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Associate Professor Reza Ghodssi (ECE/ISR) has been named an associate editor for the IEEE/ASME Journal of Microelectromechanical Systems (JMEMS). JMEMS is considered to be the premier publication in the worldwide MEMS community. Associate Professor Reza Ghodssi (ECE/ISR) and Professor Gary Rubloff (ECE/ISR/MSE) are two of the inventors named on U.S. Patent 7,375,404, "Fabrication and integration of Polymeric bioMEMS." Other inventors listed include Jung Jin Park, Mark Kastantin, Sheng Li, Li-Qun Wu, Hyunmin Yi and Theresa Valendine. The patent is jointly assigned to the University of Maryland and the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute in Baltimore. Stephan Koev is the recipient of the Institute for Systems Research (ISR) 2008 George Harhalakis Outstanding Systems Engineering Graduate Student Award on Wednesday, May 28, 2008. He was nominated by his faculty advisor Associate Professor Reza Ghodssi (ECE/ISR). Christopher Michael Waits completed his Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering in May 2008. His dissertation is titled "Microtrurbopump Utilizing Microball Bearings." This dissertation presents the development of a microfabricated turbopump capable of delivering fuel with the flow rates and pressures required for portable power generation. The device is composed of a spiral-groove viscous pump that is driven by a radial in-flow air turbine and supported using a novel encapsulated microball bearing. Christorpher is currently working as a Research Engineer in the Power MEMS group at the US Army Research Laboratory in Adelphi, Maryland. Associate Professor Reza Ghodssi has been appointed Herbert Rabin Distinguished Professor in the A. James Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland. The four-year appointment, effective July 1, 2008, recognizes his sustained and influential scientific and scholarly work. The professorship will provide discretionary funds to further support Dr. Ghodssi's research and educational programs. Biofabrication with Chitosan is one of the most-accessed articles published in Biomacromolecules in 2007. Associate Professor Reza Ghodssi (ECE/ISR) has been named as an associate editor for the Journal of Biomedical Microdevices, effective May 1, 2008. Peter Dykstra was selected as an "Honorable Mention" for the 2008 NSF Graduate Research Fellowship. Stephan Koev is the recipient of the ECE Distinguished Dissertation Fellowship ($5000!) this year. The fellowship is intended to recognize the outstanding work a graduate student has done towards his/her dissertation. Stephan's award recognizes his research entitled "Design, Fabrication and Testing of a Microsystem for Monitoring Bacterial Quorum Sensing". ECE MSAL alumnus Wen-Hsien Chuang, Ph.D. '05, has received an Intel Achievement Award (IAA), the greatest honor an employee can achieve at Intel. The IAA awards recognize the very finest individual or team accomplishments at Intel Corporation. Wen-Hsien received the award as part of the Technology and Manufacturing Group, whose team members were recognized for the development of innovative silicon diagnostic solutions. Associate Professor Reza Ghodssi (ECE/ISR) will be one of the plenary speakers at the 2008 Symposium on Design, Test, Integration, Packaging of MEMS/MOEMS in Nice, France in April. The goal of the symposium is to provide a forum for interdisciplinary discussions involving design, modeling, testing, micromachining, microfabrication, integration and packaging of microstructures, devices and systems. Dr. Ghodssi will speak on the subject of "Integrative MEMS/NEMS Technology for Micro and Nano Systems," presenting an overview of the process technologies developed at MSAL. UMD press release on September 18, 2007, entitled: "U of MD Researchers to Develop Device to Revolutionize Drug Research," generated over 60 media hits including Washington/Baltimore Business Journals, a number of biomedical-related industry newsletters such as the prestigious "Chemical and Engineering News Magazine," and many web sites. Notable publication web sites that picked up the story included Forbes and the Houston Chronicle. Alireza Modafe completed his Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering in September 2007. His dissertation is titled "Benzocyclobutene-Based Electric Micromachines Supported on Microball Bearings: Design, Fabrication, and Characterization." As a part of his dissertation, Alireza developed the first linear micromotor supported on microball bearings. This micromotor uses layers of benzocyclobutene (BCB) low-k polymers for insulation and passivation. Alireza is currently