麻豆精品 is proud to announce the renewal of its award in the amount of $4.99 million. This prestigious award will extend a highly successful research and workforce development program that has engaged hundreds of students, postdoctoral researchers and faculty members in cutting-edge areas of nanotechnology and advanced materials research. This renewal is a significant milestone for UDC and reaffirms the university's growing national reputation as a research-aspiring institution and a leader in STEM education, innovation and workforce development.
The NSF-CREST renewal will support the Center for Nanotechnology Research and Education (CNRE) at UDC’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) for an additional five years, from August 2026 through July 2031. CNRE Director and Professor Pawan Tyagi, who was recognized in 2025 among the world’s top 2% scientists for the impact of his published research, serves as principal investigator, alongside co-principal investigators Kate Klein, Jiajun Xu, Uche Udeochu and Rong Zhao.
During its first phase, CNRE supported 10 patents, more than 110 peer-reviewed publications and more than 180 conference presentations. The center also supported approximately 80% of UDC’s STEM doctoral students and produced more than 16 peer-reviewed papers through collaborations with institutions including the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, NASA and the Kansas City National Security Complex.
Students have played a key role every step of the way, contributing to patented research alongside faculty mentors and gaining experience that has prepared them for careers in science and technology. CNRE-trained students have gone on to positions with organizations including NASA, USDA, the Army Research Laboratory, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the Kansas City National Security Complex, as well as careers in aerospace, semiconductor manufacturing and other STEM fields.
CNRE-II will build on that success through research in four interconnected areas: 1) molecular spintronics, 2) powder-based electrochemical additive manufacturing, 3) nano- and microscale thermal management, and 4) molecular catalysis. While the projects examine how different materials behave at the molecular level, their potential applications are vast, ranging from future computing technologies and advanced manufacturing to thermal management and sustainable energy systems.
“This grant renewal recognizes the strong foundation Dr. Tyagi and his colleagues have built through the Center for Nanotechnology Research and Education,” said UDC President Maurice D. Edington. “It will allow UDC to continue expanding the hands-on research experiences that prepare our students for emerging fields while supporting faculty whose work is advancing science and technology. That combination of discovery and student opportunity is central to our vision for UDC’s future.”
CNRE-II also will expand collaboration across disciplines and institutions, bringing together expertise in engineering, chemistry and materials science while building on relationships with federal laboratories, universities and industry partners. Those partnerships provide access to specialized expertise and facilities while creating additional research and professional opportunities for UDC students and faculty.
“I am very excited about what this next phase makes possible,” said Tyagi. “We have a solid groundwork of research and student training, and now we have the opportunity to build so much more on it. I want students who come into our labs to see that they are not just learners; they can be innovators, working side-by-side with faculty on technologies that could shape the future of computing, manufacturing and energy. I want UDC to be known as the university of discovery and community.”
“The NSF CREST renewal represents more than an award; it is an investment in the future of UDC, our students, and the broader scientific community,” said SEAS Associate Dean of Research Pradeep Behera. “Through this support, we will continue to cultivate the next generation of scientists, engineers and innovators, particularly from groups historically underrepresented in STEM fields.”
“This grant complements work of our NSF- CREST Center, as well as the NASA-CAM STAR Center, which focuses on advanced technologies for space thermal management and additive manufacturing," said SEAS Dean Devdas Shetty. "Together, these Centers have elevated UDC’s research profile and established us as a growing global leader in molecular spintronics and nanomanufacturing for next-generation computing, sustainable energy materials and room-temperature metal additive manufacturing. This new grant will further strengthen graduate education at UDC by providing outstanding research opportunities for students and supporting the continued growth of our Ph.D. programs within the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.”