Snowshoeing and microelectronics don’t seem to be continuously discussed in combination in the similar sentence, however on the Microsystems Annual Analysis Convention (MARC), wintry weather actions, technical talks, and poster classes all mix for a two-day flurry of study celebrations.
Returning to the Omni Mount Washington Hotel in New Hampshire on Jan. 24-25 for the primary time since earlier than the pandemic, MARC collected over 240 MIT scholars, college, group of workers, and trade companions to chart the way forward for microsystems and nanotechnology. Now in its nineteenth yr, the student-run convention is arranged by way of the Microsystems Era Laboratories (MTL) and, since 2020, co-sponsored collectively with MIT.nano.
In a letter to attendees, MIT Division of Electric Engineering and Pc Science (EECS) graduate pupil co-chairs Maitreyi Ashok and Jennifer Wang laid out the objectives of the convention: “to have a good time the clinical and technical achievements of the previous yr, to revisit and redefine our roles as researchers in ever-shifting sociopolitical contexts, and to recognize the valuable and resilient group that we have got constructed and maintained in combination.”
The theme for MARC 2023 was once metamorphosis to a brand new generation of leading edge microsystems. “We would have liked to mirror the continuing transition of equipment from MTL to MIT.nano, in addition to nationwide and global tendencies within the microsystems group following the new world chip scarcity and passing of the CHIPS and Science Act,” defined Wang, a third-year graduate pupil in Assistant Professor Kevin O’Brien’s Quantum Coherent Electronics team. “This theme symbolizes exchange, enlargement, and a renewed power in our examine objectives.”
Along with Ashok and Wang, the core making plans team incorporated MTL graduate scholars Will Banner, Adina Bechhofer, and Patricia Jastrzebska-Very best, all from EECS, in addition to Narumi Wong of the Division of Chemical Engineering (ChemE) and Duhan Zhang of the Division of Fabrics Science and Engineering (DMSE).
“The making plans of MARC actually should not have been conceivable with out the improve of the coed committee, group of workers, and MTL and MIT.nano administrators,” stated Ashok, a fourth-year PhD candidate within the Power-Environment friendly Circuits and Programs team, led by way of Dean of Engineering and EECS Professor Anantha Chandrakasan. “Due to the efforts of our committee, we successfully built-in courses and equipment from the previous two digital MARCs with an in-person enjoy. We have been overjoyed so as to facilitate face-to-face conferences between scholars and trade companions from the MTL Microsystems Trade Workforce and MIT.nano Member Advisory Panel, in addition to convey again wintry weather actions.”
The go back to the Omni Mount Washington additionally introduced the go back of in-person poster classes. The scholar committee recruited over 100 scholars to publish abstracts from 40 other examine teams, essentially the most teams ever represented at MARC.
“You’re the rock stars”
“You must be able to make historical past,” stated Tomás Palacios, director of MTL and professor {of electrical} engineering, in his opening remarks. “We’re at an incredible time within the historical past of semiconductors and microelectronics. You’re the rock stars of the following 25 years of era.”
This enthusiasm and eye towards the long run persevered with the outlet keynote by way of Eileen Tanghal ’97, founder and normal spouse of Black Opal Ventures. Tanghal spoke about her occupation trail since graduating from MIT with a bachelor’s stage in EECS and presented recommendation to present scholars: “In finding your ‘nerd posse,’” “take a chance early in lifestyles,” “search for inelastic call for,” and “it’s OK to take a destroy,” amongst others.
She shared her reports operating for a startup after which as a challenge capitalist whilst additionally elevating a circle of relatives. In ultimate, she got here complete circle again to MIT, explaining that she began Black Opal with a gaggle of undergraduate classmates — all ladies — to spend money on startups on the intersection of well being and era. “You’ll see, in 25 years,” she stated. “You want to get a hold of this nerd posse that may improve you many years into your long run.”
The way forward for the semiconductor trade
The second one day opened with a technical keynote from Ann Kelleher, govt vp and normal supervisor of era construction at Intel, who targeted at the evolution of Moore’s Legislation. “We’ve simply handed the seventy fifth yr of the transistor,” stated Kelleher. “Six generations have labored within the semiconductor trade. You’re the subsequent era. The way forward for the semiconductor and the innovation that’s had to stay it transferring ahead on the similar tempo is for your palms.”
Each Kelleher and Tanghal spoke in regards to the significance of scale — with the ability to pass from one to many when making a product, and what that may require. “It’s something to make one in every of them. That’s evidence of idea. It’s an entire other factor to make hundreds of thousands of them,” emphasised Kelleher.
Then it was once the MIT scholars’ and postdocs’ flip to show off their paintings and visions for the long run. Two poster classes have been divided into 8 spaces: digital gadgets, built-in circuits, clinical gadgets and biotechnology, energy, fabrics and production, nanotechnology and nanomaterials, optics and photonics, and quantum applied sciences. Every class was once sparsely curated by way of one in every of 8 MTL graduate pupil consultation chairs: Aya Amer, Mansi Joisher, Milica Notaros, Kaidong Peng, Beth Whittier, Matthew Yeung, Abigail Zhien Wang, and Jiadi Zhu.
Earlier than the classes kicked off, the researchers delivered 60-second lightning talks. Attendees voted for his or her favourite, and very best pitches have been awarded to postdocs Saurabh Nath (MechE) and Roberto Rodriguez-Moncayo (EECS), and graduate scholars David Morales Loro (EECS) and Hanrui Wang (EECS).
“The workforce of graduate pupil organizers has as soon as once more delivered an out of this world convention,” stated MIT.nano Director Vladimir Bulović, the Fariborz Maseeh (1990) Professor of Rising Era. “I’m inspired by way of the scope of actions MARC 2023 highlighted, the prospective have an effect on of the examine described, and the professionalism of the coed presenters. MARC meetings permit us to look into the long run, as envisioned by way of the following era of inventors. Yearly this is a outstanding enjoy.”
MARC 2023 was once held together with the QSEC Annual Analysis Convention, which happened on Jan. 23 and 24, additionally at Bretton Woods. MIT scholars and school, in addition to trade associates, have been inspired to wait each occasions and enjoy a breadth of study and engineering in fabrics, constructions, gadgets, circuits, and techniques.
Supply Via https://information.mit.edu/2023/student-led-microsystems-annual-research-conference-0222
