The consortium explores energy-efficient electronics and photonics
The University of Texas at Arlington is part of a new Department of Energy-funded consortium involving the development of new technologies and college courses covering everything from radiation detection to nuclear engineering.
The University of Texas at Arlington is part of a new Department of Energy-funded consortium involving the development of new technologies and college courses covering everything from radiation detection to nuclear engineering.
The grant will also help UTA develop 2D materials that can be integrated into new, multi-purpose, handheld photonic technologies.
Professor of Electrical Engineering Weidong Zhou and Associate Professor Alice Sun will use a five-year, $1.8 million grant to work with collaborators at UT Arlington, University of North Texas, University of Arkansas Pine Bluff, and national laboratories Argonne and Sandia as part of a larger large Sensing, Energy Efficient Electronics and Photonics Consortium with 2D Materials and Integrated Technologies (SEEP-IT). Anupama Kaul, UNT professor of materials science and engineering and electrical engineering, is the principal investigator on the consortium project.
“We are focusing on photonics for national security applications in detecting all kinds of nuclear signatures,” said Zhou.
For example, one of Sun’s projects is developing a handheld nanophotonic radiation detector.
“We wanted to make it smaller and more sensitive,” he said.
Other UT Arlington researchers involved in this project include:
- Yaowu Hao, professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, who will work with UT Southwestern on the development of a radiation-related nanoparticle-based course for medical purposes.
- Rasool Kenarangui, senior lecturer in electrical engineering, who will develop another new nuclear engineering course. UT Arlington currently offers a major in nuclear engineering.
- Ann Cavallo, assistant vice-chancellor, director of the Research Center on Teaching and Learning Excellence, co-director of UTeach Arlington, and Distinguished University Professor of Science Education, will assist with summer programs, summer teacher programs, and other workforce development projects.
Zhou said the consortium is also focusing on pipeline workforce development. It offers excellent research and educational opportunities for domestic students at all levels, from K-12 to doctoral students.
