News Release
____________________________________________________________
May 2, 2006
First Bachelor’s Degrees in Materials Science and Engineering
Awarded at Boise State May 13
 |
|
Zachary Heuman, right, is one of the first two Boise State
University students to receive a bachelor’s degree in materials
science and engineering. Heuman worked on funded research in the lab
of engineering professor Bill Knowlton, left. |
The first graduates in a bachelor’s degree program in the
Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Boise State University
will receive their diplomas at the university’s May 13 commencement — just
two years after the program was established with a $2 million gift from the
Micron Technology Foundation.
Zachary Heuman and Ryan Johnson are the first graduates in an undergraduate
program that has now grown to more than 40 students. During the past two
years, the department’s faculty have received more than $5 million in
external research funds from the National Science Foundation, the Department
of Energy, the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense and
other agencies.
“This is an important milestone for our department and the College of
Engineering. It’s exciting and gratifying to see the growth in our
undergraduate program in just two years,” said Amy Moll, chair of the
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, which also offers a
master’s degree program.
Heuman and Johnson transferred to the new program in fall 2004 after
completing their first two years of college in other departments in the
College of Engineering. Heuman worked on funded research projects in the lab
of engineering professor Bill Knowlton, while Johnson worked in Moll’s
research lab.
Heuman and Johnson said they enjoyed the opportunity to conduct cutting-edge
research, work with professors on a one-on-one basis and have some input on
shaping the new curriculum.
“It’s been a great experience, and now it’s going to feel exciting to be
done,” said Johnson about his upcoming graduation.
Both graduates are leaving Boise State with big plans for the future. Heuman,
who is from Austin, Texas, has accepted a job at Micron Technology Inc.
Johnson, a 2002 graduate of Centennial High School in Boise, will begin
graduate school in the fall at Washington State University. He plans to
eventually pursue a Ph.D. and teach and conduct research at a university.
In fall 2003, the Micron Technology Foundation announced it would pledge $2
million over four years to start a materials science and engineering
bachelor’s degree program at Boise State. The program began the following
fall. Four new professors, Darryl Butt, Megan Frary, Janet Hampikian and
Peter Mullner, were hired in the department following national searches.
Another faculty member, Kris Campbell, was hired with a joint appointment
with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Researchers in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering are
pursuing a broad range of funded projects, from studies of the strength
characteristics of cartilage to the development of smaller and more powerful
microchips, to studies of magnetic and nuclear materials.
In addition, researchers received a grant from the National Science
Foundation for the acquisition of a transmission electron microscope, dubbed
the “Million Dollar Baby.” The new equipment will benefit research in
materials science, electrical engineering, computer engineering, physics,
biology, chemistry and geosciences.
The externally funded research projects provide funding for Boise State
students to work in research laboratories with professors. At present, about
35 undergraduate students and 13 graduate students are employed by faculty
in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering to work on research
projects.
“Materials are key to the development of next-generation technologies, and
they affect virtually every aspect of our lives,” said Moll. “The ability to
produce inexpensive steel was vital to the industrial revolution and the
ability to process silicon resulted in advances in computers. Materials are
so important that the historical ages have been named after materials: the
stone age, bronze age, iron age, silicon age.”
The demand for engineers with a materials science background is increasing,
Moll added. “Our program here at Boise State is working to help meet that
demand.”
-30-
Contact: Amy Moll, Department of Materials Science and Engineering,
(208) 426-5719, amoll@boisestate.edu
BSU media contact: Janelle Brown, University Communications, (208)
426-1790, jbrown2@boisestate.edu
Boise State University is the largest institution of higher education in
Idaho with about 18,600 students and 2,200 faculty and staff. More than 190
undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and technical degrees are offered within
eight colleges. A metropolitan university located in the capital city, Boise
State is committed to life-enhancing research, teaching excellence and
public service.
The Office of Communications and Marketing
-
Boise State University
1910 University Drive -
Education Building, #726 -
Boise Idaho 83725-1030
208-426-1577
(fax)208-426-4001
email communications@boisestate.edu
Last reviewed on Wednesday, January 03, 2007