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VISION machine

June 12, 2025 — Wichita State’s National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) has received a patent for VISION, an AI-powered composite inspection robot designed to detect and repair damage on aircraft parts autonomously. Developed at NIAR’s Automation Research Center and recently installed at a U.S. Army facility, the system uses machine learning to analyze inspection images and speed up aircraft maintenance.

Vamsidhar Patlolla

June 9, 2025 — Shocker Composites, founded by Wichita State alum Vamsidhar Patlolla, transforms carbon fiber waste into high-performance, sustainable materials using a recycling method he developed during his graduate research. With support from Wichita State’s NIAR and Innovation Campus, the company is scaling up its impact and demonstrating how university-backed startups can drive real-world innovation and sustainability.

Jacob Greenwald and his fiancee, Catherine Kellerman

May 9, 2025 - Jacob Greenwald came to Wichita State from Lenexa. He used the applied learning opportunities at WSU to land a job as a software engineer at the National Institute for Aviation Research.

Braden Webb

May 7, 2025 Braden Webb, a Gore Scholar, capitalized on Wichita State’s strong engineering program and his passion for transportation issues. He worked at NIAR WERX, studied in London and interned for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) in Washington, D.C.

Lindsey Mendenhall posing with WuShock

April 22, 2025 Lindsey Mendenhall was able to get more than just an education at Wichita State. Through the National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR), she got to work in her field while getting her degree and has a job lined up with the NIAR Advanced Materials Lab. Beyond the classroom, Lindsey found that the lessons she learned from teaching her dogs set her up for success in her academic and professional lives.

NSF graphic

Nov. 26, 2024 — Wichita State University has entered the top 10 in the country in engineering research and development expenditures, according to data announced this week by the National Science Foundation’s Higher Education Research and Development Survey. WSU is also No. 1 in the country for aerospace engineering expenditures.

child with prosthetic bionic arm

Nov. 20, 2024 – Wichita State University has launched the Institute for Rehabilitation Medicine and Assistive Technology (IRMAT), an innovative collaboration focused on addressing disease and disability through applied research and technology. IRMAT will serve as a hub for cutting-edge, patient-driven research and development of transformative technologies to improve the quality of life for individuals with physical and cognitive disabilities.

Milly Marcus Annex

Aug. 15, 2024 - As the fall semester begins, you will notice ongoing and new construction across Wichita State’s 330-acres and beyond. Shocker Success Center is open and work is underway at the Wichita Biomedical Campus.

Map of the new testing facility.

June 14, 2024 Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) is adding a new capability to its portfolio aimed at growing the electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) market and attracting new business to the region and state.

NASA SUITS student

May 20, 2024 - Wichita State is one of 10 teams which advanced to the spring semester competition in the NASA SUITS challenge. The team travels to Test Week in Houston at the Johnson Space Center this week. The list of finalists includes the University of California Berkeley, University of Colorado, University of Michigan, Georgia Tech, Purdue University and others.

Wichita State's National Institute for Aviation Research has been awarded $10 million from NASA to study advanced materials for hypersonic applications.

May 14, 2024 — Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research will receive more than $10 million from NASA for research related to the development and implementation of advanced materials for hypersonic applications.

Shocker Success Center

Feb. 15, 2024 - From the center of campus to downtown Wichita, Wichita State University’s footprint continues to grow and offer new opportunities for students and our community. As the spring semester rolls on, you will notice ongoing and new construction across our 330-acres and beyond.

Wichita State University engineering students

Jan. 8, 2024 - Wichita State University moved to No. 2 on the national list of industry-funded engineering and research and development, according to the latest data compiled by the National Science Foundation’s Higher Education Research and Development Survey.

WSU's NIAR team celebrates milestone in 777 conversion project

Jan. 20, 2022 — Wichita State University and Kansas Modification Center have reached another significant milestone to advance the passenger-to-freighter aircraft conversion of the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft at WSU’s National Institute for Aviation Research WERX

Jenna Maxwell Fall 2020 Grad

Nov. 16, 2020 – Since kindergarten, Jenna Maxwell knew she wanted to be an elementary school teacher and decided to attend Wichita State for its teaching program. Jenna is one of more than 1,200 students eligible for fall 2020 graduation.