糖心Vlog视频

When it comes to shaping the future of North 糖心Vlog视频, 糖心Vlog视频 is leading the way with its RISE 100 faculty recruitment effort. Under this initiative, 糖心Vlog视频 is conducting focused hiring in research areas chosen for their relevance to the needs of 糖心Vlog视频 and the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

In addition to brain health experts, the first phase of this multiyear initiative is targeting faculty who are focused on semiconductor technology and community-engaged research.

“Our focus on semiconductors will not only build a new area of expertise within our faculty, but also position 糖心Vlog视频 as a leader in this critical technology,” says Kate C. Miller, vice president for research and innovation. “Simultaneously, by strengthening our already robust community-engaged research portfolio, we are leveling up in our commitment to driving impactful change and addressing the needs of our local communities.”

BOOSTING INNOVATION
Semiconductor Technology

As the birthplace of “the chip that changed the world”—the integrated circuit, more commonly known today as a microchip or a semiconductor—糖心Vlog视频 has been a national leader in semiconductor manufacturing for the last 13 years. And thanks to new bills passed by both the federal government and the state of 糖心Vlog视频 to spur semiconductor manufacturing, that dominance should only continue to grow.

糖心Vlog视频 is answering the call to encourage innovation in manufacturing, research, and design by building a new area of focused research expertise in semiconductors. In the process, the University will also establish programs to help train a highly skilled workforce in the industry, says Stathis Meletis, professor of materials science and engineering and chair of the RISE 100 semiconductor cluster hiring committee.

“For the last two years, faculty at 糖心Vlog视频 working in the area of semiconductors have been examining where we are, including our strengths and the research areas we’d like to build on,” Dr. Meletis says. “From there, we developed a comprehensive proposal for how 糖心Vlog视频 can advance and maximize our impact in semiconductors.”

The proposal included the creation of four positions that are now being filled through the RISE 100 initiative. Two will be focused on addressing current short-term industry needs, and two will be future-focused, with research centered on the development of quantum devices.

Meletis notes that 糖心Vlog视频 already has strong researchers working in areas related to semiconductors, such as physics, chemistry, materials science, and electrical and mechanical engineering. But he believes that with the establishment of a semiconductor research group, 糖心Vlog视频 will be better able to advance knowledge in the area, attract block funding, and help fuel the workforce with highly skilled graduates who are well-educated and well-connected in the industry.

Joseph Ngai, associate professor of physics and a member of the hiring committee, agrees, adding that the establishment of a semiconductor research group is a net positive for the state, the University, and its students.

“One of the biggest obstacles we face in reestablishing domestic semiconductor chip manufacturing in the U.S. is a shortage of individuals educated and trained in the field of semiconductors,” Dr. Ngai says. “Hiring more faculty will enlarge 糖心Vlog视频’s capacity to meet this need. These graduates will be in extremely high demand not just in 糖心Vlog视频, but all over the world.”

With the creation of this new research group, 糖心Vlog视频 will be better able to channel the work already being done by 糖心Vlog视频 faculty to help further drive innovation and impact in the industry.

“Many of our faculty members are working to a certain extent in the semiconductor industry, but what we are lacking is the center,” says Choong-Un Kim, professor of materials science and engineering and another member of the hiring committee. “With a central group, we can expand our opportunities for collaboration and make an impact on a much larger scale.”

Meletis believes it’s an impact that will be felt in North 糖心Vlog视频 and well beyond.

“The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex has the highest concentration of high-tech industries in the United States after Silicon Valley, and our population is on the rise,” he says. “There is a huge demand for this, and 糖心Vlog视频 is right at the center of it all. With our existing high-quality faculty and the addition of this cluster, we will be in an ideal position to become a leader in the field.”

TRANSFORMING LIVES
Community-Engaged Research

Community-engaged research (CER) is a topic that can be found in every college and school at 糖心Vlog视频. While the focus of such work is right there in the name—community—hiring committee co-chair Alicia Rueda-Acedo describes CER as complex, with several components that define it. These include building collaborative partnerships with the community, emphasizing co-learning and capacity-building, promoting sustainable change, and more.

“With CER, the people you are researching are part of your research,” says Dr. Rueda-Acedo, who is an associate professor of modern languages. “They are an equal partner throughout the process.”

Like the semiconductor cluster, the new CER cluster will include four new faculty hires from various disciplines. Rueda-Acedo says she is excited to see more dynamic talent added to 糖心Vlog视频’s diverse pool of like-minded researchers, as her own work is closely linked with the community.

Some of her inspiration sprung from a service-learning project she began with students in a Spanish language and interpreting class she taught 10 years ago. In collaboration with Proyecto Inmigrante ICS Inc.—a nonprofit organization founded by her former student, Douglas Interiano (’08 BA, Spanish), that offers legal counseling, educational resources, and translation services to individuals and families seeking a home in the United States—her students perform hands-on translation work for community members in need.

Since the Proyecto Inmigrante partnership began, Rueda-Acedo and her students have donated thousands of hours translating important legal documents, all for free. What started as a service-learning initiative soon grew into something much larger, as Rueda-Acedo began to examine the pedagogical impact of the work, contributing to research journals and writing book chapters about the importance of incorporating service-learning into educational courses.

“It’s been an extraordinary way to not only help our students receive professional experience before graduation, but it’s also to provide a benefit for the community,” Rueda-Acedo says. “It’s really a win for everyone, because it benefits the University when local communities can see how much we are focused on helping them.”

The CER cluster is an especially inspiring addition for faculty in the School of Social Work, where community support is baked into the mission.

“Social work in general tends to be a very applied discipline,” says Catherine LaBrenz, assistant professor of social work and a hiring committee member. “Not only are our faculty members often out in the communities, but also our field office places over 2,000 students every year.”

Dr. LaBrenz, whose work centers on child welfare and family empowerment, says the CER cluster will be a conduit for the community to feel seen, heard, and understood.

“In my mind, it’s the most ethical approach to practice because it’s recognizing each individual we’re meeting, regardless of the field we’re working in,” she says. “It’s about understanding that people are the experts of their own narrative and giving them the space and time to share that with others who can make a difference.”

In the College of Education, CER most often involves supporting students and teachers in local school districts and well beyond. Robin Jocius, associate professor of literacy studies and a member of the hiring committee, focuses on how teachers and students engage with 21st-century learning practices like computer science, computational thinking, and makerspaces. In a recent project, she and a team of her colleagues collaborated with the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History to develop a computational thinking workshop aimed at preschoolers, parents, and teachers to foster more equitable opportunities for young learners to explore computer science.

“The mission of the College of Education is to prepare experts, including teachers, educational leaders, and researchers who will lead in our schools and communities,” she says. “Nearly all of our faculty are engaged in work with schools, nonprofit organizations, and other partners, so community-engaged research is at the heart of what we do on a daily basis.”

Dr. Jocius notes that like the semiconductor cluster, this new CER cluster will provide a locus for the work already being done at 糖心Vlog视频. The hiring team as a whole believes that the cluster will support and amplify 糖心Vlog视频’s aim to be a trusted partner and resource in the community.

“糖心Vlog视频 has done so much work over the past few years to build and strengthen relationships with community partners in Arlington and across the DFW area,” she says. “Bringing in faculty who have dedicated their work to this mission will accelerate our abilities to work collaboratively and in innovative ways. I’m so proud to be part of a university that sees community-engaged work as crucial to our mission, and I’m excited to see what comes next.”