Duffield Engineering investment in CNF to expand research and training

As the Cornell NanoScale Science and Technology Facility (CNF) approaches its 50th year, a new $9.5 million investment from Cornell Duffield College of Engineering will, in partnership with Cornell Research and Innovation, position the facility for its next era of leadership in semiconductor research, education and workforce training.

Located in Duffield Hall, CNF has been a cornerstone of nanoscale research at Cornell, serving scientists and students from across campus, enabling them to fabricate devices for applications in microelectronics, quantum systems, digital agriculture and biology. The investment from the Duffield Launch Fund, established in January with a portion of a record-setting naming giftto the college from David Duffield '62, MBA '64, will support new research capabilities and strengthen the facility's role as a training ground for future semiconductor and quantum scientists and engineers.

"Duffield Engineering's investment will allow CNF to build on its legacy as the place where researchers from academia and industry come to fabricate first-of-a-kind devices and technological innovations that underpin advances in electron beam lithography, photonics and optoelectronics, robotics and a range of other fields that will define our future," said Lynden Archer, the Joseph Silbert Dean of Engineering. "We're committed to enhancing CNF's capabilities to do even more."

A major component of the funding will support and extend CNF's immersive training initiatives, which use virtual realityto prepare students and technicians to operate the types of equipment used in the facility and across the semiconductor industry. CNF plans to expand a suite of virtual training modules that teach complex fabrication processes while developing new content.

"This approach allows us to extend CNF's reach beyond its physical footprint and help meet the nation's growing demand for skilled semiconductor technicians," said Judy Cha, the Lester B. Knight Director of CNF and the Rick and Betty Tsai Ph.D. 1981 Professor in Materials Science and Engineering. "By sharing these training tools with partners beyond Cornell, we can both expand access to semiconductor education and build new financial pathways to support the facility's long-term sustainability."

The funding will also strengthen CNF's research infrastructure through the hiring of technical staff and the acquisition of new tools that expand the facility's fabrication capabilities and process control. These upgrades will help align the facility with leading industry standards and operating environments.

One planned addition - a total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometer - will allow researchers to monitor contamination across cleanroom equipment with exceptional sensitivity, helping to attract new users to the facility, including industry collaborators and students working on applied projects with corporate partners.

"Whether from industry, Cornell or another academic institution, researchers require increasingly stringent materials controls to achieve maximum device performance," said Ron Olson, director of operations at CNF. "Whether they're working on next-generation power electronics or superconducting qubits, maintaining that level of precision is critical. This investment helps ensure we continue to meet those expectations."

The facility also contributes to Cornell's K-12 outreach and education programs. For example, regional high school students spend time working in CNF as part of its Accelerated Training for Labor Advancement in Semiconductorsprogram.

By strengthening both research capabilities and training programs, the new partnership will help position CNF for long-term sustainability while expanding its leadership in nanotechnology, said Gary Koretzky, vice provost for research at Cornell.

"With this support, CNF can continue to evolve as a platform that connects cutting-edge research infrastructure with education and workforce development in areas of expanding national importance," Koretzky said. "That integration is essential to advancing both Cornell's mission and the technologies shaping the future."

Syl Kacapyr is associate director of marketing and communications for Duffield Engineering.