Page 9 – Micro Nano Technology Education Center

NCAT Organizes Mall of America ‘Experience STEAM’ Event

The National Center for Autonomous Technologies (NCAT) funded through the NSF Advanced Technological Education (NSF ATE) program is leading out this summer organizing a major STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) event at the Mall of America in Minnesota.

Experience STEAM attendees visiting a booth at Mall of America. August 2022.

The “Experience STEAM” event, August 10-14, 2022, is open to the public and will feature a number of additional MNT-EC partners as well that are organizing workshops and demonstrations. If you know anyone in that region of the USA, please share this post and information.

Experience STEAM is a large-scale STEAM outreach event at the Mall of America for their 30^th Birthday Party. Experience STEAM will include academic partners from both the National Science Foundation and Minnesota State Colleges & Universities. It will feature a STEAM Carnival (5-30 minute hands-on activities with no prior experience necessary), a drone cage, pre-registered events for students, teachers, and industry professionals, and a world-qualifying VEX robotics tournament. Mall of America has an average daily attendance of 100,000+ and over 1M social media followers across all platforms.

Visit the NCAT Experience STEAM website for more info.

Amber Worked to Fight Breast Cancer S02-E11 Talking Technicians

Amber played a pivotal role in developing technologies to combat breast cancer, focusing on diagnostic and treatment tools. She discusses the challenges of working in a high-stakes field, the technical skills required to advance healthcare solutions, and how her passion for helping others has shaped her meaningful career.

Show Notes

Amber works in the biotech industry at ICON. She went to a community college biotech program and started working as a technician in Los Angeles. In this episode, hear how technicians save lives by fighting breast cancer. Amber started as a technician and her career shows how far technicians can go.

The Talking Technicians podcast is produced by MNT-EC, the Micro Nano Technology Education Center, through financial support from the National Science Foundation’s Advanced Technological Education grant program.

Opinions expressed on this podcast do not necessarily represent those of the National Science Foundation.

Join the conversation. If you are a working technician or know someone who is, reach out to us at info@talkingtechnicians.org.

Links from the show:

The Micro Nano Technology Education Center (MNT-EC): https://micronanoeducation.org/
ICON: https://iconplc.com/
Pasadena City College Biotech Program: https://pasadena.edu/academics/divisions/natural-sciences/areas-of-study/biotechnology/index.php
Episode Web Page: https://micronanoeducation.org/students-parents/talking-technicians-podcast/

This Podcast was originally published at:
https://talkingtechnicians.buzzsprout.com/1538071/10649634-s02-e11-amber-worked-to-fight-breast-cancer

If you prefer to listen via YouTube:

Mark experienced a whole career as a technician S02-E10 Talking Technicians

Mark reflects on his extensive career as a technician, spanning decades of technological advancements. He shares key moments of growth, the importance of adapting to industry changes, and how mentorship shaped his journey. Mark emphasizes the value of continuous learning and how technicians contribute to innovation and stability in diverse fields.

Show Notes

Mark has over 25 years experience working as a technician. He worked as a technician at Intel in many different areas including hiring and training. Currently, Mark works as a technician at the MTTC at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, NM. Hear how technicians can do more than maintain and fix equipment; Mark’s career shows how far being a technician can take you.

Opinions expressed on this podcast do not necessarily represent those of the National Science Foundation.

Join the conversation. If you are a working technician or know someone who is, reach out to us at info@talkingtechnicians.org.

Links from the show:

The Micro Nano Technology Education Center (MNT-EC): https://micronanoeducation.org/
MTTC at the University of New Mexico: https://mfg.unm.edu/mep-nanofab/mttc.html
Jobs at Intel: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/jobs/jobs-at-intel.html
Episode Web Page: https://micronanoeducation.org/students-parents/talking-technicians-podcast/

This Podcast was originally published at:
https://talkingtechnicians.buzzsprout.com/1538071/10641810-s02-e10-mark-experienced-a-whole-career-as-a-technician

If you prefer to listen via YouTube:

Rick is an Experienced Technician S02-E09 Talking Technicians

Rick shares his experiences from a career spent as a technician in various fields, reflecting on how the role evolved over time. He discusses the adaptability required to stay relevant in a changing technological landscape and offers advice for those entering the profession.

Show Notes

Rick works as a technician at the MTTC at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, NM. He is an experienced technician and has worked at Phillips. Rick shares his professional journey including his time in the Navy and enrolling in community college. Hear how the role of a technician has evolved in this episode.

