Simulation Based Engineering Lab

The Simulation-Based Engineering Lab (SBEL) is in the business of making computer simulation be an increasingly useful tool that can be employed in real-world applications to produce better engineering designs. We believe that computer simulation is a thing of the future that can accelerate innovation in engineering and discovery in science. The lab is currently funded by NASA, NSF, DOE, and DOD. We work also with several industry partners, e.g., Boeing, Michelin, Intuitive Machines, and Komatsu. Our research draws on computer graphics, applied math, high performance computing, AI, networks and communication. Simulation is a broad field, but in the lab, we mostly focus on simulating all aspects that come into play when one seeks to use simulation to design autonomous mobile robots. Our simulation tools are used in conjunction with several projects related to the exploration of Moon, e.g., the VIPER rover and the ARTEMIS mission. All our software is open source and distributed publicly for unfettered use and distribution.

Are you an undergraduate student who is passionate about computer simulation, managing software projects, or have a knack for robotics hardware? We invite you to join our team! As a team member, you will have the opportunity to:

• Engage in Real-World Robotics: We don’t just simulate robots; we build them. Experience the thrill of bringing a robot to life and seeing your ideas in action.
• Test and Validate Simulations: Work hands-on to understand if our computer simulations accurately represent the behavior of robots in the real world. Your insights will be crucial in refining our models and systems.
• Collaborate with Like-Minded Peers: Join a community of passionate and skilled individuals. Share your knowledge, learn from your teammates, and create lasting connections.
•  Gain Valuable Experience: As an undergraduate member of our team, you will gain practical experience that will significantly enrich your academic journey and set you apart in the job market. Over the last two years, our lab students have attended conferences in Portugal, Los Angeles, Boston, Japan; and have had internships at JPL, NASA, Tesla, MathWorks, Toyota Research Institute, and NVIDIA, to name a few.
•  Contribute to Cutting-Edge Research: Be a part of pioneering projects that have the potential to shape how robots are designed.

Each semester, depending on the number of openings available in the lab, we welcome three to four students to join our lab for one semester during which they can earn research credits. Our research topics vary each term. Students taking independent research credits are expected to spend in the lab 10 to 15 hours per week, depending on the number of credits they sign up for.

For the Spring 2025 semester, we look forward to partnering with students interested in exploring topics in Computer Graphics (video game development, digital art), AI (transformer models, diffusion models, LLMs), Machine Learning, Computer Vision, physics-based simulation, Digital Twins technologies, or Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). We are also interested in recruiting undergrad students who are good at software management processes (build management, continuous integration processes) or have Linux/Windows sysadmin experience.

If you are interested in earning research credits in our lab, please contact Dan at negrut@wisc.edu to inquire about available opportunities. For software management and sysadmin positions, which are not research roles, we hire and compensate undergraduate students at competitive hourly rates.