April 11, 2002

Research fellowship in microelectronics awarded to BSU student, prof

Yasmin Morales, a mechanical engineering student at Boise State from Bruneau, and Amy Moll, a mechanical engineering professor at the university, have recently been awarded a PRC/IMAPS Undergraduate Research Fellowship in Microelectronic Packaging. The Packaging Research Center (PRC) at Georgia Tech and The International Microelectronics and Packaging Society (IMAPS) created the program to expose students to microelectronics and packaging technology and to give them an opportunity to participate in research in this area and present their work at the annual IMAPS Technical Symposium and Exhibition.

Morales and Moll were awarded the $10,000 fellowship for the fabrication of a pressure sensor utilizing low-temperature co-fired ceramics. Fabrication of a pressure sensor in ceramic materials would allow the use in harsh environments, including elevated temperatures and atmospheres that are harmful to many other materials like silicon.

Multilayer ceramic packaging technology holds considerable promise for a fabrication technology platform on which to base sensors for applications in extreme environments such as propulsion system monitoring. Ceramics are resistant to degradation in many atmospheres and are suitable for exposure to elevated temperatures without experiencing a loss in material properties or device performance. Following demonstration of the feasibility of this fabrication technology for such applications, the materials systems utilized will be modified to enable device operation at higher temperatures.

Morales started her education at BSU as part of the College Assistance Migrant Program and is a one of the first members of her family to attend college. CAMP is one of six federally funded programs administered by the Boise State Center for Multicultural/Educational Opportunities. CAMP is designed to help migrant or seasonal farmworkers or their children attend college. Morales is also a recipient of a Bill and Melinda Gates Millennium Scholarship and has been on the dean’s list every semester at Boise State.

Prior to joining the Boise State faculty in 2000, Moll was an engineering manager for Agilent Technologies, a spin-off of Hewlett Packard.

Contact:
Amy Moll
Mechanical engineering
426-5719

Media Contact:
Bob Evancho
communications and marketing
426-1643