Opinions expressed on this podcast do not necessarily represent those of the National Science Foundation.

Join the conversation. If you are a working technician or know someone who is, reach out to us at info@talkingtechnicians.org.

Links from the show:

The Micro Nano Technology Education Center (MNT-EC): https://micronanoeducation.org/
MTTC at the University of New Mexico: https://mfg.unm.edu/mep-nanofab/mttc.html
Episode Web Page: https://micronanoeducation.org/students-parents/talking-technicians-podcast/

This Podcast was originally published at:
https://talkingtechnicians.buzzsprout.com/1538071/10634751-s02-e09-rick-is-an-experienced-technician

If you prefer to listen via YouTube:

Pasadena City College Student Janet Teng Awarded Barry Goldwater Scholarship

The Goldwater Scholarship Program, one of the oldest and most prestigious national scholarships in the natural sciences, engineering, and mathematics in the United States, seeks to identify and support college sophomores and juniors who show exceptional promise of becoming this Nation’s next generation of research leaders in these fields.

According to the 2022 Scholars Press Release, from an estimated pool of over 5,000 college sophomores and juniors, 1,242 natural science, engineering and mathematics students were nominated by 433 academic institutions to compete for the 2022 Goldwater scholarships. Of students who reported, 175 of the Scholars are men, 234 are women, and virtually all intend to obtain a Ph.D. as their highest degree objective. Forty-five Scholars are mathematics and computer science majors, 308 are majoring in the natural sciences, and 64 are majoring in engineering. Many of the Scholars have published their research in leading professional journals and have presented their work at professional society conferences.

2022 Goldwater Scholars Announced

Janet Teng, Pasadena City College Student, is one of 417 college students from across the United States to be selected for this highly respected scholarship.

“My research project is based on work performed at the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL) at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). The project specifically probes surface chemical reactivity between iron metal and oxygen gas using the novel Operando Atom Probe Tomography analytical technique. This new approach to correlating the spatial signal with reaction time reveals the surface reaction kinetics and the crystal structure relationship of a material. Thus, mapping the progression of reactive gas penetration into metal surfaces to form metal oxides (i.e. corrosion) is made possible.”
— Janet Teng, PCC Student and Undergraduate Researcher

Ms. Teng also expressed appreciation for all the support and guidance she received from her research mentors Dr. Jared Ashcroft, Dr. Tanya Faltens, Dr. Daniel Perea, Dr. Chiara Daraio, Dr. Sten Lambeets, Mr. Mark Wirth, and Dr. Yu-Chung Chang-Hou. Ms. Teng’s research and presentation is highlighted also in last fall’s Think Small post:

STEM Competitions And Internships Encourage Deeper Learning For Students

You can also learn more about the Micro Nano Technology Collaborative Undergraduate Research Network (MNT-CURN) which offers a unique undergraduate research program for community college students.

Corey is a technician that makes pacemakers that save lives S02-E08 Talking Technicians

Corey began repairing computers before attending community college, where he earned a two-year degree. He now works at MSEI, building life-saving medical devices like pacemakers and defibrillators. Corey discusses the impact of his work and the opportunities available in medical technology.

Show Notes

Corey works as a technician at MSEI in Lake Oswego, OR. Corey was repairing computers before he went to community college and earned a 2-year technician degree. After graduating, Corey got a job as a technician building pacemakers and defibrillators which help save lives.

Opinions expressed on this podcast do not necessarily represent those of the National Science Foundation.

Join the conversation. If you are a working technician or know someone who is, reach out to us at info@talkingtechnicians.org.

Links from the show:

The Micro Nano Technology Education Center (MNT-EC): https://micronanoeducation.org/
MSEI: https://www.mst.com/MSTgroup/msei
Episode Web Page: https://micronanoeducation.org/students-parents/talking-technicians-podcast/

This Podcast was originally published at:
https://talkingtechnicians.buzzsprout.com/1538071/10375894-s02-e08-corey-is-a-technician-that-makes-pacemakers-that-save-lives

If you prefer to listen via YouTube:

Summer Internship Season is Kicking Off for 2022

UPDATE: Fall 2022 Internship for NEATEC-NIST PDF below:

NIST_Internship-Flyer-Fall-2022 Download

— Two Summer Internship Opportunities are in this post —

NEATEC and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) offer a summer 2022 internship in Semiconductor and Nanotechnology

This is an opportunity for college students and recent graduates to learn about semiconductor and nanotechnology manufacturing processes by working in one of the most advanced centers in the nation. The student will be personally tutored by scientists and engineers at the NIST. A weekly stipend of $650 for the duration of the internship (14 weeks) and allowance of $500 for travel expenses.

