The University of Notre Dame is one of only a dozen universities selected by Sandia National Laboratories as founding academic members of a unique research consortium.
The newly established National Institute for Nano-Engineering (NINE) will function as a national hub for technological innovation and engineering education.
It is an honor to be included in this new partnering model presented by NINE, but we believe it is also a natural evolution of our program,said Peter M. Kogge, Ted H. McCourtney Professor of Computer Science and Engineering and associate dean for research in the College of Engineering.Notre Dame has been a leader in nanotechnology for quite some time, with first-of-a-kind work in nano devices, architectures that leverage such devices, and in developing course work to educate the next generation of students.
The other founding NINE members from academia include Harvard University, Harvey Mudd College, the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Rice University, the University of California at Davis, the University of Florida, the University of Illinois,
the University of New Mexico, the University of Texas, the University of Wisconsin and Yale University. Initial industry members include Corning, ExxonMobil Corp., Goodyear Tire and Rubber, IBM, Intel Corp. and Lockheed Martin Corp..
The goal of NINE is to broaden a students education through a unique team research experience,said Duane Dimos, Sandia director of materials science and engineering and lead for the consortium.We want to be part of developing the next generation of innovations and innovators.
Pilot projects, which began this summer, focused multidisciplinary efforts in key aspects of nano-engineeringincluding business, legal, political and social issuesand encompassed students from first-year engineers to graduating seniors. As the program grows, partners anticipate outreach to high school teachers as well as pre-college students.
James L. Merz, Frank M. Freimann Professor of Electrical Engineering and interim dean of the College of Engineering, believes it is exciting and appropriate that Notre Dame be among the initial university members.
Several College of Engineering faculty have been active in the development of this consortium,he said.Nano-engineering, a signature program here at the University, can both benefit from and make significant contributions to the activities of NINE.
Also anticipating new research opportunities for Notre Dame undergraduates is Wolfgang Porod, director of the Universitys Center for Nano Science and Technology and the Frank M. Freimann Professor of Electrical Engineering.
Our students will be able to use state-of-the-art facilities and instrumentationat Notre Dame and in national laboratorieswhere they will be working on problems of national interest. This is essential for the nations future in engineering and science,he said.
Contact: Peter Kogge, Ted H. McCourtney Professor of Computer Science and Engineering, 574-631-6763, " kogge.i@nd.edu ":mailto:kogge.i@nd.edu _
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