NIU microelectronic lab awarded $1.5M in federal funding; Congresswoman Lauren Underwood tours space – Shaw Local

DeKALB – U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood on Friday toured Northern Illinois University’s Microelectronic Analysis and Improvement Lab, which is the recipient of a $1.5 million grant meant to modernize the house.

Underwood, D-Naperville, was in DeKalb on Friday to view the lab after she helped procure the funding, which was secured by means of the Division of Training’s Group Undertaking Funding Grant Program.

In response to a doc supplied by college officers, the funding will assist flip NIU’s 4,200-square-foot cleanroom lab house right into a fabrication lab devoted to design, workforce growth, small-business innovation, and prototyping and analysis of microchips.

Talking to a crowd gathered exterior the lab on NIU’s campus, Underwood praised the college’s college for creating an area that prepares college students to enter the workforce of an trade the nation is attempting to place its weight behind.

Underwood mentioned the scholars who’ve a possibility to work within the lab will “have a leg up” in relation to working with the related expertise of their careers.

“And, clearly, as we all know, we’ve had some actual shortages in pc chips and semiconductors – world shortages,” Underwood mentioned. “And so now for our neighborhood right here in northern Illinois to be leaders within the growth of the particular merchandise, but in addition innovating for the following product, is great, and I feel it should actually spur progress on this area to have this type of lab accessible for the neighborhood.”

Semiconductor and microchips have turn into a nationwide safety concern, in addition to an inflationary concern, for the previous couple of years as a consequence of a worldwide scarcity of the merchandise.

The merchandise are used for expertise all the best way from computer systems and vehicles to home equipment and among the navy’s most superior weapons and protection techniques, The Associated Press reported.

To deal with that concern, President Joe Biden signed the CHIPS and Science Act into regulation within the fall. That act of Congress will present $52.7 billion value of funding for American semiconductor analysis and workforce growth.

Though the $1.5 million in funding doesn’t come from the CHIPS and Science Act, the trouble by Underwood to get NIU the funding is tied to a nationwide push to cut back the nation’s dependence on overseas sources of pc chips.

Mohammed Moghimi, an assistant professor in NIU’s Division of Electrical Engineering, mentioned the funding additionally will assist the division modernize the lab.

“We have already got tools, [but] it was time to resume the lab and make a brand new entrance within the analysis, so this funding will allow us to purchase new tools,” Moghimi mentioned.

With the brand new tools, Moghimi mentioned the college will be capable to provide extra lessons that use the lab whereas specializing in new modern applied sciences.

Amongst these already utilizing the lab is Courtney Bradley, a graduate pupil wrapping up her grasp’s program, who hopes to turn into one of many first college students to enroll within the college’s new Ph.D. program affiliated with the Microelectronic Analysis and Improvement Lab.

For her grasp’s program, Bradley mentioned she’s characterizing actuators to be used in a versatile, noninvasive listening to support system for younger kids. Bradley mentioned the lab has deposition and lithography instruments that enable her to manufacture the brand new system on NIU’s campus.

Bradley mentioned she’s very obsessed with utilizing her electrical engineering talent set to present deprived infants and younger kids higher instruments to know their environment, however she didn’t anticipate to work on a venture with such impression whereas nonetheless at school.

Bradley mentioned “it was wonderful” to have Underwood tour the lab she works in.

“It actually made it really feel prefer it’s vital and we’re making a distinction when you have got Congress recognizing that,” Bradley mentioned. “It makes us really feel like our analysis is much more worthwhile.”

Donald Peterson, the dean of NIU’s School of Engineering and Engineering Know-how, mentioned Friday was “an amazing alternative” to host Underwood, who he referred to as a fantastic companion of the college.

Peterson mentioned Friday marked the second time Underwood had toured the lab, after she visited as soon as earlier than when the college reached out to her workplace to request support in procuring funding for its work.

“We see this as taking part in a key function, particularly within the Midwest, not solely of analysis and growth of this applied sciences but in addition for growth of the workforce,” Peterson mentioned. “In order that the scholars, whether or not they be undergraduate or graduate college students, they’re going to have the ability to hit the bottom operating – they’ll be shovel-ready – after they exit to work with these corporations.”

Underwood mentioned latest redistricting has introduced NIU and the town of DeKalb into Illinois’ 14th Congressional District, which implies she now has the chance to work with the biggest instructional entity in DeKalb County.

“I hope to have the ability to work with the scholars and the oldsters that stay within the metropolis of DeKalb, and all through the county, to satisfy their wants as nicely,” Underwood mentioned.