NSEC Programs

NANOSCALE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING CENTERS (NSEC)

• Center for Nanotechology in Society
  Arizona State University (2005)
  Director:  David Guston
  Website: http://cns.asu.edu/
  Contact information: Center for Nanotechnology in Society, Arizona State University, PO Box 874401, Tempe, AZ 85287-4401
  Phone: 480-727-8787
  Fax: 480-727-8791
  Email: cns@asu.edu
  
  The Center for Nanotechnology in Society at Arizona State University (CNS-ASU) helps ensure “that advances in nanotechnology bring about improvements in the quality of life for all Americans”.  The Center’s vision is that research into the societal aspects of nanoscale science and engineering (NSE), carried out in close collaboration with NSE scientists and combined with public engagement, will improve deliberation and decision making about NSE.  CNS-ASU builds the capacity to address the societal implications of NSE by creating a broad institutional network, instituting a coherent research program, promoting innovative educational opportunities, and engaging in meaningful participation and outreach activities, especially with under-represented communities.  Its goal is nothing less than charting a path toward new ways of organizing the production of knowledge and developing and testing new processes of anticipatory governance to meet the emerging promise and challenges of NSE.
• Center for Electron Transport in Molecular Nanostructures
  Columbia University (2001)
  Director:  James Yardley
  Website: http://www.cise.columbia.edu/NSEC/
  Contact information: Center for Electron Transport in Molecular Nanostructures, 1001 Schapiro Center (CEPSR), Columbia University, 530 West 120th St., Mail Code 8903, New York, NY 10027
  Tel: 212-854-3265
  Fax: 212-854-1909,
  Email: nsec@columbia.edu
  
  The Columbia Nanocenter is motivated by two key propositions. The first proposition is that the miniaturization of silicon-based electronics will stagnate in the early part of the 21st century. The second proposition is that the desire for exponential improvement of device performance (as measured by clock speed, circuit density, computing power, etc.) - that is, Moore's Law - will extend into the foreseeable future. Our program is directed toward the expectation that individual molecules provide an attractive alternative to silicon circuitry for carrying out logical operations. Thus we seek to establish the foundation for new paradigms for information processing through the development of fundamental understanding of charge transport phenomena unique to the character of nanoscale molecular structures. Beyond electronics applications, the fundamental studies of molecular transport in the Columbia Nanocenter have the potential to impact other disciplines such as photonics, biology, neuroscience, and medicine.
• Center for Nanoscale Systems
  Cornell University (2001)
  Director:  Robert Buhrman. 
  Website: http://www.cns.cornell.edu/
  Contact information: Center for Nanoscale Systems, Cornell University, 624 Clark Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853
  Tel:  607-255-2103
  Fax:  607-255-5579
  Email: cjw7@cornell.edu
  
  The mission of the Center for Nanoscale Systems (CNS) is to substantially increase the impact of nanotechnology by advancing the understanding and control of the electronic, photonic and magnetic properties of materials at the nanoscale, and by exploiting these material systems and associated nanoscale phenomena in the development and demonstration of high-performance devices and systems.  CNS also works to invent and develop effective nanocharacterization tools and nanoprocessing techniques to support and further advance these information technology efforts. The Center’s primary research objective is the innovation and development of effective nanoscale systems that have the potential of being revolutionary solutions for the ever-more demanding requirements of future computational, sensing, information storage and communication systems.
• Science of Nanoscale Systems and their Device Applications
  Harvard University (2001)
  Director:  Robert Westerveld
  Website: http://www.nsec.harvard.edu/
  Contact information:  Naomi Brave, Administrative Assistant, Division of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Pierce Hall, Room 228, Twenty Nine Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
  Tel: 617-495-1027
  