working as a Product Engineer at Micron Technology, Inc., in Manassas, Virginia. Nima Ghalichechian completed his Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering in July 2007. Nima's dissertation is titled "Design, Fabrication, and Characterization of a Rotary Variable-Capacitance Micromotor Supported on Microball Bearings." As a part of his dissertation, Nima developed the first rotary micromotor supported on microball bearings. Nima will start a new position at the FormFactor Inc. in October 2007. Stephan Koev is one of the recipients of the 2007 American Vacuum Society's (AVS) Graduate Research Award , a prestigious prize that draws nationwide competition each year. Approximately ten awards are given annually. The AVS award will be presented at the AVS 54th International Symposium in Seattle this October. Associate Professor Reza Ghodssi (ECE /ISR /NanoCenter) is among 100 of the nation's outstanding young engineers invited to attend the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) 2007 U.S. Frontiers of Engineering Symposium in Redmond, Wa., September 23-26, 2007. NAE's U.S. Frontiers of Engineering Symposium is a three-day meeting that brings together 100 of the nation's outstanding young engineers (aged 30-45) from industry, academia, and government to discuss pioneering technical and leading-edge research in a variety of engineering fields. Ghodssi was nominated by University of Maryland President C.D. (Dan) Mote to participate in the NAE Frontiers Symposium. Nima Ghalichechian is the recipient of the Institute for Systems Research (ISR) 2007 George Harhalakis Outstanding Systems Engineering Graduate Student Award on Thursday, May 10, 2007. He was nominated by his faculty advisor Associate Professor Reza Ghodssi (ECE/ISR/NanoCenter). Nima Ghalichechian was awarded the best student speaker for the Fall 2006 semester on Tuesday, May 8, 2007. ECE Department Chair Dr. Patrick O.Shea, Prof. K. J. Ray Liu and Director of Graduate, Academic, and Student affairs presented the award. Co-authors Nathan Siwak and Xiao Zhu Fan shared the first prize at the third annual IEEE Lasers & Electro-Optics Society (LEOS) Baltimore and Washington Northern Virginia Graduate Student Poster Competition. Their poster, titled "Chemical Sensor Utilizing Indium Phosphide Cantilevers and Pentacene as an Absorbing Layer," won the award on April 25, 2007 at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics laboratory in Laurel, Maryland. The Institute of Physics (IOP) has recently selected one of MSAL's publications, "End-coupled Optical Waveguide MEMS Devices in the Indium Phosphide Material System," for inclusion in the Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering (JMM) 2006 highlights. To be selected for the year end highlights, an article has to be both praised by the international panel of referees and rank amongst the top most downloaded papers from the website. Brian Morgan's research, "Aligning Optical Fibers by Means of Actuated MEMS Wedges," was featured in the January 2007 issue of NASA Tech Briefs/Photonic Tech Briefs. "Chitosan Nanosensor Detects Dangerous Substances" is a featured story on the cover of ISR's Spring 2007 newsletter about the biosensing research program at MSAl. Key researchers associated with the program include Associate Professor Reza Ghodssi (ECE/ISR), Maryland NanoCenter Director and former ISR Director Gary Rubloff (MSE/ISR), Fischell Department of Bioengineering Chair Bill Bentley, and Greg Payne from the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute (UMBI). MSAL graduate students Nathan Siwak, Stephan Koev, Jonathan McGee and Xiao Zhu Fan, are helping to develop the nanoscale system on a chip. This project is supported by the LPS nano-bio program, National Science Foundation and R.W. Deutsch Foundation. The chitosan-nanosensor research program was mentioned in President Mote's remarks to Maryland legislators in February 2007: "The University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute is working with the Maryland NanoCenter to develop a nanoscale sensor system that can detect exceedingly small quantities of explosives, chemicals and other hazardous materials." Here is President Mote's complete testimony to the Maryland General Assembly. A recent paper published by MSAL in the Journal of Microelectronics and Microengineering, "End-coupled Optical Waveguide MEMS Devices in the Indium Phosphide Material System," has been recognized by the Institute of Physics (IOP) publishing for being downloaded 500 times so far. Baltimore's FOX 45 TV offered in-depth, "cover story" treatment of a feature on crab nano-sensor technology currently being developed