The University-wide center designed to conduct basic research on focused energy — like lasers or microwaves — to develop new applications and build up a workforce skilled in the science and systems development of directed energy (DE). Pictured are PhD students viewing a technical presentation on optical lens system design. Credit: Galestan Mackertich-Sengerdy / Penn State.
Penn State launches Center of Excellence in Directed Energy
Led by Electrical Engineering Professor Doug Werner, new center will support research and drive workforce development for national security technology
Apr 21, 2025
Editor's note: This article originally appeared on Penn State News.
By Adrienne Berard
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State recently launched the Center of Excellence in Directed Energy (CEDE), a University-wide center designed to conduct basic research on focused energy — like lasers or microwaves — to develop new applications and build up a workforce skilled in the science and systems development of directed energy (DE).
The College of Engineering, the Applied Research Lab (ARL) and the Materials Research Institute (MRI) are partnering to lead the new center.
“We are uniting world-class researchers, state-of-the-art facilities and strategic investments under one umbrella,” said Douglas Werner, director of CEDE and Penn State’s John L. and Genevieve H. McCain Chair Professor of Electrical Engineering. “This center will not only accelerate innovation in directed energy but also play a vital role in training the next generation of scientists and engineers.”
In addition to Werner’s leadership, Kristoffer Greenert, division head of advanced science and technology at ARL, and Bed Poudel, research professor of materials science and engineering, will serve as associate directors with the goal of fostering cross-unit collaboration and sharing expertise in materials science, systems integration and directed energy applications. Werner noted that the center closely aligns with the mission of Penn State’s new National Security Institute, which is aimed at enhancing scientific contributions to defense and national security.
CEDE PhD students discuss simulation results while holding a prototype. Credit: Galestan Mackertich-Sengerdy / Penn State.
“At Penn State, we’re all about collaborative research rooted in basic science with a vision toward shaping the future,” said Greenert. “Aligned with the University’s new National Security Institute, CEDE will boost our capacity to deliver innovations in national security technologies, all while building up the nation’s workforce in directed energy and related fields.”
As part of the center’s efforts to coordinate directed energy research across Penn State, the CEDE leadership team is hosting a kickoff meeting on April 22 and 23 to announce the center and its vision to the larger research community, including government and industry stakeholders. Advanced registration is required.
In support of the center, Penn State has invested in facilities for directed energy fabrication and testing, 4D material characterization and high-performance computing. The University is also planning to make strategic faculty hires and graduate fellowships in DE-focused disciplines. The center will be located in a new laboratory space in the Engineering Collaborative Research and Education (ECoRE) building, shared with the Computational Electromagnetics and Antennas Research Lab (CEARL).
“Our goal is to create synergies across the research community, building up collaborations and strengthening the workforce with a shared vision of making the nation safer,” Poudel said. “The beauty of basic research is that our discoveries have a broad range of applications, so the work we do will have impacts across many dimensions of society.”
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