Boise State and Idaho National Laboratory (INL) recently signed a new Strategic Understanding for Premier Education and Research (SUPER) Agreement to foster collaboration among students, faculty and INL researchers. The SUPER Agreement establishes a framework to pursue innovations in advanced materials and manufacturing, and secure, resilient energy systems to enhance energy infrastructure and safeguard critical assets
The Division of Research and Economic Development has chosen Ira Burton and Dave Estrada, two Boise State leaders, to drive the INL partnership under this agreement.
“The SUPER Agreement marks a powerful step forward in our partnership with Idaho National Laboratory,” Nancy Glenn, vice president of research and economic development said. “With leaders like Ira Burton and Dave Estrada at the helm, Boise State is poised to drive innovation that strengthens national security and advances critical energy and materials research.”
Secure and resilient energy systems
Burton, a two-time alum of the Boise State’s Department of Computer Science and current director of the School of Computing, will tackle the challenge of expanding university collaborations with INL in secure and resilient energy systems. This priority area leverages research and development in AI, computing and socio-technical systems to protect national and energy security while supporting system resilience amidst disruption. Another focus is to secure the U.S. against cyberattacks capable of exploiting the systems and networks of government agencies and industries.
Burton has 28 years of experience at Micron Technology, where he most recently served as Director of Strategic Engineering for the Systems Integration Group. His extensive leadership experience provides a multidisciplinary perspective that will help build new collaborations with INL.
Advanced materials and manufacturing
Led by Estrada, an alum of Boise State’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, the advanced materials and manufacturing research focus area will serve to implement the discovery, development and characterization of materials that can survive in difficult conditions. Examples include high-entropy materials, quantum materials, high-temperature materials, and wide and ultrawide bandgap semiconductors to support manufacturing for next-generation reactor components and microelectronics.
Estrada is a professor in the Micron School of Materials Science and Engineering. He is a U.S. Navy veteran with ample military and academic leadership experience, including his service as Boise State’s Associate Director for the Center for Advanced Energy Studies and Site Director of the National Science Foundation’s Center for Atomically Thin and Multifunctional Materials with Penn State University and Rice University. He is a fellow of the NextFlex Manufacturing USA Institute and a recipient of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) for his work related to in-space manufacturing with the Space Technology Mission Directorate of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Engage in new collaborations
The Division of Research and Economic Development leads the university’s efforts under the SUPER Agreement and has launched a new website to manage partnerships and opportunities with national laboratories.
Faculty, staff and students wishing to engage in strategic planning and collaborative activities related to the SUPER Agreement can sign up on the website to stay informed of events and activities designed to enhance collaborations in these focus areas. Visit the new National Labs Partnerships website to learn more.