Ilya Avdeev

Ilya Avdeev is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) and holds multiple leadership roles including Director of the Lubar Entrepreneurship Center (LEC), Co-Founder/Executive Director of the UWM Student Startup Challenge, and Director of the Advanced Manufacturing and Design Laboratory. He is on sabbatical during the Spring 2025 semester. His research focuses on real-time modeling (Digital Twin), energy storage systems, and design thinking in engineering education.

Education: PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh (2003), MS and BS in Mechanical Engineering from St. Petersburg State Technical University, Russia (1999 and 1997).

Research interests span advanced manufacturing, battery safety, and interdisciplinary education innovation. His work integrates computational modeling with practical applications in energy systems and biomedical devices. Over 20 years of academic and industry collaboration have resulted in impactful contributions to both technical and entrepreneurial ecosystems.

Notable initiatives include the Milwaukee Regional Energy Education Initiative (as PI) and the UWM Student Startup Challenge, which fosters student entrepreneurship. His publications address topics like battery impact analysis, MEMS simulation, and educational pedagogy.