at MSAL. Chitosan, a substance found in crab shells, is the key component in a nanoscale sensor system developed by Associate Professor Reza Ghodssi and students Nathan Siwak, Sephan Koev, Jonathan McGee and Mike Fan in the MEMS Sensors and Actuators Lab. The sensor can detect minute quantities of explosives, bioagents, chemicals, and other dangerous materials in air and water, potentially leading to security and safety innovations for airports, hospitals, and other public locations. Watch the news segment in Windows Media Player or Real Player. Brian Morgan completed his Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering in August 2006. Brian's thesis focused on the development of "Electrostatic MEMS Actuators using Gray-scale Technology." This research explored the integration of 3-D silicon structures within both static and dynamic MEMS devices, including the development of electrostatic MEMS comb-drives with tailored actuation characteristics, compact tunable MEMS resonators, and a novel 2-axis optical fiber alignment system for in-package alignment to optoelectronic components. Brian starts a new position at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory in Adelphi, Maryland in September 2006. Chitosan, a substance found in crab shells, is the key component in a nanoscale sensor system developed by researchers in the MEMS Sensors and Actuators Lab. The sensor can detect minute quantities of explosives, bioagents, chemicals, and other dangerous materials in air and water, potentially leading to security and safety innovations for airports, hospitals, and other public locations. The news media picked up on the story through a Clark School of Engineering press release—view the story and media links here. ECE Ph.D. student Nima Ghalichechian is one of the recipients of the 2006 American Vacuum Society's (AVS) Graduate Research Award, a prestigious prize that draws nationwide competition each year. Nima is advised by Associate Professor Reza Ghodssi (ECE/ISR). Nima is the second student from Ghodssi's MEMS Sensors and Actuators Lab to be honored with the award in four years; Ph.D. student Alireza Modafe won in 2002. He also was advised by Dr. Ghodssi—who coincidentally won this same award when he was a graduate student. MSAL activities were featured at the university's first Nanoday, a showcase of the research and facilities associated with the univerty's new Nanocenter. Pictures from this event are available from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Biological-Chemical sensing using III-V optical MEMS is one of three featured projects in the premiere issue of Maryland's Research Quarterly "Impact." Impact is a new publication intended to showcase the research endeavors from the University. A copy of the first issue can be downloaded here. A paper recently published by MSAL, "End-coupled Optical waveguide MEMS Devices in the Indium Phosphide Material System," has been selected as a featured article in the Journal of Microelectronics and Microengineering. More information from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Compound Semiconductor, a respected magazine for in-depth news and information on the compound semiconductor industry, published an article on recent developments in Compound Semiconductor MEMS. Work from the MEMS Sensors and Actuators Lab's efforts to develop fully integrated biosensors is featured. Sheng Li completed his Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering in February 2006. Sheng's thesis focused on the "Design, Fabrication and Testing of Micronozzles for Gas Sensing Applications." This research was one of the first comprehensive experimental studies of gas separation dynamics at the micro-scale using supersonic flow. His work has provided the fundamental building blocks for multi-stage high speed pre-concentrators, a crucial component for improving the detection of toxic gas compounds to the parts-per-billion level. Sheng starts a new position at Intel Corporation in Chandler, Arizona in February 2006. The PBS Nightly Business Report aired a special on nanotechnology on Wednesday, 23 November 2005. The reporting centered on the University of Maryland, recently judged to be top in the nation by Small Times for nanotechnology research and education. Work from the MEMS Sensors and Actuators lab is featured in this segment, available online from the Maryland Center for Integrated Nano Science and Engineering. More information from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Marcel Pruessner finished his Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering in August 2005. Marcel's thesis was the first demonstration of "InP-based Optical Waveguide MEMS" that has proved InP as a suitable micro-opto-mechanical material for a wide variety of waveguide-based optical microsystems ranging from communications to sensing applications. His dissertation in fact has established the basic foundation for monolithic integration of passive and active optical components with MEMS actuators on a single chip using InP material. Marcel starts his new position as a National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral fellow at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington DC in September 2005. In a recent column, the Washington Post's tech columnist Ellen McCarthy praises the University of Maryland's leadership in nanotechnology, and emphasizes our interdisciplinary partnerships. Work from the MEMS Sensors and Actuators Lab is featured. Wen-Hsien Chuang finished his Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering in May 2005. Wen-Hsien's thesis is one of the first studies on understanding the electromechanical properties of micro and nano scale thin film materials at cryogenic temperatures using focused ion beam (FIB). The techniques and results of his Ph.D. work are now used at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) for development of MEMS devices on the James Webb Space Telescope that will be launched in 2011. Wen-Hsien starts a new position at Intel Corporation in Hillsboro, Oregon in June 2005. Marcel Pruessner won the best student paper award at the 17th Indium Phosphide and Related Materials (IPRM) Conference in Glasgow, Scotland, UK.  The paper was titled "Indium Phosphide Based MEMS End-Coupled Optical Waveguide Switches." Marcel Pruessner the best poster award at the 2005 MEMS Alliance.  The poster was titled "Indium Phosphide Based Optical Waveguide MEMS for Communications and Sensing." Brian Morgan was a finalist in the University of Maryland's 18th annual invention of the year awards, physical science category.  His work is titled "On-Chip Active Optical Fiber Alignment System using Gray-Scale Technology." Alireza Modafe and Nima Ghalichechian are the recipients of the 2004 MEMS and NEMS (MN) Technical Group Graduate Award.  The award was given to the presentation judged by the MN Technical Committee to be the best presentation among all MN student papers at the American Vacuum Society (AVS) 51st International Symposium last November in Anaheim, CA. The title of their presentation was "BCB-Based Linear Micromotor Supported on Microball Bearings: Design Concepts, Characterization, and Fabrication Development." Dr. Reza Ghodssi was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure by University of Maryland President C. D. Mote, March 2005. Brian Morgan has been awarded a 2005-2006 ARCS Scholarship. The award is sponsored by the Metropolitan Washington Chapter of the ARCS Foundation. His research focuses on novel three-dimensional silicon MEMS microfabrication technology. Michael Powers was a winner in the poster competition at the Maryland Bioscience Research Review Day 2004.  The poster was titled, "Toward a Biophotonic MEMS Cell Sensor."  There were 120 posters entered in the competition. Brian Morgan has been awarded a 2004-2005 ARCS Scholarship. The award is sponsored by the Metropolitan Washington Chapter of the ARCS Foundation. His research focuses on novel three-dimensional silicon MEMS microfabrication technology. Brian received his ARCS Scholarship from the University of Maryland Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost William W. Destler along with three other Clark School of Engineering students and 12 other winners from area universities, in a ceremony at the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) in October 2004. The ceremony was also attended by Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy. Marcel Pruessner received his ARCS Scholarship in a ceremony at the U.S. Supreme Court in November 2003. He joined two other Clark School of Engineering students, 15 other winners from area universities, University of Maryland President Dan Mote and Clark School professors in meeting Justice Anthony Kennedy, their host for the evening. Dr. Reza Ghodssi is the recipient of the ISR Outstanding Faculty Award for 2003, which promotes cross-disciplinary research of the highest caliber. The new Engineering College Clean Room has opened in October 2003, meeting an urgent need for enhanced campus-wide fabrication capabilities. The room provides facilities to serve MEMS device fabrication as well as general micro/nano fabrication. This temporary facility is located in 0202 Energy Research Building within the Institute for Research in Electronics and Applied