Founded: 1989
Full Time:
Part Time:
Budget:
Director: Dr. Kody Varahramyan
Louisiana Tech University
P.O. Box 10137
Ruston, LA 71272
Telephone: 318-257-5100 Fax: 318-257-5104 E-Mail: kody@coes.latech.edu
Research Areas and Areas of Expertise:
The resources and expertise of the Institute for Micromanufacturing (IfM) include nanomaterial synthesis, nanoassembly, biotechnology, environmental technology, microfabrication, microelectronics, and microelectromechanical systems. IfM consists of an interdisciplinary staff of more than thirty elite researchers with a diversity of backgrounds including biomedical, chemical, mechanical, and electrical engineering; and materials science, biology, physics, and chemistry. Specifically, the vision of the IfM is to be a world-class resource for the realization of commercially viable micro and nanosystems contributing to the economic infrastructure of Louisiana and the nation, and benefitting humanity as a whole. The IfM, in addition to being an integrated nanomanufacturing and micromanufacturing facility, is a recognized leader in microsystems education. Educational curriculum development is ongoing at the IfM and is aimed at creating an inquiry-based science and technology learning environment for K through 12 students and undergraduate/graduate students.
The mission of the IfM is
The IfM offers a wide range of microtechnology capabilities for the realization of micro electro mechanical systems (MEMS), as well as a complementary array of nanotechnology capabilities for MEMS and other applications. Nanotechnology, Biotechnology, Environmental Technology, and Information Technology constitute the four major research and development thrust areas and centers of excellence of the IfM. Examples of projects from these areas include BioMEMS efforts aimed at the development of select commercially viable micro and nanosystems for biomedical and biological applications (current efforts focusing on the realization of microfluidic biomicro/nanosystems for separation, analysis, and detection applications); EnviroMEMS efforts aimed at the development of select commercially viable micro and nanosystems for environmental and chemical applications (current efforts directed towards the realization of microfluidic environmental/chemical and biochemical micro/nanosystems for process development and synthesis for petrochemical, pharmaceutical, and other applications); Nanotechnology efforts directed at the development of select commercially viable nanotechnologies for BioMEMS (e.g., systems for detection of biological agents), EnviroMEMS (e.g., microreactor systems), micro/nanoelectronics (e.g., nanowires and interconnects), and other applications; Information technology efforts directly supportive of the State of Louisiana IT Initiative and current efforts include projects for the realization of enabling micro/nanotechnologies for information sensing, storage, and processing.
The IfM consists of three components: the R & D facility at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, LA; the X-ray beam lines and lithography processing facility at the Center for Advanced Microstructures and Devices in Baton Rouge, LA; and the Technology Transfer Center in the Shreve Industrial Park in Shreveport, LA. The R & D facility is housed in a 41,000 sq. ft. structure designed specifically for research and development in micro and nanotechnology. Laboratories occupy 20,000 sq. ft. of environmentally controlled workspace and contain 5,000 sq. ft. of modular clean rooms. The laboratory facilities provide a full suite of micro and nanofabrication processing capabilities (e.g., X-ray and optical lithographies, bulk and surface micromachining, and layer-by-layer assembly), and a comprehensive set of measurement and characterization tools.
The Center for Rural Development is an outreach and research center at Louisiana Tech University whose mission is to facilitate a connection between rural communities in Louisiana and resources and research at Louisiana Tech. The Center is not located within any academic department, but rather seeks to work across departments on campus. The Center is overseen by the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Kenneth Re. Currently, the staff consists of a director and a graduate assistant. The current director, Elizabeth Higgins, was hired in October 2002. Prior to working at the Center, Ms. Higgins was a program officer at Winrock International in Rosslyn, VA, working on domestic agriculture and rural policy.
The Center works in three general areas. The first is to assist faculty at Tech in identifying sources of grant funding, connecting with potential partners from the community, and writing grant proposals that have a direct benefit to Louisiana's rural communities. The Center's staff works directly with rural communities and organizations that have identife3d needs and provides assistance to them. This assistance can include organizing, developing a plan, identifying potential partners at Tech, finding potential sources of funding, and helping with collecting data or identifying other research in support of their project. The third major area is outreach and communications to rural communities and is designed to help community leaders in rural areas, particularly those who have not contacted the Center directly for assistance, to know about projects, programs, and sources of expertise that can benefit their community. The Center publishes a newsletter, Rural Louisiana, and has established an annual conference to help educate rural community leaders about new ideas, projects, and programs in rural development.
The primary focus areas for 2004 include increasing opportunities for and research in value-added agriculture in the State, developing after-school and summer enrichment programs for rural youth, and developing a regional coalition and plan for tourism in North Louisiana.
Keywords:
Micromanufacturing
Nanotechnology
Nanomaterial Synthesis
Nanoassembly
Biotechnology
Environmental Technology
Microfabrication
Microelectronics
Microelectromechanical Systems
Information Technology