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WNF director in working group to target billions in CHIPS and Science Act funding for Washington state

Headshot of Maria Huffman in a navy blue sweater.

Dec. 14, 2024
Maria Huffman, director of the University of Washington’s Washington Nanofabrication Facility, is part of a new, state-wide group of leaders from universities, research institutions, technology companies and the government who aim to strengthen the state’s semiconductor industry.

The group, organized by the Washington Department of Commerce, will work to attract federal funding through the CHIPS and Sciences Act.  

A new, 3D-imaging system for early detection of lung cancer

A sophisticated silicon photonic microchips — integrated circuits that use both electrons and photons (light) to process information.

Dec. 16, 2024
UW ECE Assistant Professor Sajjad Moazeni and graduate students in his lab are part of a multidisciplinary, multi-institutional research team developing a new, three-dimensional imaging system for early detection of lung cancer. This disease is one of the most common cancers worldwide, and in the U.S., it accounts for one in five cancer deaths, according to the American Cancer Society, which notes that early detection is key to survival.

New lens system for endoscopes could allow physicians to see inside the body like never before

An illustration of the endoscope lens system designed by UW ECE and Physics Professor Arka Majumdar and his research team

Nov. 14, 2024
The human body contains a vast, complex, and interconnected web of organic tunnels and passageways that weave their way through the cardiovascular, respiratory, and digestive systems. For physicians, reaching into this maze of arteries, bronchial tubes, and gastrointestinal chambers to view and treat diseased or damaged tissue can be, to put it mildly, challenging. Many of these conduits are long and winding but small in diameter, and they can narrow down to microscopic dimensions. Medical devices built to navigate and optically view these areas must be flexible, maneuverable, and carry a light source.

Revolutionizing Sustainable Materials: Strain Learning Metamaterials Inspired by Nature

Imagine a material that can be stretched and pulled out of shape that not only returns to its original shape but also grows stiffer and stronger each time. University of Washington researchers have developed a new “strain learning” metamaterial. Inspired by how nature strengthens materials—like how bones repair themselves or how spider silk becomes stronger when stressed—this innovation could significantly impact industries that rely on durable, adaptable materials, especially medicine.

NanoES congratulates David Baker, recipient of the Nobel Prize

Biochemist David Baker was named a Nobel Prize recipient yesterday (Oct. 9). The computational biologist, professor of biochemistry at the University of Washington School of Medicine, and director of the UW Medicine Institute for Protein Design has been awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work in computational protein design. By harnessing the power of computing, Baker has transformed biological research.

Ankush Nandi wins honorable mention in NNCI “Plenty of Beauty at the Bottom,” 2024 image contest

Sites from across the National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure (NNCI) contributed stunning, unique, and whimsical images of the micro and nanoscale for the Plenty of Beauty at the Bottom 2024 image contest. Ankush Nandi, a mechanical engineering Ph.D. student in the Vashisth Research Lab, was recognized for his photo, “Shai-Hulud and the Ripples in Sand,” which he took with an Apreo1 SEM by ThermoFisher Scientific. Nandi’s photo received honorable mention in the “most stunning” category.

UW researchers develop a stretchable, wearable device that lights up an LED using only the warmth of your skin

Headshot of Mo in a blue shirt.

One of the drawbacks of fitness trackers and other wearable devices is that their batteries eventually run out of juice. But what if in the future, wearable technology could use body heat to power itself?

UW researchers have developed a flexible, durable electronic prototype that can harvest energy from body heat and turn it into electricity that can be used to power small electronics, such as batteries, sensors or LEDs. This device is also resilient — it still functions even after being pierced several times and then stretched 2,000 times.

Winners announced for the 2024 Nanotechnology Entrepreneurship Challenge

Screenshot of participants (on Zoom) of the Nanotechnology Entrepreneurship Challenge.

The National Center for Earth and Environmental Nanotechnology Infrastructure (NanoEarth) hosted the tenth annual NanoTechnology Entrepreneurship Challenge (NTEC) on April 30th. This year, 15 teams competed from seven separate sites, incorporating 18 students. The Northwest Nanotechnology Infrastructure (NNI) supported one team. The NNI Team was led by student Saowaluk Soonthornkit, researching “Durable Double Perovskite SrColrO3 Electrocatalyst for Acidic Media Water Electrolyzer”. Zhenxing Feng, Ph.D, Associate Professor at Oregon State University, served as the team mentor.