Turning atoms into opportunity

How a first-gen alum turned professor has become Boise State's materials pioneer

Boise State University's momentum in materials science and microelectronics is rooted in the work of world class faculty, and few are advancing that mission as powerfully as David Estrada.

A U.S. Navy veteran and proud Bronco alum, he earned his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Boise State University in 2007 alongside his wife. His education journey and studies were supported by the McNairs Scholars Program and numerous graduate research fellowships.

Now, Estrada serves as a professor in the Micron School of Materials Science and Engineering and as site director for the National Science Foundation's Center for Atomically Thin Multifunctional Coatings, propelling Boise State's rise as a national leader in advanced materials research.

Since rejoining the College of Engineering, Estrada has secured nearly $31 million in research awards as a Principal Investigator or co-Investigator, leading projects with his expertise in energy, water, and health care, with a focus on training the next generation of engineers for microelectronics, resilient materials, aerospace systems and the nation's high-tech workforce.

National career recognition

During the course of his tenure at Boise State, Estrada has leveraged awards and programs to build an impactful research ecosystem within the College of Engineering. Estrada's contributions at Boise State have earned him recognition at the highest levels.

Estrada was one of two Boise State professors who received the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), the highest U.S. government honor in this category; alongside Ellyn Enderlin, they are the first faculty members in Boise State's history to receive the recognition.

His nomination was supported by Jessica Koehne, a scientist at NASA Ames Research Center, recognizing Estrada's collaboration with NASA. His work has secured over $3 million in NASA funding and helped establish Boise State's Aerospace Days, benefiting over 300 Idaho students and teachers each year.

Estrada's PECASE award builds upon previous early career recognition he received in 2019 when he was awarded a National Science Foundation's CAREER award for his work in Musculoskeletal Tissue Engineering.

Leading the charge

Beyond individual projects, Estrada plays a key role in shaping Boise State's long-term research strategy. In the past year alone, Estrada has helped secure competitive national awards that expand Boise State's capabilities in semiconductor resilience and extreme-environment microelectronics.

Under Boise State's new SUPER Agreement with the Idaho National Laboratory, he co-leads the thrust area in Advanced Materials and Manufacturing, helping align university research with the national lab's mission in energy resilience, nuclear materials and wide-bandgap semiconductors.

This partnership opens the door for expanded research opportunities, internships and national lab engagement for Boise State students and faculty.

"My journey through higher education has really kind of shaped how I approach teaching and research," Estrada said. "On the teaching side. I think I really try to strive to give students opportunities I had. Opportunities for research or experiential learning, internships, things like this. And on the research side, I was really motivated by trying to solve big problems that face humanity, these grand challenges."

He has led transformative workforce development programs as principal investigator on Idaho's f irst NSF S-STEM Track 3 award and an NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program in partnership with Idaho National Laboratory. As former associate director of the Center for Advanced Energy Studies (CAES), he helped expand statewide research infrastructure and strategic STEM investments that have supported over $55 million in external funding.

Distinguished alumni

In the fall of 2025, Estrada reached another career milestone when he was honored with Boise State's Distinguished Alumni Award, one of the university's highest recognitions celebrating graduates whose professional and personal achievements have elevated Boise State's reputation and advanced its mission regionally, nationally and internationally.

"As a Boise State alumni, Dave makes an incredible impact on our students," College of Engineering Dean Amy Fleischer said. "He is this person that our students can look to, that our faculty can look to, and they can see the impact that they can make on the world and I think that's really profound."

What makes this recognition especially notable is that Estrada is the second full-time tenure-track faculty member to receive the award while actively working at the university, underscoring both his exceptional contributions to research excellence and his deep commitment to the Boise State community.

His selection reflects a rare blend of scholarly impact, sustained leadership and service that continues to inspire students, colleagues and alumni alike as Boise State strengthens its national presence in materials science and engineering.

The following faculty highlight is a feature story in the College of Engineering's 2025 Impact Report.

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