  This Center develops tools for understanding nanoscale systems that link Physics, Chemistry and Biology. We build, image and test ultra-small quantum devices based on electrons and photons, and understand their behavior theoretically. We develop physical tools based on microfluidics and we investigate as systems the operation of biological cells and tissues on the nanoscale.  The Center addresses these goals through research in three Clusters: (1) Tools for Integrated Nanobiology builds bridges between the physical and biological sciences. The physical sciences offer powerful new tools for manipulating and testing biological cells and tissues. In turn, biology offers an enormous range of engaging problems in functional biological systems, and the opportunity to think about "hybrid" systems that combine biological and non-biological components. (2) Nanoscale Building Blocks develops new classes of synthesized building blocks with nanoprobe and nanodevice functionality, including zero-, one- and two-dimensional nanostructures based on new materials, as well as structures with unconventional shapes. These building blocks are assembled into new types of sensors and devices. (3) Imaging at the Nanoscale explores new ways to image the quantum behavior of electrons inside nanostructures, and emitted photons, using custom-made scanning probe microscopes (SPMs). Quantum devices and heterostructures with novel properties are developed using Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE).
• Center for High Rate Nanomanufacturing
  Northeastern University (2004)
  Director:  Ahmed Busnaina
  Website: http://www.nano.neu.edu/
  Contact information:  Jennifer Bose, Manager of Finance and Administration, Northeastern University, 467 Egan Center, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
  Tel: 617-373-3294
  Fax: 617-373-3266
  Email: j.bose@neu.edu
  
  The Center for High-rate Nanomanufacturing is focused on developing tools and processes that will enable high-rate/high-volume bottom-up, precise, parallel assembly of nanoelements (such as carbon nanotubes, nanoparticles, etc.) and polymer nanostructures. The Center’s nanotemplates are utilized to conduct fast massive directed assembly of nanoscale elements by controlling the forces required to assemble, detach, and transfer nanoelements at high rates and over large areas. The developed nanotemplates and tools will accelerate the creation of highly anticipated commercial products and will enable the creation of an entirely new generation of applications. CHN’s research is broken down into six thrust areas:  Manufacture Nanotemplates and Nanotubes, High-rate Assembly and Transfer, Reliability and Defect Control, Modeling as a Guide to Nanomanufacturing, Proof of Concept Testbeds: Memory Device and Biosensor, and Societal Impacts.
• Center for Integrated Nanopatterning and Detection Technologies
  Northwestern University (2001)
  Director:  Chad Mirkin
  Website: http://www.nsec.northwestern.edu/
  Contact information:  Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, TECH K111, Evanston, IL 60208
  Tel: 847-467-2530
  Fax 847-491-3721
  Email: nanotechnology@northwestern.edu
  
  The goal of the NU-NSEC is to develop novel biological and chemical sensor modalities (recognition and signal transduction)  based upon an understanding of biorecognition and the chemistry, physics, and engineering of functional surface  architectures with sub-100 nanometer features. This is accomplished in part by exploiting and further developing several emerging patterning tools and synthetic methods  unique to this Center, that allow one to fabricate such structures. These techniques, together with unique capabilities in surface structure characterization that are currently localized at the participating institutions, provide a shared basis for the design and fabrication of integrated soft nanostructures and sensing systems, and offer a unique opportunity for collaborative inquiry of both fundamental scientific and technological value. The development of patterning technologies that provide access to the 1-100 nm length scale represents one of the greatest and perhaps most important challenges to the field of nanotechnology. While such technologies could significantly impact a variety of disciplines, they will have an enormous impact in the detection arena and be realizable in the near future.
• Center for Affordable Nanoengineering of Polymeric Biomedical Devices
  Ohio State University (2004)
  Director:  L. James Lee
  Website: http://www.nsec.ohio-state.edu/
  Contact information:  Paula Stevenson, Ph.D., Education Director / Administrator, 1012 Smith Labs, 174 W. 18th Ave., Columbus, OH 43210-1106
  Tel: (614) 292-5120
  Fax: (614) 292-8685
  Email: stevenson.2@osu.edu
  
