RIT Kate Gleason College of Engineering (KGCOE)

Santosh Kurinec, professor in microelectronic engineering, visited the National Taiwan Ocean University in Keelung, Taiwan as a guest speaker with funding received from the National Science and Technology Council. Dr. Kurinec presented on “Semiconductor technology node evolution from planar to nanosheets towards 2nm & beyond.” She met with students and faculty and visited their research labs, where nanomaterials, quantum dot organic photonic coatings and perovskite photovoltaics are studied. Dr. Kurinec also visited Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) at Hsinchu and National Tsing Hua University where she presented RIT’s vision and history of semiconductor talent as well as the New York State vision of Agri-PV aiming at using only 2.2% of farm land to generate 43 GW of power by 2040.

The CMOS+X National Science Foundation Research Traineeship (NRT) at RIT aims to develop an innovative convergent graduate research training model for next-generation complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) talents, in order to address a significant domestic semiconductor talent shortage which is an urgent national priority. This NRT program seeks to engage at least 170 graduate students including 20 funded Ph.D.s to help close the semiconductor talent gap. Learn more about the traineeship and application process.

Krittika Goyal ’22, a microsystems engineering Ph.D. alumna and RIT College of Engineering Technology faculty member, is advancing wearable technology research with synthetic skin models. Her latest article in The Conversation explores how skin phantoms help improve wearable devices by simulating human skin—enhancing testing without the need for human subjects.

RIT professors Karin Wuertz-Kozak (biomedical engineering) and Maureen Ferran (RIT College of Science Life Sciences) are investigating how mechanical forces—like stretching and changes in tissue stiffness—affect viral infection rates in the lungs. Their research, supported by a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant, merges mechanobiology and virology to explore how disease progression can be influenced by mechanical cues. By studying how lung fibroblasts respond to different mechanical environments, the team aims to uncover insights that could lead to new therapies and interventions. Their work could also help guide recommendations on exercise during viral infections, potentially improving recovery and patient outcomes.

Esmond Lau, a fourth-year BS/ME mechanical engineering student, is the recipient of the STLE E. Richard Booser Scholarship. This scholarship encourages undergraduate students to pursue graduate degrees or a career in tribology by providing the opportunity for them to participate in tribology research. Esmond's thesis is focused on environmentally friendly lubricants. Specifically, he's studying choline amino acid protic ionic liquids, and will be testing them in multiple sets of conditions (such as high temperatures and electrified conditions). Esmond will be recognized during the 2025 STLE Annual Meeting & Exhibition in Atlanta, Georgia in May.

RIT is leading the way in semiconductor education. Featured in this article in Semiconductor Engineering, RIT’s microelectronics program has been preparing students for industry success for over 40 years. The five-year BS program integrates co-op experiences, hands-on cleanroom training, and a curriculum shaped by industry leaders like Micron Technology and GlobalFoundries. With a strong foundation in electrical engineering, materials science, and data analytics, RIT ensures graduates are ready to make an impact.

Malik Jett, a senior at Rochester Prep High School, is one step closer to his dream of studying neuroscience and attending medical school. As part of the RIT-Rochester Prep Partnership, Malik spent four months working in RIT’s microbiology lab, studying bacteria for potential antibiotic properties. His team, alongside 23 other seniors, presented their research at the annual Capstone Experience on Feb. 4. This hands-on program, which pairs students with RIT faculty mentors, allows students to explore cutting-edge topics like self-driving cars, mechanical engineering, and more. Qian Xue, associate professor of mechanical engineering, led a team in the manufacturing of harbor seal whisker sensors and Amy Engelbrecht-Wiggans, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, led a team in testing the strengthening effect of shampoo on hair follicles.

Rochester Institute of Technology Professor Jairo Diaz and his research team are experimenting with soft matter to create new materials for the future. Learn how they’re changing the internal structure of tiny microscopic droplets to create something new. This past fall, Dr. Diaz was the recipient of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Young Faculty Award for this work.

Exciting new research led by KGCOE faculty members Cory Merkel (associate professor in computer engineering) and Tejasvi Das (associate professor in electrical and microelectronic engineering) aims to revolutionize neuromorphic computing by designing AI systems that closely emulate the complexity of the biological nervous system. Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the project seeks to overcome the limitations of current neuromorphic models, which often rely on overly simplistic designs, by developing a fully analog neuromorphic chip. This chip will incorporate novel active dendritic processing and non-linear synaptic devices for incremental learning, allowing for more efficient and complex spatiotemporal information processing. The ultimate goal is to improve the size, weight, and power (SWaP) efficiency of AI systems by leveraging the sophisticated computational mechanisms of biological intelligence.

Arthur J Deane ’08 is a cybersecurity leader at Amazon Health Services, and he's working to make tech more inclusive and diverse. Starting with electrical engineering at RIT, Arthur’s career has taken him to roles at Amazon, Google, and Capital One, where he’s led important cybersecurity efforts. He’s also giving back by creating a scholarship fund to support African American, Latin American, and Native American students studying cybersecurity at RIT. His goal? “I want to give people what I wish I had, so they can thrive in this program,” Arthur says. Arthur is not only leading in his field but also teaching and mentoring the next generation of tech leaders. He believes in the power of diverse perspectives to solve big challenges in cybersecurity.