dean for Research & Facilities and John A. Swanson Professor of bioengineering. “Faculty in the Swanson School have been successful with this program, which has led to important and meaningful new industry partnerships. It’s a win-win for everyone involved.”
The six recipients and their projects are:
- Markus Chmielus, Mechanical and Materials Science, “Developing High Entropy Carbides (HECs) for Industrial Applications” (General Carbide Corporation).
- Zachary Harris, Mechanical and Materials Science, “Additive Manufacturing of Nickel-Aluminum-Bronze Using Pennsylvania-Manufactured, Low-Cost Powder” (Metal Powder Works, Inc.).
- Jung-Kun Lee, Mechanical and Materials Science, “Development of Corrosion-Resistant Coating by Cold Spray Method” (Westinghouse Electric Company).
- Zhi-Hong Mao, Electrical and Computer Engineering, “Additive Laser Manufacturing of Micro-Optical Fluidic Chips” (AiMiLight Sensors and Intelligent Systems Inc.).
- Albert To, Mechanical and Materials Science, “Development of a Fracture Test Artifact for Early Process Anomaly Detection during Laser Powder Bed Fusion Additive Manufacturing” (Cumberland Additive).
- Wei Xiong, Mechanical and Materials Science, “Synergistic Design of Heat Treatment and Surface Finishing for Superior Functionally Graded Alloys” (Extrude Hone LLC).
Varied projects like these prepare students to enter the workforce while ensuring Pennsylvania companies maintain their competitive edge in a fast-changing economy.