  The primary goal of the Center for Affordable Nanoengineering of Polymeric Biomedical Devices (CANPBD) is to develop polymer-based, low-cost nanoengineering technology that can be used to produce nanofluidic devices and multifunctional polymer-nanoparticle-biomolecule nanostructures for next-generation medical diagnostic and therapeutic applications. The center is organized into six Core Technology Platforms. These platforms provide fundamental understanding and critical techniques in various nanotechnologies that are essential for the development of our targeted biomedical devices through a series of interconnected testbeds. The six complementary Core Technology Platforms include: (1) Affordable Nanomanufacturing; (2) Self and Dynamic Assembly; (3) Micro/Nanofluidics; (4) Nanomanipulation; (5) Nanofiber Synthesis; and (6) Super/Subcritical Fluids; and the four major Research Testbeds include: (A) Biosensors/-chips for Medical Diagnostics; (B) Nanofluidic Drug/Gene Delivery; (C) Nanofactory; and (D) Cell-Based Devices.
• Center for Directed Assembly of Nanostructures
  Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (2001)
  Director: Richard Siegel
  Web address: http://www.rpi.edu/dept/nsec/
  Contact information:  Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Nanoscale Science & Engineering Center, 110 8th Street (1st Floor MRC), Troy, NY 12180 USA
  Tel: 518-276-8846
  Fax: 518-276-6540
  Email: nanocenter@rpi.edu
  
  The Center for Directed Assembly of Nanostructures discovers and develops the means to assemble nanoscale building blocks with unique properties into functional structures under well-controlled, intentionally directed conditions. Directed assembly is the fundamental gateway to the eventual success of nanotechnology. Our integrated research program combines computational design with experimentation to focus on the discovery of novel pathways to assemble functional multiscale nanostructures with junctions and interfaces between structurally, dimensionally, and compositionally different building blocks.  Understanding the interactions among diverse nanoscale constituents will enable us (i) to design directed nanoscale assemblies with specific properties and (ii) to specify the process steps and parameters required for each unique assembly. This systematic integration of computational models and design principles will form the basis for the emerging practice of nanoengineering and its application to the development of new materials, structures, and devices to benefit society.

• Center for Biological and Environmental Nanotechnology
  Rice University (2001)
  Director:  Vicki Colvin
  Website: http://cben.rice.edu/
  Contact information:  Janine Vails, 8 Herman Brown Hall, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005
  Tel: 713-348-8208
  Email: jvails@rice.edu
  
  The Center's research focuses on investigating and developing nanoscience at the "wet/dry" interface. Water, the most abundant solvent present on Earth, is of unique importance as the medium of life. The Center's research activities explore this interface between nanomaterials and aqueous systems at multiple length scales, including interactions with solvents, biomolecules, cells, whole-organisms, and the environment. These explorations form the basis for understanding the natural interactions that nanomaterials will experience outside the laboratory, and also serves as foundational knowledge for designing biomolecular/nanomaterial interactions, solving bioengineering problems with nanoscale materials, and constructing nanoscale materials useful in solving environmental engineering problems.
• Center for Probing the Nanoscale
  Stanford University (2004)
  Director:  Kathryn Moler
  Website: http://www.stanford.edu/group/cpn/
  Contact information: Laraine Lietz-Lucas, Center for Probing the Nanoscale, Stanford University, McCullough Building - Room 126A, 476 Lomita Mall, Stanford, CA 94305-4045
  Tel: 650-736-2045
  Fax: 650-736-2942
  Email: lietz@stanford.edu
  
  The Center for Probing the Nanoscale is directed toward the achievement of three principal scientific and technological goals:  (1) To develop novel probes that dramatically improve our capability to observe, manipulate, and control nanoscale objects and phenomena.  (2) To apply these novel probes to answer fundamental questions in science and to shed light on materials issues which have economic importance for industry.  (3)  To transfer our technology to industry so that corporations can manufacture and market our novel probes worldwide.
• Center of Integrated Nanomechanical Systems
  University of California at Berkeley (2004)
  Director:  Alex Zettl
  Website: http://nano.berkeley.edu/coins/
  Contact information:  Jeffrey Grossman, Executive Director, Center of Integrated Nanomechanical Systems, Berkeley Nanosciences and Nanoengineering Institute, University of California, Berkeley 94720-1726
  Tel: 510-642-8358
  Fax: 510-642-9879
  Email: jgrossman@berkeley.edu
  
