Research

AETC's research activities and projects are conducted in conjunction with local electronic companies.

Mission Statement
Established in November 1990 with a seed grant from the MITRE Corporation, AETC's educational mission is to provide students with engineering and scientific training opportunities through the Young Engineers Academy. Elementary and middle school students from the Science and Technology Early Reach-Out Program can transition to the Gifted High School Program. Eventually they can matriculate to undergraduate and graduate programs at UMass Lowell.

The Center promotes high school, undergraduate and graduate research.  After exposure to professional training, students are ready for the challenges of a technology-oriented workplace.  In 2003 and 2004 the first two doctoral degrees were awarded to Joel Therrien and David Kharas, students associated with the Young Engineers Academy. In September 2005 Joel Therrien joined the ECE Department as an assistant professor.

Students work on the development of reliable manufacturing for giga-scale miniaturization technology. Their work is performed in conjunction with companies such as M/A-COM, Raytheon, RFMD, Skyworks and others.  AETC contributes to UMASS technology transfer and applied research, while working in fundamental fields such as solid-state physics and quantum electronics.

AETC goals during the 2006-07 academic year were the commercialization of new transistor technology and expedited commercialization of IR imaging technology for bio-medical applications. Renewing the operation of the Young Engineers Academy Outreach Program also was a very important task during the 2006-07 academic year.

Projects
The Advanced Electronics Technology Center's research mission is the development of reliable manufacturing for giga-scale miniaturization technology performed in conjunction with supporting companies. Current projects include:

• High electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) with tailored field (TF)
• Development of novel quantum well transistors
• Measurements of noise in amplifiers
• Systems for information coding and scrambling
• Optoelectronics for forensic investigations and for perimeter security systems
• Electronics for bio-engineering
• Measurements of biological currents and voltages
  
  
  
  Research Grants
  
  2000-01
  On sabbatical leave with Raytheon Company
  
  2001-02
  "Study of Phase Noise in RF Amplifiers," Raytheon, $80,000, 2001
  "RF Network Analyzer, Noise& Spectra Measuring Equipment," Raytheon, $40,000, (2001)
  
  2002-03
  "C-V Profiling System," MA/COM, $5000, 2002
  "Design and Characterization of Quantum Well Transistors," MA/COM, $21,000, (2003)
  "High Frequency Circuits based on Quantum Well Transistors," M/A-COM, $161,842, (2003)
  
  2003-04
  "1/f Noise measurements," MA/COM, $6000, (2003)
  
  2004-05
  "HP S-parameters measuring system", MA/COM, $80,000, (2005)
  
  2005-06
  “Commercialization of IR Imaging for Bio-Medical Applications," NCIIA award $25,000, (2005)
  “Initial Phase of Commercialization of New Transistor Technology," MTTC award $5,000 (2006)
  “Development of IR Mammography," UMass CVIP award $20,000 (2006)
  "Novel Transistor Technology," MTTC award $40,000 (2006) "High breakdown voltage HEMT," MA/COM, MA/COM $17,000 (2006)