Jun 11 2010
The College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering ("CNSE") of the University at Albany today announced the receipt of more than $2 million in federal funding that will support leading-edge nanotechnology educational and research initiatives to enable critical innovations targeting the health care, military, information technology, communications and automotive industries.
Dr. Bin Yu, CNSE Professor of Nanoengineering, received an award from the National Science Foundation ("NSF") for $486,000 to explore ultra-scaled, self-assembled one-dimensional nanosystems, commonly known as nanowires, for energy-efficient information processing and storage. The research is expected to have broader impacts on ultra-high-capacity data storage, programmable logic, artificial neurosynaptics, and cognitive computing.
Dr. Yu and Dr. Eric Eisenbraun, CNSE Associate Professor of Nanoscience, were awarded $360,000 from NSF for research that targets the development of high-speed, ultra-low-power, highly scalable, and manufacturing-worthy all-graphene-based integrated circuits. The proposed integrated platform for future "carbon IC chips" may have significant impacts in a variety of areas, including logic computing, broadband/low-noise RF communication, interconnects, and innovative distributed sensing networks.
Dr. Wei Wang, CNSE Assistant Professor and Senior Research Scientist of Nanoscale Engineering, and Dr. Nathaniel Cady, CNSE Assistant Professor of Nanobioscience, received $460,000 in funding from the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory ("AFRL") to enable integration of CMOS devices with memristors – including the development of novel prototypes – to support a new computing paradigm. Early research shows significant promise for the development of smaller nanoelectronic computer architectures that generate new and efficient ways to perform computational tasks while consuming less power.
Dr. Yubing Xie, CNSE Assistant Professor of Nanobioscience, will share in a $400,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health ("NIH") to study the prevention and treatment of obesity and other fat-related illnesses such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and breast cancer. Working in partnership with Drs. David Corr and Douglas Chrisey from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Dr. Yu-Hua Tseng from Harvard University, the research will deploy a cell-writing technique to gain new understanding of how new fat cells arise in adults.
And, Dr. Harry Efstathiadis, CNSE Associate Professor of Nanoengineering, received $320,000 through the U.S. Department of Energy ("DOE") to enable improved thermoelectric devices for power generation and cooling applications. Working with the Naval Research Laboratory ("NRL"), Hi-Z Technologies in San Diego, CA and the University of San Diego, his research will explore advanced technologies that would allow for conversion of waste heat to be used for cooling, particularly in automobiles and heavy trucks, while reducing the size and cost of thermoelectric heat recovery units.
"The leading-edge research and pioneering education at UAlbany’s College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering will be further enhanced by the critical resources obtained through these federal grants," said George M. Philip, President of the University at Albany. "Our students and faculty will benefit through new opportunities to explore groundbreaking science, and through the NanoCollege, UAlbany continues to gain recognition as a home for world-class research."
"I congratulate Professors Yu, Eisenbraun, Wang, Cady, Xie and Efstathiadis on the receipt of these prestigious federal awards," said Dr. Alain E. Kaloyeros, Senior Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of CNSE. "This recognition underscores CNSE’s standing as a global hub for next-generation education and innovative research that is fueling novel nanoscale-enabled technologies to address the most critical issues of the 21st century."
With the latest group of faculty awards, CNSE so far this year has announced the receipt of nearly $6 million in federal funding for innovative nanoscale education and research initiatives.