NSF awards nanotechnology grant to School of Engineering

By Kristina Kenney
University News Service
September 14, 2012

The National Science Foundation has awarded a Nanotechnology Undergraduate Education grant to the Ingram School of Engineering at Texas State University-San Marcos.

Jitendra Tate, assistant professor of engineering, served as the principal investigator for the project entitled “NUE: NanoTRA-Texas Regional Alliance to foster ‘Nanotechnology Environment, Health, and Safety Awareness’ in tomorrow’s Engineering and Technology Leaders.” The NSF is awarding a total of $199,997 from Jan. 1, 2013 to Dec. 31, 2014 to fund the project. Co-principal investigators include: Craig Hanks, professor of philosophy; Domnick Fazarro, associate professor of industrial technology and management at the University of Texas at Tyler; and Mario Cristian Gaedicke-Hornung, assistant professor of engineering.

This project will initially impact more than 1,000 engineering and technology students a Texas State and UT-Tyler, of which 350 are underrepresented minority students. The project aims to develop introductory and advanced courses in nanotechnology safety issues that include social, ethical, environmental, health and safety issues in conventional engineering, engineering technology, industrial technology and science courses. The proposed project will help prepare a diverse workforce to supply the needs of emerging nanotechnology companies, more than 100 of which are currently based in Texas.

For more information on the grant, please contact Jitendra Tate at (512) 245-1826 or by email at jt31@txstate.edu.