  The COINS research strategy integrates 6 major thrust areas: Synthesis, Simulation, Characterization, Instrumentation, Integration, and Society. Each of these thrusts plays a critical role in the successful development of our two main goals: (1) environmental monitors that can be worn in a bracelet rather than a backpack and that run for weeks rather than hours, and (2) tagging, tracking, and locating devices that consume less that 100 microwatts of power, have wireless RF communication with at least a 5-10 m range, can detect both chem/bio weapons and environment (for orientation), and are mobile. To realize these goals, COINS develops, characterizes, and integrates a new nanomechanical detection platform that combines nanoscale sensing, power, electronics, wireless communication, and mobility into a single platform. This platform for advanced nanomechanical detection applications (PANDA) will serve as the cornerstone with which COINS is able to realize its two main goals, personal and community-based environmental monitoring, and tagging tracking and locating.
• Center for Scalable and Integrated Nanomanufacturing
  University of California at Los Angeles (2003)
  Director: Xiang Zhang
  Website: http://www.sinam.org/
  Contact information:  Dr. Cheng Sun, Chief Operating Officer, Center for Scalable and Integrated NanoManufacturing (SINAM), University of California Berkeley, 3112 Etcheverry Hall, MC 1740, Berkeley, CA 94720-1740
  Tel: 510-643-0638
  Email: chengsun@berkeley.edu
  
  This NSEC is the main node of the National Nanomanufacturing Network (NNN) involving NSECs at Northwestern University, UCLA and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
  
  The current nano-technology revolution is facing several major challenges: to manufacture nanodevices below 20 nm, to fabricate 3D complex nanostructures, and to heterogeneously integrate multiple functionalities. To tackle these grand challenges, SINAM is developing a nanomanufacturing paradigm that integrates an array of new nanomanufacturing technologies including the following: (1) Focus on top-down nano-lithography, including the Plasmonic Imaging Lithography and Ultramolding Imprint Lithography, aiming toward critical resolution of 1~10nm; (2) Explore novel hybrid approaches, in combining the top-down and bottom-up technologies to achieve massively parallel integration of heterogeneous nanoscale components into higher-order structures and devices; and (3) Develop system engineering strategies to scale up the technologies developed in IRG 1 and 2, and in product design and development.

• Center for Nanotechology in Society
  University of California, Santa Barbara (2006)
  Director: Barbara Herr Harthorn
  Website: http://www.cns.ucsb.edu/home/
  Contact information:  Center for Nanotechology in Society, University of California Santa Barbara, CA 93106-2150
  Tel: 805-893-7743
  Fax: 805-893-7795
  
  The mission of the Center for Nanotechnology in Society (CNS) at the University of California, Santa Barbara is to serve as a national research and education center, a network hub among researchers and educators concerned with nanotechnologies’ societal impacts, and a resource base for studying these impacts in the US and abroad.
• Center for Nanoscale Chemical-Electrical-Mechanical Manufacturing Systems
  University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2003)
  Director: Placid Ferreira
  Website: http://www.nano-cemms.uiuc.edu/
  Contact information:  The Center for Nanoscale Chemical-Electrical-Mechanical Manufacturing Systems, University of Illinois, Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, 1206 W. Green Street, MC-244, Urbana IL 61801
  Tel: 217-265-0093
  Fax: 217-333-1942
  Email: nano-cemms@uiuc.edu
  
  Research in the Center for Nanoscale Chemical-Electrical-Mechanical Manufacturing Systems (Nano-CEMMS) addresses a central problem in the development of nanotechnology: how to assemble structures at sizes smaller than can be seen (or transduced) and manipulated (or transcribed). Making three-dimensional, nanoscale devices and systems from millions to trillions of different types of molecules is incredibly difficult. The overarching goal of the Nano-CEMMS research program is to create a viable manufacturing technology and science base that can fabricate ultrahigh-density, complex nanostructures. This technology will allow advancements and discoveries in nanoscience to move from the laboratory to production.  There are 4 major areas of research: Manufacturing Systems, Nanoscale Sensing, Micro-Nano Fluidic Toolbit , and Applications.
• Center for Hierarchical Manufacturing
  University of Massachusetts Amherst (2006)
  Director:  James Watkins
  Website: http://www.umass.edu/chm/
  Contact information:  MassNanoTech Institute
  Tel: 413-577-0570
  Email: massnanotech@research.umass.edu
  
