The latest announcements, milestones, and highlights from our group.
Congratulations to our principal investigator, Dr. Hieu P. Nguyen, who is being promoted to Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Texas Tech University, effective September 1, 2026.
Texas Tech received a National Science Foundation grant to establish a new Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Site — Wide/Ultrawide Bandgap Semiconductor Technologies and Applications (WUBSTA) — which held its program kickoff on June 4, 2026. Directed by Prof. Hieu P. Nguyen with Co-Director Prof. Tim Dallas, the program hosts 10 undergraduate researchers at TTU each summer (June 1 – July 31) to work on WBG/UWBG materials and devices for power electronics, RF, optoelectronics, and sensing.
Faculty mentors include Profs. Stephen Bayne, Ravi Joshi, Ayrton Bernussi, Argenis Bilbao, Taewoo Kim, and Joe Gauthier. Participants receive a $7,000 stipend, full housing support, and travel support.
We're delighted to welcome ten undergraduate researchers joining us for Summer 2026 through the WUBSTA REU Site:
The Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering received a $4.5 million Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund (TSIF) grant to advance ultrawide-bandgap (UWBG) materials, high-power electronics, and semiconductor manufacturing capabilities — supporting industries such as aerospace and defense through more reliable UWBG materials and high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs).
The Whitacre College of Engineering will build a multipurpose clean-room facility after receiving a $12 million Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund (TSIF) award, matched by the university for a $24 million total. The project is led by Dean Roland Faller, Associate Dean Changzhi Li, and Dr. Hieu P. Nguyen, and will significantly expand the lab's fabrication capabilities.
The College of Engineering received a $2 million National Science Foundation (NSF) grant through the Scholarships in STEM (S-STEM) program to prepare students for careers in the semiconductor industry via scholarships, mentoring, and industry-focused training. The project is led by Prof. Tim Dallas.
The U.S. Department of Defense awarded Texas Tech a $14 million grant to lead an Advanced Semiconductor Power Devices Program focused on engineering reliable, high-performance ultrawide-bandgap (UWBG) devices for harsh environments and defense systems.
Dr. Hieu P. Nguyen earned a Department of Defense grant to develop high-efficiency, high-power semiconductor nanowire light sources and high-electron-mobility transistors built from UWBG materials capable of operating in extreme environments (up to ~1000°F), supporting defense applications that help keep troops safe.
A grant from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the State of Texas will launch a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering program specializing in 3D Heterogeneous Integration, combining technical education with hands-on experience to train future leaders in semiconductor innovation. Led by Prof. Tim Dallas.
A Department of Defense–funded project will enable the Whitacre College to acquire equipment, systems, and tools critical to enhancing the college's wide/ultrawide-bandgap semiconductor power device capabilities.
Texas Tech secured a $6.5 million Army Research Laboratory (ARL) workforce pilot program to train next-generation researchers in advanced materials and radar technology.