Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Science Foundation's Division of Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems awarded the University of Texas at Dallas a CAREER grant valued at $501,234 on May 1, 2026, under the Engineering program (CFDA 47.041). This five-year project, concluding April 30, 2031, supports fundamental research in amorphous oxide semiconductor (AOS) nanoelectronics for three-dimensional (3D) integrated computing systems. The primary deliverables include scientific advances in AOS transistor scaling with stackable non-planar geometries, vertical 3D integration methodologies, and enhanced understanding of AOS device physics. These research outputs are designed to enable next-generation energy-efficient computing hardware capable of processing the massive data volumes generated by autonomous intelligent systems and artificial intelligence applications, addressing critical limitations in current chip architecture through vertically stacked electronics that reduce data transmission distances and energy consumption.

The research conducted at the Richardson, Texas facility will advance semiconductor materials science and manufacturing processes suitable for low-temperature fabrication on existing circuits. As a Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) award, the grant integrates research innovation with educational and workforce development components, typical of NSF Engineering program investments. The project positions academic research infrastructure to support national priorities in advanced computing technologies while developing skilled engineering personnel through the integration of research and educational activities at the institution.