a worker in MacroTechnology Works lab
Marketing and Communications

2024: Year in Review

Engineering with purpose

In 2024, the faculty, staff and students in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University took the initiative to innovate with intention

The Fulton Schools addressed key issues through research initiatives in data, education, energy, health, security, semiconductor manufacturing and sustainability to generate positive impact. Its awards, achievements and actions are a testament to the values the Fulton Schools strives to embody and impart within the ASU community and beyond. 

Revisit some of the year’s most popular stories published in the ASU engineering news blog, Full Circle. The following articles reflect a fraction of the ingenuity and work produced by the Fulton Schools throughout 2024 and serve as a foundation for immeasurable future benefits to the world.

Behind the scenes

A “coding carol adventure” was created in tandem with this page to tell a fictional story about the making of this project. The project honors the storytelling, creativity and poetry innate in coding. 

Inspired by the poem “The Night Before Christmas” by Clement Clarke Moore, the reader will follow the journey of a student hurrying to finish making this website the night before a deadline.

Innovative approaches and tools to help better process, use, manage and access data.

In 2024, the Fulton Schools spearheaded key innovations in artificial intelligence and machine learning to enable smarter, more connected solutions for a sustainable future across various industries.

Aviral Shrivastava holding a small vehicle with a speech bubble that says "Forks Up"

Kachow! ASU engineers will bring us talking cars

ASU professor Aviral Shrivastava has a plan that allows self-driving cars to collect data through sensors and cameras and tell other vehicles what they detect.

Kookjin Lee, an assistant professor of computer science and engineering in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University, has received a Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award from the National Science Foundation to create a machine learning system that will help discover new scientific laws. Photographer: Erika Gronek/ASU

New AI for a new era of discovery

ASU computer science and engineering researcher Kookjin Lee received an NSF CAREER award to develop a machine learning system to discover new scientific laws.

A graphic featuring a pregnant woman and a doctor

Using AI can improve health outcomes for women

Team of ASU researchers receive multiple grants to develop tech tools to improve treatment options for women.

alt="ASU student Abril Ramos works with a prototype of a NASA spacesuit helmet in the lab."

From ASU to Artemis: Engineering student helps astronauts suit up for moon mission

ASU chemical engineering major Abril Ramos has been instrumental to startup Swift Coat’s success in the NASA Small Business Innovation Research program.

David W. Coon. Erin Chiou, Ming Zhao and Nicole Roberts

No one left behind: AI-enabled support for aging vets

Four perspectives. Four campuses. Four schools. Four researchers use AI to helping aging vets.

Farhad Ameri posing for a photo in front of his lab computer.

AI to connect small and medium manufacturing companies with a larger clientele

Associate Professor Farhad Ameri is working on a project called the Prototype Open Knowledge Network, or Proto-OKN, an interconnected set of data repositories and knowledge graphs to enable data-driven, AI-based manufacturing solutions.

AI-generated image of scientific containers holding materials

Discovering new materials using AI and machine learning

An ASU-led collaboration is using AI and machine learning to address critical material shortages and revolutionize materials discovery and manufacturing processes.

Advancing ways to educate engineering students.

Faculty within ASU Engineering focus on learning methods, cognitive theory and best teaching practices to educate the community about the impact engineering has on everyday life. The Fulton Schools are prioritizing collaboration with industry, diverse and inclusive learning environments, and practical, technology-driven education to equip students for leadership roles in the rapidly evolving engineering landscape.

Litzi Matancillas in a pool with a robotic submarine

Teamwork among students and robots wins international competition

Desert WAVE, an all-female robotics team, wins international RoboSub competition using two robots in tandem.

Two students work with electronic components at an ASU microelectronics workshop.

Microtechnology advances promising career possibilities

A hands-on workshop with industry leaders gave students a look at work and creative opportunities in the evolving microelectronics field.

A graphic depicting students and faculty members on a gold background.

Advancing inclusive excellence in engineering

The ASU engineering community has been highly involved in increasing inclusive excellence through education, student success, research and outreach activities.

Shawn Jordan posing within his STEAM Lab

Expanding engineering education across the career spectrum

The newest of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering will focus on preparing students to integrate evolving engineering knowledge and expertise into varied industries and professions

Andrea Cherman speaking to a group

ASU students to learn industry skills firsthand in a new entrepreneurship course

A course launching in fall 2024 will provide an opportunity for students to work directly with experts to determine new ways to overcome industry challenges.

Del E. Webb School students

Building a modern construction workforce

ASU’s Del E. Webb School of Construction prepares the next generation of construction leaders using modern technology and hands-on experience.

Tyler Jiemback at Lallemand Baking

A legend in the baking: ASU alumnus finds success with capstone project

ASU alumnus Tyler Jiemback’s capstone project robot comes to life at Lallemand Baking, enhancing the functionality and automation of the baking process.

Conducting multifaceted research in renewable and alternative energy sources.

The Fulton Schools are at the forefront of innovative energy materials research and next-generation power systems, with a dual emphasis on efficiency and sustainability. Their work integrates academic rigor with industry collaboration to drive advancements in renewable energy, power electronics and materials science for diverse applications, including extreme environments and global energy infrastructure.

A satellite is shown in space above Earth.

Taking batteries B-LO Zero

ASU researcher Nick Rolston is collaborating with Swiss researchers to develop solid-state batteries that can survive extreme temperatures in space.

Mojdeh Khorsand Hedman

A bright idea

ASU’s Mojdeh Khorsand Hedman received a 2024 NSF CAREER award to determine how best to integrate distributed electricity resources into the power grid.

