As an undergraduate, I have had the fortune to aid in research in two different areas. These have been two distinct areas and both have supported my decision to further my education.

Solar Cell Fabrication

I worked on Solar Cell Fabrication for Professor Vikram Dalal at the Microelectronics Research Center. Professor Dalal's concentration of research is mainly Solar Cell Activity. Under his instruction, my role took part in more than one area of Solar Cell Production. I operated the reactor that our research team used to apply an Indium Tin Oxide layer to Solar Cells. Indium Tin Oxide connects two different nodes on a semiconductor circuit as a conductor. ITO exhibits semi-transparent properties that allow for transmission of light through the conductor. My job was to ensure proper conductivity versus transparency. This required me to take four point probe resistive measurements as well as transmission and thickness measurements using a spectrophotometer. I also performed tasks associated with another project including the thermal evaporation of a metal and applying ITO layers using new mask sets. My duties also required me to perform the general maintenance of reactor components and laboratory setup.

My research time with Professor Dalal on Solar Cell Fabrication was my first experience within a laboratory. I extracted the importance of proper laboratory procedures while performing tasks that most students never receive an opportunity to do. I greatly value my time in this laboratory. I believe that an introduction to semiconductor fabrication, such as this, provides a unique view on design.

Band gap Reference Design

My second experience within research matches more closely to my interest in design. I currently work for Professor Randall Geiger in Analog Design. The project that I spend my time on for Professor Geiger is helping design a Band gap Voltage Reference that will have no dependence on temperature. Due to privacy concerns with the client, I am not able to discuss the design specifications although I am free to discuss the over view of my role. I have worked on the ability to precisely heat a circuit die and characterize the temperature flow through out the silicon. In doing this, the design team is able to more accurately establish temperature dependencies and then test the circuitry built to disable this dependency.

The research that I have done in this project is a good starting point for my future within VLSI research. The process of designing a new die heating element has illuminated how I should approach design. This experience emphasized the importance of modeling and the ability to utilize proper resources. Although this research project will not be over when it is time for me to leave Iowa State, I will leave this project with a feeling of accomplishment.