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Boise State University Receives $7.4 Million NSF Award for Semiconductor Research and Workforce Development

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

A team of Boise State University faculty has been awarded a $7.4 million U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to establish the Center for Advancing Workforce Experience through Semiconductors, Outreach, and Mentoring Excellence (AWESOME). This award is the largest NSF award in Boise State history and aims to revolutionize and drastically lower the energy cost of AI through research, establish Boise State's national research competitiveness as a leader in semiconductor research and education, and improve the opportunity and educational experiences of students going into semiconductor industries.

Key Takeaways:

  • The AWESOME Center will be led by principal investigator Eric Jankowski, director of Boise State's Micron School of Materials Science and Engineering, and will bring together existing research teams, educational and mentoring pathways, and research infrastructure to create a single "AWESOME" center.
  • The primary goals of the center are to revolutionize and drastically lower the energy cost of AI through research, establish Boise State's national research competitiveness as a leader in semiconductor research and education, and improve the opportunity and educational experiences of students going into semiconductor industries.
  • The center will leverage existing institutional, state, and industry investments to combine and advance research in the fabrication of new materials that increase computing throughput and reduce energy demands.
  • The AWESOME Center will provide students with unparalleled opportunities to learn, research, and innovate in semiconductors, an industry critical to Idaho and the nation.
  • The center will also help position Boise State as an "R1" institution and a leader in semiconductor research where scholarship and student support are united.
  • The interdisciplinary team includes faculty from the Micron School of Materials Science and Engineering, the Department of Teaching, Learning, and Community Engagement, and the Institute for Inclusive and Transformative Scholarship.
  • The center will develop and implement modern computing courses and resources for Vertically Integrated Projects to create accessible on-ramps, educational opportunities, and a robust mentoring program for students.

Statistics:

  • The NSF award is worth $7.4 million, the largest NSF award in Boise State history.
  • The center will bring together existing research teams, educational and mentoring pathways, and research infrastructure to create a single "AWESOME" center.
  • The center will leverage existing institutional, state, and industry investments to combine and advance research in the fabrication of new materials that increase computing throughput and reduce energy demands.
  • The center will provide students with unparalleled opportunities to learn, research, and innovate in semiconductors, an industry critical to Idaho and the nation.
  • The interdisciplinary team includes 7 faculty members from various departments.

Sources:

  • Boise State University News Release (no date)
  • National Science Foundation (NSF) (no date)
  • Boise State University Interim President Jeremiah Shinn (no date)
  • Eric Jankowski, principal investigator and director of Boise State's Micron School of Materials Science and Engineering (no date)
  • College of Engineering Dean Amy Fleischer (no date)

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