UA College of Engineering

08/31/2026

A million-dollar infrared microscope – capable of spotting defects invisible to the human eye – is ready for action in the Office of Research and Partnerships’ Nano Fabrication Center semiconductor cleanroom.

The cleanroom is a key component of the University of Arizona Center for Semiconductor Manufacturing.

IRLabs, a Tucson-based optics and cryogenics company, donated the instrument to support workforce training and research in semiconductor manufacturing.

Semiconductor chips are the foundation of today's advanced technology. They control tiny electrical currents in everything from smartphones to satellites. Their manufacturing process requires extreme precision, as even the smallest error can render a chip unusable.

The infrared microscope is widely used to identify defects and conduct failure analysis of semiconductor chips. Infrared emissions can be detected at each step of the manufacturing process, providing vital clues about the integrity of the final product.

"By donating this equipment to the University of Arizona, we will have students who are familiar with it when they graduate and can join the industry quickly," said Manny Teran, IRLabs CEO and U of A mechanical engineering alumnus who graduated in 1999. "Many ideas don't come to fruition because the right equipment isn't available. I want students and faculty to have access to this and imagine what's possible."

NXP Semiconductors donates $7.7M in chips to U of A March 13, 2026 Chris Quirk The company’s gift gives electrical and computer engineering students hands-on experience with industry-grade hardware. Image The University of Arizona’s Nano Fabrication Center, located in the Department of Electrica...

08/28/2026

The University of Arizona will announce a transformational $10 million gift to name a new degree program at a dedication ceremony on Tuesday, Sept. 1.

The Integrated Business and Engineering Program, where students started classes this past Monday August 24, 2026, is an undergraduate degree designed to prepare students with both technical expertise and business leadership skills. It is the only undergraduate program of its kind in Arizona.

A collaboration between the Eller College of Management and the College of Engineering, the degree program responds to growing demand by businesses for graduates with technical expertise and business acumen. It provides a solid foundation in technical problem-solving and strategic management, blending engineering design, software, artificial intelligence, and biomedical devices with business analytics, accounting, marketing and entrepreneurship.

Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly and Gov. Katie Hobbs are expected to join the donors, students and U of A leadership.

"We are teaching students not just to create engineering systems but also instilling the business acumen to bring them to life," said Kimberly Ogden, Craig M. Berge Interim Dean of the College of Engineering.

Watch the speakers live beginning at 10:15 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1.

Members of the media are asked to please RSVP to [email protected] by noon on Monday, Aug. 31.

https://www.arizona.edu/live

08/26/2026

Dr. Chris Salvino holds eight academic degrees and is the first in the University of Arizona School of Mining Engineering and Mineral Resources to pursue a PhD specializing in lunar mining. He is on a mission to power the world safely and cleanly. Drawing on a deep foundation in medicine, geology and engineering, he founded Lunar Helium-3 Moon Mining LLC or LH3M.

The Scottsdale, Arizona, company, which has now secured 13 U.S. patents to detect the gas on the moon, aims to extract helium-3 from ancient lunar dust for nuclear fusion and as a cryogenic coolant for quantum computers.

On Earth, rare helium-3 is primarily found in the radioactive decay of tritium from nuclear warheads and reactors. In the U.S, the limited stockpile mostly goes into detectors to identify smuggled nuclear material (neutrons from plutonium) at borders and ports.

Unlike Earth, the Moon has no magnetic field to shield its surface from solar winds. For billions of years, this stream of particles has implanted helium-3 into the lunar soil, leaving an estimated million metric tons behind, potentially enough to provide the world with centuries of clean energy.

Read the full story here:

With surgical precision, Dr. Chris Salvino shifts to moon mining March 2, 2026 Pascal Albright Trauma surgeon founds Arizona company to commercialize lunar helium-3 for cleaner, safer, more powerful energy. Image Dr. Chris Salvino is the first doctoral student in the School of Mining Engineering and...

08/24/2026

Happy first day of classes, Wildcats! May all our students be as ready to go as senior Aidan Fritzler, an aerospace engineering major and trumpet section leader in The Pride of Arizona Marching Band.

Bear Down!

(📷: prideofarizona)

08/21/2026

Students admitted to the University of Arizona for the fall shined at the 20th Keep Engaging Youth in Science (KEYS) Internship Showcase on July 17.

The BIO5 Institute’s milestone event marked the culmination of the seven-week summer program, which brought 58 high school students from 36 Arizona schools to the university to conduct research in laboratory settings.

The students, Jason Jimenez, a BASIS Tucson North graduate, and Joshika Singh, from Arizona College Preparatory High School, worked in labs on campus, gaining valuable research experience from University of Arizona professors.

