This Graduate Certificate in I-BEAM (Intelligent Battery Engineering and AI Manufacturing) aims to equip students and professionals with essential skills for the rapidly evolving energy m/anufacturing industry.
I-BEAM: Intelligent Battery Engineering and Automated Manufacturing
Upcoming terms:
Spring and Fall 2026
Priority deadline:
March 1, 2026
LOCATION
Online
DURATION
9 months
TIMES
Mostly
asynchronous
TOTAL COST
$15,000
(estimated)
Program overview
This certificate program aims to cultivate a skilled workforce through targeted education, training, and workforce development tailored to the energy storage industry’s needs, from operators and technicians to PhD-level researchers.
Students will acquire comprehensive knowledge spanning the full value chain - from mining and refining to manufacturing and recycling, covering interdisciplinary fields including, but not limited to: materials engineering, advanced characterization for manufacturing (e.g., inline metrology), electrochemical engineering, AI/ML for smart manufacturing, supply chain management, modern polymer and ceramic manufacturing for energy applications, robotic defect detection for quality control, and specialized tooling and equipment design.
Who is this program for?
The certificate courses are designed for working professionals as well as individuals preparing to enter the workforce. It is anticipated that a typical student will complete the five-course certificate over one year, beginning in Spring 2026.
Students from the University of Washington, industry professionals, and national laboratory scientists/engineers with flexible work schedules will attend lectures supplemented by discussion forums and seminars that incorporate real-world industry scenarios. These will be facilitated by subject matter experts (SMEs) and supported with additional learning resources, such as videos and podcasts.
Learning outcomes
- Identify cost-sensitive steps in the energy manufacturing process that need to be simplified or modified to reduce the overall cost, using a science-driven, cost-focused approach
- Summarize cell design and fabrication processes, along with cost analyses across different chemistries and production volumes.
- Explain process modeling and simulation techniques for electrode processing.
- Describe manufacturing analytics platform that supports translational battery equipment modification and upgrades by embedding sensors, cameras, and other devices under dynamic conditions.
- Summarize smart manufacturing approaches, including AI/ML and IoT-based closed-loop algorithms for automation, data management, and engineering practice.
- Characterize the manufacturing processes from the atomic level to products by utilizing a range of scientific tools, from in situ experiments to inline metrology.
Upcoming terms: Spring & Fall 2026
- Current UW students interested in joining the Spring 2026 term must apply by March 1.
- Registration for non‑UW students for the Fall 2026 term will open in early August.
Curriculum
Students will complete a minimum of 15 credits in courses offered by the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. Two courses have been taught in the past from ME and MSE, and five new courses will be added to this program by external instructors from other university/industry/lab partners.
From grid energy storage and data centers to robotics and electric vehicles, battery technologies are playing an increasingly vital role across a wide range of applications that impact our daily lives. While considerable progress has been made in unlocking the potential of new battery materials in the laboratory, transitioning to large-scale materials and components manufacturing requires addressing scientific and engineering challenges from entirely new perspectives. This course provides a comprehensive overview of advanced battery manufacturing. Covering the full value chain—from raw material extraction to cell fabrication—it explores state-of-the-art materials, electrode processing techniques, cell design strategies, and methods for estimating production costs. A key focus of the course is smart manufacturing which involves using numerical modeling, AI, and digital twins to speed up the process of optimizing electrode and cell preparation.
This course introduces fundamental artificial intelligence (AI) techniques and their applications in battery manufacturing. Students will learn the mathematical foundations of AI while gaining hands-on experience with data analytics and real-world manufacturing case studies. By the end of the course, students will be prepared to address complex challenges in battery manufacturing and contribute to advancing AI-driven research in the field.
This course covers the fundamentals of equipment design and the integration of sensing technologies in energy manufacturing processes, including batteries, solar cells, and fuel cells. Students will learn principles of sensor selection, system integration, and real-time monitoring, along with data-driven control strategies. Emphasis is placed on how advanced sensing improves process efficiency, product quality, and automation in modern energy manufacturing.
