University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

AFRL ML-RCP Partner Institution Strengths & Capabilities

Contact Information

Name: Can Saygin

Title: Senior Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate College

Email: Can.Saygin@utrgv.edu

Research

1. Please select the research areas in which your institution currently engages.

• Structural materials

  • • • Julie Vanegas

• Javier Macossay-Torres

• Nicholas Dimakis

• Mohammed Uddin

• Mircea Chipara

• Karen Martirosyan

• Ali Ashraf

• Mataz Alcoutlabi

• Robert Jones (primarily composites and composite materials manufacturing)

• Radio frequency sensing

  • • • Teviet Creighton

•  Megan Keniry

•  Hasina Fahmida Huq

•  Heinrich Foltz

•  Nantakan Wongkasem

• High speed systems

  • • • Robert T. Schweller

      • Sanjeev Kumar

• Rocket propulsion

  • • • Karen Martirosyan

• Teviet Creighton

• Volker Quetschke

• Isaac Choutapalli

• Bio effects

  • • • Mircea Chipara

      • Paul Choi (Biomedical applications)

• Functional materials & applications

  • • • Julie Vanegas

• Javier Macossay-Torres

• Nicholas Dimakis

• Mohammed Uddin

• Dorina Magdalena Chipara

• Ali Ashraf

• Mataz Alcoutlabi

• Yangyang Long

• Manufacturing technology

  • • • Jianzhi Li

• Javier Ortega

•  Anil Srivastava

• Yangyang Long

• Nazmul Ahsan

• Farid Ahmed

• Electro-optical sensing

  • • • Julie Vanegas

•  Volker Quetschke

•  Fahmida Alam

• Layered sending exploitation & enabling sensor devices/components

  • • • Nazmul Islam

• Control, power, & thermal management systems

  • • • Control Systems: Horacio Vasquez

•  Thermal management: Nadim Zgheib

• Control theory: Ping Xu

• Control theory: Wenjie Dong

• Power: Jaime Ramos

• Power: Alex Domijan

• Turbine engines

  • • • Benjamin George Peters

• Training & decision making

  • • • William Richard Donner

• Hale Kaynak

• Jianzhi (James) Li

• Dean Kyne

• Arlett Lomeli

• Ben Peters

2. Please note, in detail, any research areas of strength not listed above. This may include fundamental sciences (e.g., math, physics, biology, etc.).

• No response provided.

3. Are there any emerging areas of research your institution is actively seeking to develop?

• No response provided.

4. Does your institution have any internal research centers or participate in any research consortia?  

• Yes

5. Please provide a list of relevant facilities and equipment.

• EverCool–II (Quantum Design): Ever-Cool-II is a cryogen-free industry-leading Physical Property Measurement System (PPMS) for accurate measurement of physical properties of different materials, such as AC susceptibility, heat capacity, electrical transport, thermal transport within a wide range of temperatures (1.9-400 K) and under a wide range of magnetic fields (9T). This instrument is capable of reaching sub-Kelvin temperatures.

• Bruker ELEXSYS (EPR spectrometer): The Electron Paramagnetic Resonance spectrometer capable of measurements in a wide range of temperatures (5 K to 500 K) and detection of low spin triplet states. The ELEXSYS platform has high sensitivity (about 109 uncoupled electronic spins per gauss and a signal to noise ratio better than 3000:1 for the weak pitch), high resolution (up to 10-8 T), and wide flexibility. The system has a maximum magnetic field of ~1.5 T without a superconducting magnet. The high resonance field has a special advantage to study materials which the magnetic saturation reaches large magnetic fields. The accessories mainly include: Goniometer for the study of the angular dependence of EPR spectra (necessary to assess the orientation of carbon nanotubes and graphene within polymeric matrices, to quantify the magnetic anisotropy in magnetically ordered samples, and to determine the g tensor principal axis in single crystals). The UV irradiation system provides the possibility for in-situ irradiation of samples of interest in the microwave cavity, especially paramagnetic compounds/species/defects or phase transitions via light irradiation. The instrument will be used in training students to conduct measurements of quantum states of matter (spin density distribution, hyperfine interaction between electron and nuclear spins, nuclear spin relaxation, electron-electron spin dipolar coupling).

• JSM-7100F (JEOL): JSM-7100F is a Thermal Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) with the stunning resolution of 1.2 nm. This instrument has a wide range of applications and is essential for industrial and academic labs: imaging of samples, studies of surface topography of materials, analysis of extremely small structures from different angles. It will be used to support training of students in SEM techniques with direct hands-on experience as well as conducting interdisciplinary research in areas of overlap of physics, chemistry, material science, and engineering.

• PIONEER-2 (RAITH): This instrument combines an Electron Beam Lithography (EBL) system and an analytical Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The EBL is indispensable in modern device fabrication at the micro- and nano-meter scale. The SEM is a high-resolution imaging process that is crucial for characterization of micro and nano devices after their fabrication.