Jason worked in the lab of Philipp Gutruf, associate department head of biomedical engineering, while Joshika worked in associate professor Elizabeth Hutchinson’s lab.

“Programs like KEYS create opportunities for talented students to discover their interests, build confidence and see themselves as future innovators,” said Gutruf, a KEYS mentor. “I have seen firsthand how transformative early research experiences can be.”

Future students explore bone healing, brain aging at 20th KEYS Showcase Wednesday Pascal Albright Two summer interns work with biomedical engineering faculty and gain lab experience before their first semester at the University of Arizona. Image BASIS Tucson North graduate Jason Jimenez tests a devi...

08/19/2026

In a basement laboratory at Steward Observatory, astronomers don bunny suits and grounded gloves, slip behind translucent vinyl curtains, and approach a gleaming vacuum chamber.

Inside, mirrors and sensors are arrayed on an optical bench, to be tested under space-like conditions – the same instruments that will someday be able to block starlight to reveal distant worlds that are nearly a billion times dimmer than the stars they orbit.

For years, this testbed served as a proving ground for space-bound technologies. Now, the University of Arizona will use it to develop two of the three instruments aboard Lazuli, a three-meter space telescope that will push the boundaries of exoplanet imaging.

Read more:

U of A to build instruments for deep space telescope March 13, 2026 Hannah Hindley, Steward Observatory Associate professor of aerospace and mechanical engineering Ewan Douglas leads an interdisciplinary group of researchers to build two out of three instruments for the Lazuli telescope. Image Optic...

08/17/2026

Graphene nanoribbons – tiny strips of carbon material that withstand extreme environments – could help track radiation in fusion reactors and deep space technology.

University of Arizona researchers integrated the GNRs into semiconductor devices and exposed them to intense radiation. The ribbons' atomic framework stayed intact while still producing a measurable electrical response. This result suggests the ribbons could serve as sensors in extreme environments, where radiation levels run high.

Fusion power generates electricity when light nuclei merge into a single heavier nucleus, releasing a massive amount of energy. The process requires little fuel to produce that energy, so it could serve as a limitless source of clean power.

"The devices survive the exposure and still respond, but their electrical performance changes dramatically," said principal investigator Zafer Mutlu, assistant professor of materials science and engineering. "That's exactly the behavior we want from a sensor."

U of A researchers improve sensing for fusion energy, space science July 29, 2026 Katy Smith, Office of Research and Partnerships Materials scientist Zafer Mutlu’s study proves graphene nanoribbons send electrical signals in harsh conditions. Image University of Arizona Provost Postdoctoral Fellow...

08/14/2026

It’s almost time!

The College of Engineering extends a warm welcome to our new and returning Wildcats. Move-in for new students takes place August 18 through August 20, followed by returning students moving in August 21 through August 22.

Driving on campus can be a bit challenging and move-in week brings temporary one-way streets and modified parking zones. Save time (and sanity) by bypassing standard GPS or Google Maps on campus and using the official parking guides set up by Housing and Residential Life instead.

Welcome to the University of Arizona, Wildcats! We look forward to seeing you on August 24.

August 15Early Move-In (for Approved Housing and Campus Groups)August 18-20Move-In for New StudentsAugust 21-22Move-In for Returning StudentsAugust 24First Day of Classes - Fall Rent DueWELCOME TO CAMPUS HOUSINGWe’re excited to welcome you to campus housing at the University of Arizona! To help ma...

08/12/2026

Congrats to the Wildcat Rocket Engineering Club for winning first place in the Friends of Amateur Rocketry – Oxidizers Uninhibited Tournament.

The College of Engineering students trekked to Mojave, California to launch the Sonoran Wildcat – a liquid-fueled rocket that reached an altitude of 4,150 feet on its first flight.

Club members showcased the Sonoran Wildcat to industry representatives from SpaceX, Impulse and Vast.

“We now have a team of over a dozen student rocket engineers with real flight experience eager to keep pushing our club's limits,” said Parker Haynes, WREC outreach manager, videographer and 2026 aerospace engineering alum.

08/10/2026

A student-led balloon project from the University of Arizona College of Engineering recently orbited the globe twice! Read how this high-altitude mission gathered crucial atmospheric data while traveling around the world:

Student balloon project goes on a world tour, twice over May 8, 2026 Pascal Albright University of Arizona radio club members transform early setbacks into a high-altitude journey that spans the planet. Image Members of the university-community K7UAZ Amateur Radio Club meet weekly to design wireless...