This course examines the supply chain of battery materials, covering raw metals, polymers, lithium compounds, and components such as cell and pack casings. Students will gain a working understanding of the origins, processing, and applications of the diverse materials that underpin battery manufacturing. Industry perspectives will be incorporated, including a featured speaker from Dow Chemical who will discuss the company’s role in the supply chain and the production of polyolefins for industrial applications.
This course introduces cost and market dynamics in lithium-based battery manufacturing. Students will examine the value chain from raw material extraction to cell assembly, with attention to how supply chain constraints, synthesis choices, and process parameters affect cost structures. Case studies highlight tradeoffs in material and process decisions, industry competitiveness, and the influence of global supply chains. Students will gain tools for cost modeling, evaluating cost-performance tradeoffs, and assessing the impact of evolving technologies on manufacturing strategies.
This course aims to explore science and engineering behind manufacturing soft matters in lithium-ion rechargeable batteries, including electrode binders, plastic separators and organic and polymer electrolyte and additives. From polymer materials production, the state-of-the-art processing, and their applications in the batteries will be taught. The knowledge gap between fundamental research and cost-effective materials scale-up for further industry manufacturing will also be discussed.
The development of high-performance, safe, and long-lasting batteries relies on a deep understanding of materials, interfaces, and full-cell behavior. From the atomic arrangement of active materials to the performance of complete battery systems, characterization techniques are essential tools that drive innovation, ensure high quality, and help to detect and solve problems in battery R&D and manufacturing.
In this course, we will explore a wide range of characterization techniques that are indispensable for both battery research and development (R&D) as well as quality control in large-scale manufacturing. We will examine how requirements and optimization goals differ across various applications and across different stages of product development, from laboratory-scale research to pilot scale and industrial production. We will highlight how characterization needs to shift based on specific use cases. A key part of this course will involve examining how characterization experiments can fail, highlighting common mistakes and showing how to avoid them to achieve successful results.
How to apply
Applicants need a 3.0 cumulative grade-point average on a 4-point scale from an accredited school and meet specific coursework requirements listed on the admissions page. To be considered for admission, applicants should submit a resume, statement of purpose, and unofficial/electronic transcripts.
All admission requirementsCertificate eligibility
This certificate program is not eligible for F1/J1 international students who require an I-20/DS-2019 to enroll at UW. Non-U.S. citizens in the U.S. who do not require an I-20/DS-2019 to study and can be a student, can be admitted to the certificate. Students wishing to complete the online certificate while remaining outside of the United States are eligible to apply.
Instructors
Jie Xiao, Boeing Martin Professor, the UW Department of Mechanical Engineering
Dr. Jie Xiao is currently a Boeing Martin Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Washington. She also holds a joint appointment with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory as a Battelle Fellow. Dr. Xiao has been leading research in both fundamental and applied research in energy storage materials, systems and manufacturing.
Alejandro Franco, Professor, Université de Picardie Jules Verne (UPJV), France
Professor Alejandro A. Franco is a Full Professor (Exceptional Class) at Université de Picardie Jules Verne (UPJV), France, and a researcher at the CNRS-affiliated Laboratories de Reactivate et Chimie des Solids (LRCS). He is an ERC Consolidator Grantee, an Editor of the Journal of Power Sources, and the 2025 recipient of the Electrochemical Society Battery Division M. Stanley Whittingham Mid-Career Award.
Congrui Grace Jin, Assistant Professor, the Texas A&M University Department of Engineering Technology and Industrial Distribution
Dr. Congrui Grace Jin joined the Department of Engineering Technology and Industrial Distribution at Texas A&M University as an assistant professor since the fall semester of 2023. She received her Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering with a minor degree in Applied Mathematics from Cornell University. She was then a postdoctoral fellow at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Northwestern University.