Starting Date: May 23, 2022

Duration: 14 weeks

Venue: Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology (CNST) NanoFab, at NIST – Gaithersburg, MD

Deadline: March 25, 2022. Visit this simple application form:

NEATEC NIST Internship Application – Summer 2022.

Or download this PDF Flyer from NEATAC / NIST.

NIST_Internship-Flyer-Summer-2022 Download

Caltech Aerospace Mentorship Program (AMP)

Caltech is offering a 10-week intensive summer research program in Caltech’s Aerospace department. The Aerospace Mentorship Program (AMP) offers summer interns the opportunity to complete a research project in faculty labs and work alongside graduate student mentors. Interns attend weekly seminars and skill development sessions, tour faculty labs, and participate in various social and cultural activities around Pasadena, CA. Participants receive a stipend of $6,840, plus $2,300 for on-campus housing and travel supplement.

Date: mid-June to late August 2022

Duration: 10 weeks

Venue: Caltech – Pasadena, CA

Deadline: March 31, 2022. Follow these links to apply:

Summer AMP is a sub-program of Caltech’s WAVE Fellowships program and is intended for community college students. Applications are due by March 31, 2022. Students can start the application process via the SURF/WAVE webpage, here.

More information can be found at: AMP Summer Program.

Some Recent project titles:

Trajectory following for autonomous underwater vehicles
High strain rate compressive behavior of 3D printed aluminum 6061 of varying porosity
Implementation of reaction wheels and balancing for spacecraft simulators

Jeb is a technician at Intel S02-E07 Talking Technicians

Jeb was working at a supermarket before pursuing community college training, which equipped him with the technical and professional skills to join Intel. In this episode, Jeb reflects on his career shift and how determination led him to one of the most advanced tech companies in the world.

Show Notes

Jeb works as a technician at Intel in Hillsboro, OR. Jeb was working at a supermarket before he went to a community college and gained the technical and professional skills he needed to work at one of the most cutting-edge companies in America. Hear Jeb’s story in this episode.

Opinions expressed on this podcast do not necessarily represent those of the National Science Foundation.

Join the conversation. If you are a working technician or know someone who is, reach out to us at info@talkingtechnicians.org.

Links from the show:

The Micro Nano Technology Education Center (MNT-EC): https://micronanoeducation.org/

Jobs at Intel: https://jobs.intel.com/

Episode Web Page: https://micronanoeducation.org/students-parents/talking-technicians-podcast/

This Podcast was originally published at:
https://talkingtechnicians.buzzsprout.com/1538071/10184673-s02-e07-jeb-is-a-technician-at-intel

If you prefer to listen via YouTube:

Dr. Jared Ashcroft Recognized for Commitment and Passion for Student Success

If one thing captures Dr. Jared Ashcroft, it is this quote from him in a recent ATE Impacts article: “If I see an opportunity that looks like I can impact students, I want to do it and figure out a way to support it,” he said.

The article explains how, in “early 2021 Jared M. Ashcroft opened an email announcing the Community College Innovation Challenge (CCIC) to the Advanced Technological Education community. “Oh, that looks really fun,” was his assessment of the linked website’s description of the national competition that the American Association of Community Colleges offers in partnership with the National Science Foundation.

“When he told his chemistry students at Pasadena City College about the contest and the opportunity to win cash prizes for innovative STEM solutions to real-world problems, four students formed a team and asked Ashcroft to be their mentor. Mentoring took his time – an hour or two at a time over several months – but “not a dime” from the budget of the Micro Nano Technology Education Center (MNT-EC) he leads. And, Ashcroft said, the experience was well worth the students’ efforts and his time even if the team had not won first prize.”

Of course, under his leadership and a few other volunteers, that team did win first place. You can read about that here on the Think Small post: Pasadena City College Team Places First in National Community College Innovation Challenge.

Congratulations to Dr. Ashcroft for a job well done with guiding these students to great results and kudos for his ongoing commitment to their success. You can congratulate Jared for his fine work by commenting on our LinkedIn page.

You can read the full article by Madeline Patton on the ATE Impacts site: MNT-EC Principal Investigator Is a Fan of the Community College Innovation Challenge.

Show Notes

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2022 Goldwater Scholars Announced

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Show Notes

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