EDMI program members focus their activities in three major fields:
Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) are devices combining µm-scaled moving parts with integrated sensing and actuation circuits or mechanisms that encompass an enormous range of applications, from inertial sensors, to displays, to RF filters, to programmable nanofluidics. When the physical dimensions are on the nanometer scale, the devices are called NEMS (Nanoelectromechanical systems). Our research covers both novel fabrication techniques as well as development targeted at specific scientific or industrial applications.
With research groups led by faculty with various scientific backgrounds both in basic sciences and microengineering, a focus point of our research is the use of modern microfabrication techniques, like those practiced in the clean room, to build miniaturized functional devices that enable novel applications in the biomedical sciences, with implications for human biology studies, healthcare, diagnostics and therapeutics.
Nanoelectronics generally refers to transistor devices that are so small that inter-atomic interactions and quantum mechanical properties play key roles, and classical models no longer accurately describe the devices. Research in the EDMI affiliated labs focusses on novel devices and their nanofabrication, novel architectures, and packaging aspects. Micro-electronics covers the design of integrated circuits (ICs) for a wide variety of fields, including RF, biomedical, and automotive applications. Research in the EDMI affiliated focuses on novel circuit architectures and packaging aspects in order to minimize power consumption.