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Wireless Institute Opens Applications for the Dan Pedtke Equipment Fund

January 5, 2026

The Wireless Institute is pleased to announce that applications are now open for the Dan Pedtke Equipment Fund. This funding opportunity is designed to support hands-on student research and innovation in wireless technology at the University of Notre Dame.

Dan Pedtke joined the Wireless Institute in November 2022, bringing with him decades of expertise in electrical engineering and radio-frequency (RF) design. A proud Notre Dame electrical engineering graduate, Dan began his career in 1978 and spanned generations of technological change. His return to campus and to South Bend was a true homecoming, one marked by enthusiasm and a deep commitment to mentoring students. Dan found great joy in sharing his knowledge and watching students experience the moment when theory became reality in the lab.

Although Dan passed away on May 6, 2024, after a courageous battle with brain cancer, his impact continues to resonate through the students he mentored and the projects he supported. To honor his legacy, the Wireless Institute, together with Dan’s colleagues and former students, established the Dan Pedtke Equipment Fund.

The Pedtke Fund celebrates Dan’s lifelong passion for wireless technology, electronics, and amateur radio, as well as his belief in learning by doing. The fund supports the purchase of equipment such as RF components, instruments, and other essential lab tools. These resources enable innovative student research within the Wireless Institute and the Departments of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, helping bring ideas to life. From building prototype wireless systems to testing and refining RF circuit designs.

Fund and Award Details

  • Up to three students or student groups will be selected to receive awards of up to $1,000 each
  • Funding is intended for RF components and lab equipment that directly support hands-on wireless research
  • Awards will be based on demonstrated need, project impact, and alignment with Dan’s legacy of curiosity and practical innovation
  • Students may apply individually or as part of a group
  • Award recipients will present their work at an end-of-semester project or poster session

Students interested in applying for Pedtke Fund support may access the application [HERE].
Applications are due January 31, 2026, and award recipients will be announced in February.

The Wireless Institute looks forward to seeing how this fund continues to advance the hands-on, exploratory spirit that Dan Pedtke brought to all he did, and how today’s students will carry that spirit forward through their own research and discovery.

Story by Julia Hahn. The Wireless Institute at Notre Dame. For more information on this story or the Institute contact us @ wireless@nd.edu