• X-ray Powder Diffraction: Bruker D2 PHASER 2nd Gen: D2 PHASER is the desktop diffractometer for all X-ray powder diffraction applications in Bragg-Brentano geometry. It is equipped with an integrated flat screen monitor, an integrated PC and an ultra-fast SSD drive. The D2 PHASER is ideal for laboratory or on-location operation with Plug’n Analyze system.

• Atomic Force Microscope SOLVER (NanoScope, Veeco): Nano NT-MDT and a high resolution Atomic Force Microscope system (AFM)/Multimode is allows imaging in Contact AFM mode, Constant Height mode, Constant Force mode, Contact Error mode, Lateral Force Imaging, Spreading Resistance Imaging, Force Modulation microscopy, Piezoresponse Force, Intermittent contact mode, Phase Imaging mode, Semicontact Error mode, Non-Contact mode, Electrostatic Force Modes. Contact EFM: Scanning Capacitance Microscopy, Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy. Scanner 100x100x12um closed loop scanner, 3x3x3um open loop scanner. AFM resolution: 0.01 nm. Environments: Air and liquid measurements. Combined video optical microscopes, Build in 100x optical USB microscope. External: 500x optical microscope.

• UV-Visible Spectroscope, UV-5500 (PC) UV/VIS Spectrophotometer.

• SDT Q600 Simultaneous TGA/DSC: The Q600 provides simultaneous measurement of weight change (TGA) and true differential heat flow (DSC) on the same sample from ambient to 1500 °C. It features a field-proven horizontal dual beam design with automatic beam growth compensation, and the ability to analyze two TGA samples simultaneously. DSC heat flow data is dynamically normalized using the instantaneous sample weight at any given temperature.

• Thermo Scientific Nicolet iS5 FTIR Spectrometer: The Thermo Scientific Nicolet iS5 FT-IR spectrometer provides superior FT-IR performance in a compact size. Combining flexible sample handling and leading Thermo Scientific OMNIC software, the Nicolet iS5 spectrometer is the ideal FTIR solution for advanced labs around the world. 

• Seven Channels Li-ion Battery Analyzer (6-3000 mA, up to 5V) with Laptop and Software for R&D all Rechargeable Cells -BST8-3: This system provides most applications in battery testing fields such as electrode materials research, battery performance test, small-scale battery formation, capability grading, battery pack testing and etc.

• DCS-10, Spark Plasma Sintering System, Thermal Technology LLC: 10-Ton, 5000 A power supply, Ram alignment, die-set 10-50 mm (ID).

6. Does your institution have a relationship with any other academic institution or research organization(s) that enables your access to their facilities and equipment?

• Yes. The collaborating partner is the U.S. ARMY Combat Capabilities Development Command, ARMY Research Laboratory through a Master Collaborative Research and Development Agreement (ARL CRADA 14-011-026), under a specific Joint Work Statement (JWS) for fundamental research pertaining to the I_DREAM and ARL Collaborative Research/Education Projects on Advanced Manufacturing. The JWS allows for 3-5 student researchers from UTRGV to conduct research at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in MD using metal additive manufacturing equipment.

7. Has your institution collaborated with Department of Defense in the past?  

• Yes

8. Is your institution involved in any federal STEM funding efforts?

• Yes

9. This program requires documentation (i.e., theses, dissertation, presentations, etc.) to go through the AFRL public affairs review process. Would this present a challenge for your institution? 

• Yes

Research Administration and Compliance

10. Does your institution have an office of sponsored programs? 

• Yes

11. Does your institution have an approval process for seeking extramural funding?

• Yes

12. Does your institution accept federal award dollars and manage standard fiscal reporting, and compliance requirements?

• Yes

13. Does your institution provide guidance to PIs for budget development?

• Yes

14. Does your institution offer proposal development services?

• Yes

15. Does your institution offer research development services, e.g., assistance with finding research funding, proposal management, team formation/development, etc.?  

• Yes

16. Does you institution offer research compliance training and education, i.e., roles and responsibilities of principal investigators?

• Yes

17. Does your institution have a designated Export Control Officer?

• Yes

18. Is your institution registered with the US State Department Directorate of Defense Trade Controls? 

• No

19. Does your institution currently perform Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI/ NIST 800-171 compliant) research?

• No

20. Does your institution currently perform research subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations?

• No

21. Does your institution have a DoD Facility Security Clearance (FCL)? 

• No

ML-RCP Program Expectations

22. The objective of the AFRL ML-RCP is to enable and enhance the research capabilities of the HBCU’s/MSIs through collaborative research efforts with AFRL. What would be necessary for you to receive to meet this objective? 

• Be able to publish without restrictions.

• If restrictions in publications are imposed, it is necessary to enhance our research security program to allow the conduct of research in a controlled environment.