  The CHM's research focus is Nanoscale Manufacturing: tools and processes for fabricating engineered nanoscale materials and particles, and assembling and integrating them into larger-scale structures, devices, and systems. Research concentrates on nanoelectronics, bionanotechnology, and new materials and processes. Research focus areas include:  Ordered arrays over large areas in block copolymers; Imprint lithography with new materials; Stable 3-D nanoporous structures; Block copolymer tissue engineering scaffolds; Functional surfaces, particles and device layers; and Nanoscale device design. The program includes a number of applications-oriented projects and system-level test beds.
• Nano/Bio Interface Center
  University of Pennsylvania (2004)
  Director:  Dawn Bonnell
  Website: http://www.nanotech.upenn.edu/
  Contact information:  Nano/Bio Interface Center, 3231 Walnut Street, Room 112-A LRSM Building, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6272
  Tel: 215-746-3210
  Fax 215-746-3204
  Email: info@nanotech.upenn.edu
  Also see: The International Nano/Bio Probe Network (NBIC)
  
  Research in the Nano/Bio Interface Center at the University of Pennsylvania exploits strengths in design of molecular function and quantification of individual molecules. The study of the ethics of nano-bio technology is an integral part of the program. The Center provides, not only new directions for the life sciences, but also for engineering in a two-way flow essential to fully realizing the benefits of the intersection of biology with nanotechnology. The research program is structured around two major themes (Biomolecular Function and Molecular Motions) and two cross cutting initiatives (Single Molecule Probes and Ethics).
• Center for Templated Synthesis and Assembly at the Nanoscale
  University of Wisconsin - Madison (2004)
  Director: Paul F. Nealey
  Website: http://www.nsec.wisc.edu/
  Contact information:  Sheri Severson, Administrator, 4631 Engineering Hall, 1415 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI 53706-1607
  Tel: 608-265-3783
  Email: sseverson@engr.wisc.edu
  
  The Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center at the University of Wisconsin - Madison explores the self-assembly of complex materials and building blocks at the nanoscale and develops the means of communicating advances in nanotechnology to the public. The research program is based on three scientific thrusts:  (1) Directed Self-Assembly and Registration of Nanoscale Chemical Architectures; (2) Templated Chemical Synthesis of Specific Heteropolymeric Nanostructures; and (3) Driven Nano-Fluidic Self-Assembly of Colloids and Macromolecules.

• Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network
  Museum of Science
  Director: Larry Bell
  Website: http://www.nisenet.org
  Contact information:  For general NISE Network questions, phone 617-589-4411
  Email: nisenet@mos.org
  
  The Nanoscale Informal Science Education (NISE) Network brings researchers and informal science educators together to inform the public about nanoscience and technology.
• Nanotechnology Center for Learning and Teaching (NCLT)
  Northwestern University
  Director:  Robert P.H. Chang
  Website: http://www.nclt.us/
  Contact information:
  Email: nclt@northwestern.edu
  
  NCLT is the first national center for learning and teaching of nanoscale science and engineering education in the US.  Its vision is to build a globally competitive Nanoscale Science & Engineering (NSE) workforce and well-rounded NSE education leaders. The primary focus of the NCLT is on “learning and teaching through inquiry and design of nanoscale materials and applications.”

• National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network (NNIN)
  Cornell University, Howard University, Pennsylvania State University, Stanford University, University of California at Santa Barbara, Georgia Institute of Technology, Harvard University, North Carolina State University, University of Michigan, University of Minnesota, University of New Mexico, University of Texas at Austin, University of Washington
  Director: Sandip Tiwari
  

  The National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network ( NNIN ) is an integrated partnership of thirteen user facilities, supported by NSF, providing unparalleled opportunities for nanoscience and nanotechnology research. The network  provides extensive support in nanoscale fabrication, synthesis, characterization, modeling, design, computation and hands-on training. in an open, hands-on environment, available to all qualified users. The members of NNIN include the following major nanotechnology user facilities:
  