Physics (IREAP). The steering committee includes ECE faculty John Melngailis and Reza Ghodssi, and Mechanical Engineering faculty members Don DeVoe and Elisabeth Smela. Dr. Xiaobo Tan and Michael Khbeis won one of two best poster awards at the Spring 2003 Special Topics Symposium of the MEMS Alliance on April 11, 2003. The symposium was held on campus at the Inn and Conference Center and more than 170 researchers and students attended. The students belong to Dr. Reza Ghodssi's ENEE 719F class and their poster was titled, "Microfabrication of a Pressure Sensor Array using 3D Integration Technology." Brian Morgan was selected as an "Honorable Mention" for the 2003 NSF Graduate Research Fellowship. Marcel Pruessner has been awarded one of three $15,000 ARCS Fellowships given by the Clark School of Engineering for the 2003-2004 academic year. Marcel's research focuses on optical switching and III-V MEMS. Benjamin Kleber has been awarded the Scholarship for Undergraduate Research with Faculty (SURF), for the 2002-03 academic year, by Northrop Grumman through the ISR at UMD. Cynthia Wu won the best poster award at the poster session of the Fall 2002 MEMS Alliance Workshop at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL). Her poster was titled "Spatially-Selective Deposition of a Reactive Polysaccharide Layer onto a Patterned Template". Bruk Berhane's project entitled "Design of a MEMS-based Capacitive Microphone" was awarded honorable mention among the 28 projects that were presented as part of the MERIT Fair held in August 2002. Bruk worked directly with Dr. Reza Ghodssi, Alireza Modafe, and Wen-Hsien Chuang at MSAL and in collaboration with Dr. Neil Goldsman from UMD and Madan Dubey from ARL. Bruk Berhane is a McNair scholar.(Summer 2002) The mission of the University of Maryland Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program is to increase the number of undergraduates enrolling in graduate school to pursue doctoral degrees. The program has been specifically designed to increase the participation of under-represented groups in graduate school. Alireza Modafe has been selected to receive the American Vacuum Society's Graduate Research Award for 2002. Only one Graduate Research Award is given each year. Alireza will receive the award on November 6 at the AVS 49th International Symposium in Denver. Alireza Modafe won the best poster award at the student poster session of the Spring 2002 MEMS Alliance Workshop at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) . His poster was titled "A Power MEMS Device with Micro-Ball Bearing Support" and it was selected by the 130 attendees at the event before the award was presented in the afternoon. Yinyin Zhao, Ph.D. student in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering , has been awarded a $1,900 grant by the Washington, D.C.-based Cosmos Club Foundation to support her research into MEMS-based Piezoelectric Microphone for Biomedical Applications. Dr. Reza Ghodssi has won a National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award for "InP-based MEMS for Optical Microsystems." The NSF CAREER program fosters the career development of outstanding junior faculty, combining the support of research and education of the highest quality and in the broadest sense. Mike Waits has been granted the GAANN Fellowship . Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, the Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) Fellowships are awarded to qualified U.S. applicants with excellent academic records to pursue doctoral studies. Dr. Reza Ghodssi was awarded The 2001 George Corcoran Award for "Significant Contributions to Electrical and Computer Engineering Education, in Recognition of Teaching and Leadership at the College Park Campus, Effective Contributions at the National Level, and Creative and Other Scholarly Activities Related to Electrical and Computer Engineering." Bruk Berhane, Daniel Kelly and Chuck Tsen's project entitled "Development of a MEMS-based Piezoelectric Microphone" adjudged the best among the 24 projects that were presented as part of the MERIT Fair held in August 2001. The students worked directly with Ms. Yinyin Zhao and Dr. Reza Ghodssi at MSAL in collaboration with Drs. Alma Wickenden and Madan Dubey from ARL and Dr. Neil Goldsman from UMD. Bruk Berhane is a McNair scholar. (Summer 2001) The mission of the University of Maryland Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program is to increase the number of undergraduates enrolling in graduate school to pursue doctoral degrees. The program has been specifically designed to increase the participation of under-represented groups in graduate school.