Wonmo Kang

Improving electrical efficiency

ASU researcher Wonmo Kang earned an NSF CAREER award to develop a manufacturing technique for materials with ultrahigh electrical conductivity properties.

Houqiang Fu

Charging up an electrified future

Assistant Professor Houqiang Fu received a 2024 NSF CAREER award to improve the efficiency and reliability of power electronics using aluminum nitride.

inside the hood of an electric van

Perfecting semiconductors for power electronics

Nidhin Kurian Kalarickal collaborated with Agnitron Technology to develop a damage-free etching method for gallium oxide, a semiconductor material.

Professor Nick Rolston and two of his students in his lab conducting research

Setting new standards for materials testing

ASU researcher Nick Rolston received an NSF CAREER Award to advance perovskite solar technology and further develop the field’s workforce.

Mary O’Reilly, Pankaj “Jay” Pasricha, MD, and Heather Clark at Mayo Clinic at Mayo Clinic in Arizona

ASU, Mayo Clinic forge a new health innovation program

Arizona State University is on a mission to drive innovations that will help people lead healthier lives and empower health care professionals to develop novel new health solutions. As part of that goal, the School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, part of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at ASU — with support from the Flinn Foundation — is announcing the Mayo Clinic and Arizona State University Alliance for Health Care Biomedical Engineering Program.

The program aims to enhance education and training opportunities for ASU and Mayo Clinic students, advancing pathways for medical entrepreneurship, clinical immersion and community embeddedness.

Michelle Jang in a lab
'YZ' Yezhou Yang speaking in front of a group
A girl having her vision checked with a tonometer at eye clinic
Hasti Seifi

Addressing issues of national defense, homeland security and cybersecurity to devise solutions

Researchers are tackling the critical need for cybersecurity innovation to address emerging challenges in a data-driven and connected world. From protecting privacy to the use of artificial intelligence in data systems, the Fulton Schools is preparing the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.

Yanchao Zhang and students

Securing the wireless spectrum

ASU researcher Yanchao Zhang is leading work to ensure the security and privacy of wireless network customers as the user base grows and technology evolves.

A lock symbol is shown on a laptop’s blue screen

Protecting privacy in the age of data proliferation

ASU researcher Oliver Kosut is leading an investigation of methods to protect personal information in aggregate datasets used to train AI algorithms.

A pink glowing pentagon is shown on a maroon background

ASU receives three DEPSCoR awards for research critical to national security

Teams in ASU’s School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence will conduct research relevant to U.S. Department of Defense science and technology missions.

image of a silhouette of a student overlooking Phoenix with a drone flying in the sky

ASU team creates fast tools to secure cyberphysical systems

Cyberphysical systems, like satellites and drones, are everywhere. ASU faculty members are working to secure them — quickly.

Katina Michael

Seeking the biometric bill of rights

Fulton Schools researcher Katina Michael studies the intersection of biotechnology and cybersecurity.

Yan Shoshitaishvili

The next generation of cybersecurity pros drills in the dojo

An ASU associate professor has developed the definitive global platform for training a well-qualified, dedicated cybersecurity workforce to fight surging cybercrime.

Discovering more sustainable, reliable and advanced methods for semiconductor manufacturing

ASU is leading a robust effort to strengthen the semiconductor manufacturing supply chain through workforce development, international collaborations and advanced research. Collaborative and global initiatives demonstrate a commitment to fostering talent and innovation in the microelectronics sector.

a worker in MacroTechnology Works lab

Strengthening semiconductor skills at the SWAP Hub

The ASU-led SWAP Hub, a U.S. Department of Defense Microelectronics Commons Hub, advances electronic technology and workforce development for national defense.

Arizona State University President Michael Crow (center) speaks while sitting next to Esteban Moctezuma Barragán and Alfonso Durazo Montaño

Cross-border semiconductor collaborations translate success

A technical language course and other workforce development efforts by ASU are set to economically benefit people and businesses in the U.S. and Mexico.

A photo of Chao Wang in his lab.

Scaling down manufacturing dimensions to scale up chip production

ASU researcher Chao Wang developed an accessible manufacturing method for researchers to prototype and produce ultrathin nanophotonic devices.

computer servers

Diagnosing data corruption

ASU researcher awarded by the Open Compute Project to improve microchip quality assessments.

Daniel Rivera

A new dawn in hydrogen purification

ASU doctoral student Daniel Rivera’s innovative research uses electric fields to purify hydrogen in petroleum refineries and semiconductor manufacturing.

Crystal Sonic team

ASU startup Crystal Sonic wins Natcast pitch competition

Researcher Mariana Bertoni and team are using acoustics to advance next-generation technology transforming the semiconductor production landscape.

David McComas in a clean suit in a lab

Student research supports semiconductor sustainability

TSMC-sponsored student research projects through FURI aim to improve semiconductor sustainability in use and manufacturing practices

Engineering low-carbon building materials

The new Center for Carbon Efficient and Advanced Manufacturing of Materials and Structures, or CAMMS, directed by Fulton Professor of Structural Materials Narayanan Neithalath, aims to decarbonize the manufacturing of cement, which is responsible for more than 20% of all industrial carbon emissions.

The CAMMS research team plans to use new source materials and improved manufacturing and construction processes to accomplish its goal.

A Gilbert, Arizona, park with grass and trees being watered with sprinklers.
Sergi Garcia-Segura in lab with students
Attendees of the Data Science Africa Summer School pose for a group photo.
Mani Modayil Korah and Matthew Green working in lab