For general inquiries, email us at cemn@pdx.edu or connect with us on LinkedIn.
Making the Very Small, Big
PSU researchers began using electron microscopy for their research in the 1960s. With increasing costs and instrument complexity, the university decided in the early 2000s to build a state-of-the-art shared research facility, The Center for Electron Microscopy and Nanofabrication (CEMN).
In 2003, CEMN became a signature research facility of the Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute (ONAMI), a collaboration between Oregon's research universities, Pacific Northwest National Laboratories, and industry partners, to stimulate technology-related economic development in micro- and nanotechnologies.
The center was initiated by Drs. Jun Jiao, Sherry Cady, William Wood, and Robert Daasch and supported by Portland State’s deans, vice provost for research, and science and engineering department chairs. The establishment of CEMN was enabled by generous financial support from the Murdock Foundation, the Keck Foundation, the National Science Foundation, FEI Company, Intel Corp., Gatan Inc., LSI Logic, Moses Lake Industries Inc., and many other organizations.
Located in the heart of the Silicon Forest, CEMN focuses on research, teaching, outreach, and collaboration opportunities with our industry partners. CEMN supports the micro- and nanotechnology research activities and collaborations of more than 200 faculty, post-doc, and graduate and undergraduate student researchers at Oregon's universities. PSU's participants from Physics, Chemistry, Geology, Mechanical and Materials Engineering, and Electrical and Computer Engineering departments conduct externally funded research projects on diverse topics that include nanomaterials synthesis, nanodevice fabrication, nanometrology development, green chemistry, energy technologies, and chemical systems.
PSU electron microscopy classes use CEMN as a teaching laboratory for graduate and undergraduate student training, affording high-quality hands-on education. Additionally, for more than 15 years, CEMN has offered paid internship opportunities to undergraduate student workers. These undergraduate students later pursue advanced degrees or work at high-technology companies.
CEMN also hosts one of PSU's most active science outreach portfolios, including an NSF-sponsored Research Experience for Undergraduates program in Electron Microscopy, led by Drs. Jun Jiao and Erik Sanchez, that has trained more than 100 undergraduate research students in 10 years. A variety of opportunities such as the Oregon Saturday Academy's Apprenticeship in Science and Engineering summer program, the Murdock Charitable Trust’s Partners in Science Program, the Intel Northwest Science Expo and others allow K-12 students, many from communities under-represented in STEM fields, to learn about and explore the fascinating worlds revealed by PSU's powerful electron microscopes. The students gain hands-on experience with the methods and tools used by professional scientists and engineers. Past CEMN Director Jun Jiao and current CEMN director Andrea Goforth have won a steady stream of federal and industry awards, including some that focus on undergraduate training.
Our Alumni
This is a partial list of CEMN’s student interns and laboratory staff/management since 2009, and their places of employment. If you are missing from this list, or to update your location, please contact us - we would love to hear from you!
- Brian Hausmann (Intel)
- Allison Cairns (Ph.D. candidate, Yale University)
- Zhiqiang Chen, Ph.D. (BASF, Intel)
- Wayde Harris (Lam Research)
- Abraham Jaimes (Precision Cast Parts, T&M Designs)
- Audrey Lewis (Nike, Ford Pro)
- Marie Pemberton
- Jordan Sartor (Intel)
- Joseph Theibes (Ph.D. candidate, Montana State University)
- Mathew Hughes (Lam Research, Neuralink)
- Gabriel Eng (Intel)
- Andrew Barnum (FEI Company (Thermo Scientific), TEM Scientist Stanford University)
- Jianfeng Wu, Ph.D. (University of California, San Diego)
- Aaron Besser (Intel, Traycer Metal Works)
- Lindsey Maier (FEI Company (Thermo Scientific))
- Chunfei Li, Ph.D. (Professor of Physics, Pennsylvania Western University, Clarion)