Boise State College of Engineering

10/28/2026

Sometimes the biggest career opportunities start with a single conversation.

That's how Ashlyn Nguyen, a senior in Boise State Online's undergraduate Cyber Operations and Resilience program, describes her path from student to sought-after cyber talent. Early in her study, Nguyen reached out to an instructor and program director searching for ways to apply what she was learning. A conversation that has led to her role as a teaching assistant, then a position as a student engineer in Boise State's cyber lab.

This year, Nguyen was named one of only 50 recipients nationwide of the Department of War's Cyber Service Academy scholarship.

Learn more about Ashlyn's story and discover how we're building Idaho's cyber talent pipeline online in the comments below.

10/28/2026

Boise State has been awarded $2.7 million through NextFlex, the U.S. Department of Defense's flexible hybrid electronics manufacturing institute, to establish the RAVEN Center for Extreme-Environment Microelectronics — short for Reconfigurable Analog van der Waals Engines for Non-von-Neumann Sensing. The 15-month project, conducted in partnership with the Air Force Research Laboratory, builds toward sensors that compute at the point of data collection using two-dimensional quantum materials engineered to withstand extreme heat, radiation and vibration.

The center will operate as a shared user facility, giving researchers from other universities, government labs and industry access to Boise State's AIXTRON 2D materials reactor and new advanced characterization tools. It also embeds workforce development directly into the research pipeline, with undergraduate and graduate students recruited through NSF REU, the Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program and LSAMP participating in equipment installation and process development alongside faculty.

"RAVEN is an important step toward maturing microelectronics for extreme environments and advancing Boise State's research into capabilities that align with key Department of War priorities and the needs of the U.S. industrial base," said Dan Gamota, executive director of NextFlex.

Read the full story in the comments below.

10/27/2026

Think about how many things in your day run on invisible systems — healthcare, energy, transportation, banking. All systems that are only as strong as their weakest link. In today's society, these systems are more independent and a single vulnerability can ripple across entire industries.

Our Cyber Operations and Resilience programs, offered through the School of Computing, focus on a curriculum that builds resilience across people, processes, and technology so graduates are prepared to protect the complex, interconnected infrastructure that powers daily life.

As cyber threats continue to grow in scale and sophistication, closing the workforce gap starts with programs like this one.

Learn more about Boise State University's Cyber Operations and Reslience programs in the comments below.

10/27/2026

Turning research into real-world impact doesn't happen by accident; it takes people willing to bridge the gap between the lab and the workplace.

Two College of Engineering leaders are stepping into that role as newly named 2026 Innovation Ambassadors through Boise State's Office of Technology Transfer. Congratulations, to Dr. Todd Otanicar and Dr. Jerry Fails as they serve as the connective tissue between faculty research and the university community.

Learn more about the full 2026 Innovation Ambassadors cohort and how our researchers are helping good ideas find their path to patents, partnerships, and products in the comments below.

10/26/2026

One Boise State University professor is making sure access to information doesn't stop because of a language barrier.

Don Winiecki learned braille 15 years ago after discovering a genetic predisposition to vision loss. What started as personal preparation grew into Handid Braille Services, a nonprofit he founded that has produced braille texts in more than 100 languages across five continents — including developing the first-ever braille codes for several previously untranslated languages, from Native American languages to Yiddish to Pacific Island/Oceanic languages.

His work sits at the intersection of linguistics, accessibility technology, and global literacy, growing into something that changes access for communities worldwide.

Read more about how braille works and the languages Winiecki has helped bring to tactile readers: https://bit.ly/4iI9wpW

10/19/2026

10/16/2026

It is with heavy hearts that Boise State University shares the passing of Dr. Lynn Russell, our founding dean.

Dean Russell led the College of Engineering through its establishment in 1997, guiding it through its first national accreditation process and overseeing the construction of facilities that remain the core of engineering education at Boise State today – the Harry W. Morrison Civil Engineering Building, the Micron Engineering Center, and the Ruch Engineering Building – while also playing a critical role in establishing the Idaho Microfabrication Laboratory.

Before his career in higher education leadership, Dr. Russell earned his degree in mechanical engineering from Mississippi State University and his Ph.D. from Rice University, then worked as a NASA scientist contributing to the Apollo program. He went on to serve as Dean of Engineering at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and the University of Alabama in Huntsville before coming to Boise State. During this time he authored a thermodynamics textbook still used today.

Our condolences go out to his wife of 63 years, Elaine, his children and his nine grandchildren. Read more about his remarkable life and legacy:

Learn more about Dean Russell's legacy here: https://bit.ly/4Bhc5H8

10/15/2026

Finding the right talent shouldn't feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. 🧡

On Thursday, October 22, Boise State's College of Engineering will host its final Career Fair of the fall semester, connecting employers directly with students across engineering, construction management, computer science, and STEM majors from across campus.

Hosted by the Micron Student Success Center, this event gives organizations the chance to meet motivated, career-ready Broncos who are eager to bring real skills to real teams. If you're building your pipeline for internships or full-time roles, this is where that search gets a lot easier.

📅 Thursday, October 22 | 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Interested in connecting with Boise State's next generation of engineers and technologists? Get in touch with our MSSC team by emailing [email protected]. or check out more information in the comments below.

10/14/2026

What does it look like to sustain the most-awarded student chapter in the nation? Connection, mentorship, and a commitment to hands-on learning.

Boise State Construction Management has named BJ Albertson as its inaugural Casey Cline CMA Fellow, a new endowed role honoring Professor Casey Cline's nearly 20-year legacy of building the Construction Management Association (CMA) into the top Associated General Contractors of America student chapter in the country.

The fellowship, established through a gift from the Construction Management Alumni Chapter, ensures CMA's community-based, industry-connected projects continue for the next generation of student leaders.

Learn more about Albertson's approach to the role and student success in the comments below.

10/14/2026

Curve or no curve…when those midterm grades drop you’re one exam closer to the career and dollar signs 🤑🤑