      * The Cornell Nanoscale Facility at Cornell University
      * The Stanford Nanofabrication Facility at Stanford University
      * The Solid State Electronics Laboratory at the University of Michigan
      * The Microelectronics Research Center at the Georgia Institute of Technology
      * The Center for Nanotechnology at the University of Washington Photo: working in the lab
      * The Penn State Nanofabrication Facility at the Pennsylvania State University
      * Nanotech at the University of California at Santa Barbara
      * The Minnesota Nanotechnology Cluster (MINTEC)  at the University of Minnesota
      * The Nanoscience at the University of New Mexico
      * The Microelectronics Research Center at University of Texas at Austin
      * The Center for Imaging and Mesoscale Structures at Harvard University
      * The Howard Nanoscale Science and Engineering Facility at Howard University
      * The Triangle National Lithography Center at NCSU ( DUV lithography only )

• Network for Computational Nanotechnology (NCN)
  Purdue University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Stanford University, University of Florida, University of Texas at El Paso, Northwestern University, Morgan State University
  Director: Mark Lundstrom
  
  The National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network (NNIN) is an integrated networked partnership of user facilities, supported by the  National Science Foundation, serving the needs of nanoscale science,  engineering and technology. The mission of the NNIN is to enable rapid advancements in science, engineering and technology at the nano-scale by efficient access to nanotechnology infrastructure. We provide shared open, geographically diverse laboratories, each with specific areas of technical excellence, and provide fabrication, synthesis, characterization, and integration resources to build structures, devices, and systems from atomic to complex large-scales.

• ERC: Center for Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) Science and Technology
  University of Colorado, Boulder
  Director:  Jorge Roca
  Website:  http://euverc.colostate.edu/
  Contact information:  Margaret Murnane, CU-Boulder JILA, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309-0440
  Tel: 303-492-7839
  Email:murnane@jila.colorado.edu
  
  The vision of the ERC program is to make EUV light sources widely accessible and useful for solving challenging scientific and technological problems. The research program includes three directions: (1) Engineered EUV Sources: the development of compact, cost-effective, coherent EUV light sources; (2) Imaging, Patterning and Metrology: applications of EUV light sources; and (3) Novel Linear and Non-Linear Spectroscopies: contributions to fundamental knowledge in laser and EUV science and technology, optics, and plasma physics. Research is structured around two major systems: EUV Light Sources, and Application Testbeds. The plan for research combines expertise in EUV lasers and EUV HHG sources with expertise in EUV optics and synchrotron sources.
• The International Nano/Bio Probe Network (NBIC)
  University of Pennsylvania
• Nanotechnology in Society Network
  Arizona State University, University of California at Santa Barbara, University of South Carolina (project), Harvard University (project)
• STC: The Nanobiotechnology Center (NBTC)
  Cornell University, Princeton University, Wadsworth Center, Oregon Health Sciences University, Clark Atlanta University, Howard University
  Director:  Harold Craighead
  Website: http://www.nnin.org/
  Contact information:  Lynn Rathbun, Ph.D.,  NNIN Program Manager, 250 Duffield Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
  Tel: 607-254-4872
  Email: rathbun@cnf.cornell.edu
  
  Central to the research of the Center are efforts to miniaturize optical, electronic and chemical probes which will be new scientific tools and components in sensor devices. Research on nanofluidics and patterning of biomolecules on surfaces is leading to fundamental new technology for biosystems. The technology can also be used to produce diffraction gratings, where the grating lines are composed of antibody molecules. Because the diffraction pattern changes when ligands or cells bind to the antibodies, these devices can be used to understand the basis of cell variation, and they can be used as biosensors. More complex biological systems can be formulated which approximate organs or tissues that respond to their environment. Our research program is dynamic and emphasizes adventurous projects that have a potential for significant pay-off in technology or scientific understanding. An example of such a project is the plan to couple lithographically defined particles and nanofabricated mechanical devices to molecular motors, thereby producing ultra-small motors that run on ATP. Through these studies we will gain new insights into the function of organic molecular motors. Although useful in their own right, these nano-molecular devices can also be used to understand physical phenomena such as torque, local viscosity, and biological friction at nanometer dimensions.