Arunachala Mada Kannan, Professor, the Arizona State University Polytechnic School of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering
A.M. Kannan is a Professor in the Polytechnic School of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University, USA (since August 2005), specializing in fuel cells, H2 Technologies, and large-scale energy storage in batteries, and chairing the graduate program on Clean Energy Systems, after 15 years of experience in energy R&D and manufacturing. He was a Fulbright Specialist at Tampere University of Technology, Finland, Principal Scientist at the VTT Technical Research Center of Finland in 2011, and a “Distinguished Chair” awardee through Fulbright Fellowship at the Aalto University, Finland in 2018.
Hohyun Sun, Assistant Professor, the University of Alabama Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Dr. H. Hohyun is currently an assistant professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at the University of Alabama. He received his BS from Northwestern University in 2015 and his PhD from the University of Texas at Austin in 2020, with both degrees in chemical engineering. Afterwards, he joined the Army Research Laboratory as a Harry Diamond Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellow where he studied energy materials.
Chi-Hao Chang, Title, Company or Organization
Chi-Hao Chang joined Dow in 2019 and worked on conductive product development and battery fire protection product development for various applications including electrical vehicles and consumer electronics. Currently, he is leading the silicone foam product development for EV battery fire protection applications. He also leads Battery Material application team to investigate the battery market and progress, work with multiple businesses to determine investment and new technology opportunities.
Julia Lamb, Title, Company or Organization
After her PhD at the University of Texas at Austin and some time scaling cathode materials in industry, Dr. Lamb developed a simplified cost and performance model at Bedrock Materials in the effort to prove that sodium-ion batteries could be cheaper than lithium-ion at-scale.
Nick Grundish, Vice President of Battery Technology, EnergyX
Dr. Nicholas Grundish is the Vice President of Battery Technology at EnergyX, where he leads R&D and commercialization efforts for next-generation lithium battery materials and manufacturing processes.
Videla Alvaro, Associate Professor, the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (PUC) School of Engineering
Associate Professor, School of Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (PUC). Affiliate Researcher, Energy Storage Department, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, California, USA.
PhD in Metallurgical Engineering, University of Utah. Undergraduate studies in Industrial Civil Engineering, PUC.
Gao Liu, Senior Scientist and Group Leader, the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) Applied Energy Materials Group
Dr. Gao Liu is a Senior Scientist and Group Leader of the Applied Energy Materials Group at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL). With over 25 years of experience in materials development and system engineering, Dr. Liu’s research sits at the intersection of synthetic chemistry, composite engineering, and electrochemistry.
Yijin Liu, Title, Company or Organization
Dr. Yijin Liu received his B.S. (2004) and Ph.D. (2009) degrees from the Physics Department at the University of Science & Technology of China. He joined Stanford University as a postdoctoral scholar in 2009 and became an Associate Staff Scientist at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in 2012, a Staff Scientist in 2015, and a Lead Scientist in 2020. In August 2023, Dr. Liu joined the Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering at UT Austin as an Associate Professor.
Katharina Gerber, Company or Organization
Dr. Katharina Gerber has spent over 15 years working in the battery industry, with a focus on advancing sustainable technologies. She holds a doctorate in inorganic chemistry from the University of Bonn, Germany, where her research centered on transition metal lithium phosphates.
Zhao Liu, Senior Market Development Manager, Thermo Fisher Scientific
Zhao Liu is a Senior Market Development Manager at Thermo Fisher Scientific, based in Oregon, USA, specializing in the battery market. He earned his PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from Northwestern University and joined Thermo Fisher in 2019. In 2025, he was appointed Affiliated Professor in the Materials Science & Engineering Department at the University of Washington to strengthen academia–industry collaboration.
Jun Liu, Title, Company or Organization
Dr. Jun Liu is the Washington Research Foundation Innovation Chair in Clean Energy, Campbell Chair of Materials Science & Engineering, Professor of Chemical Engineering, and a Battelle Fellow at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL).